Photo Scanning Apps

Google recently released a photo scanning app that had mixed reviews. I began to wonder if there were other apps that did the same thing, and which is the best. I did a side by side comparison.

CamScanner (Free) Android and iOS - Usually used for document scanning this app does really well at lining up the photos, cropping, and sharing. The photo quality was good but not great. The photo adjustment / filters features were good not great. https://www.camscanner.com

CamScanner scanning interface

CamScanner adjustment interface

Heirloom (Free) Android and iOS - Heirloom had the nicest user interface. It also has really nice photo adjustments and filters. The app had the best photo quality of the apps tested. The app's focus is on album creation and sharing, but users would have to convince friends and family to download the app. https://www.heirloom.net/

Heirloom cropping interface

Heirloom adjustment interface

PhotoScan by Google (Free) Android and iOS - The app does a good job of trying to eliminate glare and automatically cropping but I found that the photos were a bit blurry. It does a great job at saving and sharing but no adjustments or filters. https://www.google.com/photos/scan/

PhotoScan by Google scanning interface

Pic Scanner (Free with in-app purchases) iOS only - I found the app easy to use. The app tells users that they have the photo lined up. It does well at cropping but unfortunately the app limits the number of photos users can save or share to twelve (more than that costs $2.99). http://m.appinitio.com/

Pic Scanner scanning interface

Pic Scanner adjustment interface

Side by side with each app.

PhotoScan by Google

Pic Scanner

Heirloom

CamScanner

Side by side and I included one with the Camera on my iPhone.

PhotoScan

Pic Scanner

Heirloom

CamScanner

iPhone Camera

Side by side with my top three favorites Cam Scanner, Heirloom, and the iPhone camera.

CamScanner

Heirloom

iPhone Camera

These last two were Heirloom and the iPhone camera with both I used the adjustment and filters.

iPhone Camera with adjustments

Heirloom app with filter

I felt that the Heirloom app performed best and the iPhone was a close second. From all my research it seems that flat bed scanners or a SLR camera with a macro lens are superior for getting the best quality. This website gives instructions for taking the best scans possible of your photos with either one  https://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-scan-and-archive-your-old-printed-photos/