A Decade of Innovations: iScanner Celebrates Its 10th Anniversary!

Ten years ago, iScanner came up with a simple but challenging idea to turn each and every smartphone into a smart scanner. A decade later, the app has evolved into a digital document platform based on artificial intelligence, with over 120 million downloads. As we celebrate our 10th anniversary, let’s take a moment to look back at our milestones, which eventually made the app a must-have tool for millions of users around the world.

How iScanner Was Born

We at iScanner are a team of PDF enthusiasts and part of the BP Mobile (AIBY group) family. Back in 2015, as the mobile app market was booming with utility apps, we were surprised to find that there weren’t any reliable scanner apps available.

“So, our search [at BP Mobile] for an all-in-one solution for our business needs resulted in the creation of iScanner—a simple and quick scanning app that does a perfect job of digitizing documents,” said Matt Svetlak, iScanner’s VP of Product.

A new scanning app, launched on the App Store the same year, allowed users to quickly and easily turn pictures taken with their smartphones into high-quality PDFs. The whole process of scanning and saving took under five seconds. As a result, it instantly resonated with people worldwide. Just a year later, iScanner expanded to Android as well, and by 2017, it had already reached its first 10 million downloads. And that was just the beginning.

A Handy Tool Becomes an All-in-One Solution

As the number of users grew, so did the app’s functionality. Simply scanning documents wasn’t enough. People also needed to edit, manage, and organize them. Listening closely to user feedback, the iScanner engineering team began developing their own algorithms and adding features that made the app more than just a scanner. Over time, we introduced OCR, file management tools, e-signatures, and advanced editing options, turning iScanner into a blend of mobile scanner and PDF editor. Whether it was digitizing textbooks, filing out application forms, submitting taxes, or signing business documents on the go, iScanner became a reliable companion in people’s everyday lives.

We won’t describe every feature here as it would take a whole separate article, but these are the most common qualities our users highlight in store reviews:

• It’s easy to use, thanks to a simple and friendly interface.
• Scans are high-quality.
• It works on both iOS and Android, with the same features and without any limitations.
• The PDF editor is free.
• AI-enhanced OCR is very accurate and offers real-time character recognition in over 20 languages, supporting both printed and handwritten input.
• It’s secure and sustainable.

See more iScanner reviews on the AppStore.

iScanner Becomes Top-1 Scanner in the US

In 2020, iScanner became the #1 scanning app in the U.S. charts in both downloads and revenue.

AI-driven features played a major role in this success. Now, apart from OCR, iScanner’s AI toolbox includes AI File Name Generator, Translator in 108 languages, Rewriter, Background Remover, AI Chat, and much more.

Privacy and Security Matters

But all advanced technologies wouldn’t matter at all without trust. That’s why keeping your data safe is our top priority. By default, all documents are stored locally on your device. Cloud storage is completely optional—and you’re always in control. We never access your files, and neither can any third party. If you opt for cloud storage, your files are stored securely on AWS, the same trusted platform used by Fortune 500 companies, banks, and even the military. 

For extra protection, iScanner only asks for permission when needed, like using the camera to scan or choosing a file from your gallery. It only accesses the files you pick, and nothing more.

Beyond that, you can also add extra layers of security:

• Set a PIN, Face ID, or Touch ID to lock the entire app or just specific folders and files.
• Add a password to any PDF before sending it, so only the recipient can open it.
• Set an expiration date on shared links to limit access.
• Use the Safe Folder with a private code, and even set up a decoy password to hide your sensitive files if needed.

Your privacy is a promise, not just a feature.

Sustainable Innovation

For sure, innovation isn’t about technology only; it’s also about responsibility. As iScanner continues to grow, we’re thinking beyond the app. We believe that digital tools like ours can promote sustainability by reducing paper waste and encouraging smarter, more eco-friendly workflows.

Every digital scan made instead of a printout is a small step towards a greener future. Every year, by scanning and exporting digital files, iScanner users altogether save 16,000 trees, which is enough to cover the area of 56 football fields.

And we keep on learning and contributing. Every year, we take part in Earth Day and World Paper Day, encouraging our community and high-school students to get involved. We put together simple sustainability guides for businesses, share tips on decluttering your home the eco-friendly way, run eco surveys for small businesses, and more. We also invite all registered users to take part in our Eco Program and have fun earning eco badges by exporting pages.

Our 10 Yearly Milestones in a Nutshell

From a simple scanning app to an all-in-one document platform with more than 120 million downloads, here’s a quick look at how far we’ve come over the past ten years.

App launched on iOS (2015)
The team at BP Mobile spotted a growing need for mobile scanning and created a scanner app that quickly turned phone photos into high-quality PDFs. It was fast, easy to use, and loved by users from the first day.

iScanner launched on Android (2016)
Following its success on iOS, iScanner made its way to Android, offering the same high-quality scans and even more free tools to help users easily scan, save, and share their documents.

Hit 10M downloads worldwide (2017)
A key milestone. iScanner became a global app with versions in different languages and started growing into a full document tool for everyday use.

The Sign PDF feature becomes the most used tool (2018)
Users wanted more than just scanning, so we added the Sign PDF feature. It quickly became the most popular tool, turning iScanner into a full PDF editor with easy signing options.

AI border detection & perspective fix launched (2019)
To improve scan quality, iScanner added AI border detection and perspective correction. These smart tools made scans clearer and more accurate.

Top #1 scanner app in the U.S. App Store (2020)
As remote work became the norm, iScanner quickly became a trusted tool. It topped the U.S. charts for scanning apps in both downloads and revenue and held that spot for four years in a row.

Count Objects with Camera became a viral tool (2021)
Small businesses quickly took to the Count Objects with Camera feature. It went viral, creating a new scanning category by using AI to automate inventory and tracking.

AI dewarping and Finger Eraser launched (2022)
To make it easy for everyone to create professional-quality documents, iScanner introduced its own AI dewarping algorithm and Finger Eraser. No more warps, no more skews.

Won Webby People’s Voice & Safest Scanner for Android (2023)
iScanner earned praise from both experts and users, winning the Webby Award and Lovie Gold, and being named the safest scanner app for Android by Pradeo Security. Trust and privacy are at the heart of what we do.

In-app Eco-Achievements Program launched (2024)
iScanner has always aimed to reduce paper waste. Now, with the new Eco-Achievements program, users can track their impact, save trees, and support the shift to digital in a fun and rewarding way.

Expanded into a full document platform across devices (2025)
iScanner stays true to its mission by blending simplicity, privacy, and AI-powered tools with robust PDF editing.

What Are We Up For Now?

As we celebrate a decade of growth, we’re not slowing down. We’re just getting started!

Our mission remains simple: to keep making iScanner smarter, faster, and even more useful for everyday life. We’re also exploring new tools to support students, educators, freelancers, and businesses of all sizes. At the same time, we’re staying committed to sustainability, privacy, and accessibility. We’re 100% sure that a great app also means making a positive impact.

And no doubt we’ll keep listening to what matters most to you. Every piece of feedback, review, and suggestion helps shape iScanner’s future. You’ve helped us become the top scanning app in the U.S., and we’re excited to keep growing together. Without you, we wouldn’t be here.

If you’d like to celebrate our anniversary and share some love, the best way to do that is by leaving a review on G2. Help spread the word about iScanner! We’d be very grateful for such a gift! Just click the banner below to get started:

Thank you! And here’s to the next 10 years!