How to scan documents to PDF for free on your phone

The short answer

You do not need to pay to turn a paper document into a PDF. Every iPhone has a document scanner in two apps:

• Files saves the scan as a PDF in the folder you choose. This is the fastest way to get a file.
• Notes keeps the scan in a note. You can share it as a PDF.

Both apps find the page edges, crop the page and put many pages into one PDF. They add no watermark and need no account. On Android, the Google Drive app has a scanner that saves PDFs to Drive.

Free scanner apps from the App Store add folders, text recognition and export options. Read what is free and what needs a subscription before you rely on one. We cover the main ones below.

Free with the Files app

Use the Files app when you need a PDF file, for example to upload to a form or attach to an email.

1. Open the folder. Open the Files app. Go to the folder where you want the PDF, in iCloud Drive or On My iPhone.
2. Choose Scan Documents. Tap the More button at the top of the screen. Choose Scan Documents.
3. Scan the pages. Hold the iPhone above the page. The scanner finds the edges and takes the shot. Scan the next pages in the same session.
4. Save the PDF. Tap Save. Files saves one PDF with all the pages in the folder. Rename the file so you can find it later.

Free with the Notes app

Use Notes when you want the scan next to your own notes, or when you want to lock it.

1. Start a scan in a note. Open a note. Tap the camera button and choose Scan Documents.
2. Scan and save. Hold the iPhone above the page until it takes the shot. Add more pages. Tap Save to put the scan in the note.
3. Share as PDF. Open the scan and tap the Share button. Send it by mail or message, or save it to Files as a PDF.

You can lock a note with your iPhone passcode or a separate password. This is a free way to protect one or two private scans.

Free on Android

Open the Google Drive app and tap the Scan button. Scan the pages, then save. Drive stores the PDF in your Google Drive, so the file counts toward your Google storage. You need a Google account.

Free scanner apps

Most scanner apps are free to download. Their business model decides what you get for free. Here is what we could confirm in October 2026:

• Genius Scan has a free plan with no ads. It covers capture, editing and manual export. OCR and cloud sync need the Ultra subscription.
• Adobe Scan is free and recognizes text. You sign in with an Adobe account, and scans go to Adobe cloud storage. Premium adds export to other formats and compression.
• CamScanner is free with ads. Users often report a "Scanned by CamScanner" mark on free exports, and Premium removes it.
• Microsoft Lens is gone. Microsoft retired it in 2025 and stopped new scans in December 2025.

For a deeper look at each app, read our comparison of the best scanner apps for iPhone.

What is free in Scanner App

Scanner App is a free download. Pro features start with a 3-day free trial. If you cancel the trial in your App Store subscription settings before it ends, you pay nothing.

The app scans with automatic edge detection and crop, and builds multi-page PDFs where you can add and reorder pages. It also has OCR with Copy All, e-signature, folders, search and a password-locked Safe folder. You share as PDF or JPG in Original, Medium or Small quality. Your files stay on your iPhone. Scanner App has no cloud sync of its own.

Free options compared

Tips for a clean PDF

• Use even light. Daylight from a window works best. Turn off the flash on glossy paper.
• Add contrast. Put a white page on a dark table. The edge detection finds the corners faster.
• Hold the phone parallel. Keep the iPhone flat above the page so the text stays straight.
• Scan text pages in black and white. The file is smaller and the text is easier to read.
• Name the file. A name such as "Lease 2026" is easier to find than "Scanned Document".