Are you trying to find portable scanners among various brands on the market but aren’t sure where to begin? To assist you in finding the right one, we’ve put together a list of the 7 best to help you pick the perfect one!
We investigated and evaluated a number of the top-selling portable scanners on the market in order to create our list of the best. Making a decision among the many options available is never simple. There are an infinite number of models available, each with a distinct price. And as you’ll find out, the best options aren’t usually the ones you imagine! This comparison is rich and relevant because of the numerous factors that were employed. You will find products featured in this ranking not only based on their pricing but also on their features and other customers reviews. To write this review, we completed 26 hours of research and did 56 portable scanners tests. You won’t need to pick products at random any more. If you’re unsure of what to look for, browse our list and consult the buying guide!
An overview of our top picks
Table of contents
The best portable scanners you can buy today
- Fastest and lightest mobile single sheet fed document scanner in its class(1) small, portable scanner ideal for easy, on the go scanning
- Fast scans a single page in as fast as 5.5 seconds(2) Windows and Mac compatible, the scanner also includes a TWAIN driver.
- Versatile paper handling scans documents upto 8.5 x 72 inches, as well as ID cards and receipts
- Smart tools to easily scan and organize documents Epson ScanSmart Software(3) makes it easy to scan, review and save
- USB powered connect to your computer; No batteries or external power supply required
- Includes Nuance OCR create searchable PDFs and editable Word and Excel files, Scan speed up to 5.5sec per sheet
- Scan to the cloud(4) scan files directly to online storage accounts with the included software Included Twain driver compatible with virtually any imaging software
- Compatible with Windows and Mac works with your existing system; Twain driver included
- Automatic feeding mode combine multi page scans into one file; Scanner automatically accepts each new sheet as it’s inserted
- The fastest and lightest mobile single-sheet-fed document scanner in its class1, the WorkForce ES-50 features fast speeds ― scanning a single page in as fast as 5.5 seconds2. This small, portable scanner accommodates extra-long pages, ID cards and more. Refer attached user manual below
- FAST SPEEDS - Scans color and black and white documents a blazing speed up to 16ppm (1). Color scanning won’t slow you down as the color scan speed is the same as the black and white scan speed.
- ULTRA COMPACT – At less than 1 foot in length and only about 1. 5lbs in weight you can fit this device virtually anywhere (a bag, a purse, even a pocket).
- READY WHENEVER YOU ARE – The DS-640 mobile scanner is powered via an included micro USB 3. 0 cable allowing you to use it even where there is no outlet available. Plug it into you PC or laptop and you are ready to scan.
- WORKS YOUR WAY – Use the Brother free iPrint&Scan desktop app for scanning to multiple “Scan-to” destinations like PC, Network, cloud services, Email and OCR. (2) Supports Windows, Mac and Linux and TWAIN/WIA for PC/ICA for Mac/SANE drivers. (3)
- OPTIMIZE IMAGES AND TEXT – Automatic color detection/adjustment, image rotation (PC only), bleed through prevention/background removal, text enhancement, color drop to enhance scans. Software suite includes document management and OCR software. (4)
- STAY ORGANIZED – Easily convert your paper documents into digital formats like searchable PDF files, JPEGs, and more.Power Consumption : 2.5W or less (Energy Saving Mode: 0.7W). Suggested Daily Volume : 500 scans..Does it contain liquid: no
- CONVENIENT AND PORTABLE –lightweight and small in size, you can take the scanner anywhere from home offices, classrooms, remote offices, and anywhere in between
- HANDLES VARIOUS MEDIA TYPES – Digitize receipts, business cards, plastic or embossed cards, reports, legal documents, and more
- FAST AND EFFICIENT – No technical hurdles or complicated setups here; easily scan both sides of a document at the same time, in color or black-and-white, at up to 12 pages-per-minute, and with a 20 sheet automatic feeder
- BROAD COMPATIBILITY – Works with both Windows and Mac devices, be it laptop or computer
- BUILT-IN SOFTWARE – Use your scanner with ease as the powerful scanning software is already built-in, requires no installation, and updates automatically
- PREVIEW YOUR SCANS – Adjust and organize your scanned files as you edit, straighten, and trim your files or create buttons with custom scanning settings and destinations
- HIGH-QUALITY IMAGING – Leveraging the same technology used in Canon’s camera products, you’ll save great-looking output in color, black-and-white, or grayscale
- SUSTAINABLE DESIGN – Save energy and the environment with a scanner that meets ENERGY STAR guidelines
- This product is not intended for scanning photographs on photo paper / photographic media
- Note: No software installation is required. You need 2 AA batteries ( not included) and a memory card ( included) to use it directly. Scan mode: Press and hold "Scan" for 2 seconds to turn on the device, and then press "Scan", the green light is on. The scanner moves to scan the file until the green light turns off automatically (or press the "Scan" key and the green light goes out). The number shown on the display increases by 1 to indicate that the scan is complete.
- Portable Scanner scans images or pictures quickly: Store JPEG/PDF files within seconds, scan images or pictures quickly, plug and play, no need any software preinstalled. Compatible with Windows XP/7/Vista/Mac OS 10.4 or above version.
- Lightweight and travel-friendly: Stored in Micro SD card directly, support read data on your computer or phone with USB connected. Powered by 2pcs AA batteries, Compact Design, it is convenient to carry outside.
- 3 Image Resolution: 3 modes of resolution for your options: 300dpi/600dpi/900dpi, you can save it at the clearest way, picture and document are showed clear as it is. Freely choose your favorite resolution.File Format: JPEG/PDF format is all available, Great storage capacity as it supports 32G Micro SD card（Included 16GB Card）,total meet your need for business trip or daily use.
- Widely Used: It is applicable in bank, insurance business, real estate agency,home, office, library or outdoors. suitable for lawyer, businessmen, students, travelers and amateur archivists. Scan your important files and save them immediately, no struggling in finding a printing shop, keep it confidential.
- Fastest scan speeds in its class (1) — up to 25 ppm/50 ipm (2); Single-Step Technology captures both sides in one pass.
- Versatile scanning — scan 2-sided documents, receipts, business cards, plastic IDs and more.
- Convenient portability — use AC power, or if there’s no outlet, USB power (4) from your computer.
- Quick batch scanning for stacks of paper — 20-page Auto Document Feeder.
- Powerful software included — easy scanning with intuitive Epson ScanSmart Software (3); preview, email, upload and more; automatic file naming and object recognition save time.
- Fastest, smallest and lightest wireless mobile single-sheet-fed document scanner in its class (1) ― ideal for easy, on-the-go scanning.
- Groundbreaking speed ― scans a single page in as fast as 4 seconds (2).
- Wirelessly scan critical documents ― scan to a PC, Mac, iOS or Android device (3). Operating Temperature - 41 ° to 95 °F (5 ° to 35 °C)
- Smart tools to easily scan and organize documents ― Epson ScanSmart Software (3) makes it easy to scan, review and save.
- Automatically detects connectivity ― switches between USB and battery-powered wireless without any user intervention; LCD displays wireless and battery status.
- Includes Nuance OCR ― create searchable PDFs and editable Word and Excel files
- Scan to the cloud(4) ― scan files directly to online storage accounts with the included software
- Versatile paper handling ― scans documents up to 8.5" x 72", as well as ID cards and receipts
- TWAIN driver included ― compatible with virtually any imaging software
- Automatic Feeding Mode ― combine multi-page scans into one file; automatically accepts each new sheet as it’s inserted
- One touch scanning with ScanSnap Cloud - automatically separate and send documents, receipts, business cards or photos to predetermined cloud services
- Wi-Fi and USB connectivity - Scan wirelessly to PC, Mac, iOS or Android mobile devices
- Built-in GI microprocessor performs intelligent image enhancement including auto color detection, crop & deskew, and blank page removal
- Fast battery-powered speed - scan a full color A4 document at 300 dpi in just 5.2 seconds
- Portable scanning anywhere with rechargeable battery - scan up to 260 documents on a full charge
- Smallest and lightest mobile single-sheet document scanner (1) ― ideal for easy, on-the-go scanning.
- Fast scans ― scans a single page in as fast as 5.5 seconds (2).
- World-class service and support ― 3-year limited warranty with Next-Business-Day Replacement (3).
- Versatile paper handling ― scans documents up to 8.5" x 72", as well as business/ID cards and receipts.
- Create editable text and searchable PDFs ― OCR and document management software included.
- WIDE COMPATIBLE - Compatible with Windows XP/7/Vista/Mac OS 10.4 or above version. Scan images or pictures quickly and store files within seconds, plug and play, no need any software preinstalled.
- 3 IMAGE RESOLUTION - 3 modes of resolution for your options: 300dpi/600dpi/900dpi, you can save it in the clearest way, picture and document are showed clear as it is. Freely choose your suitable resolution.
- UP TO 32GB STORAGE - Great storage capacity as it supports 32G Micro SD card, JPEG/PDF format is all available, total meet your need for business trip or daily use. Store and Share your scans and information via searchable PDF files or JPEG into a micro SD/TF card.
- EASY OPERATION - Switch on, select color mode and resolution, press the "SCAN" button until the green LED lights up, scan the document, press it over (finished automatically after 3 minutes without operation).
- EASY OPERATION - Switch on, select color mode and resolution, press the "SCAN" button until the green LED lights up, scan the document, press it over (finished automatically after 3 minutes without operation).
- 1️⃣ 【Handheld Scanner--Easy to Scan】 Portable scanners use handheld scanning to maximize your diverse scanning needs. 1. Place the scan target flat on a table. 2. Hold and place the scanner close to the top of the scan target. 3. Scan from top to bottom at a constant speed. NOTE: The scanned image resolution is 900DPI.
- 2️⃣ 【Portable Scanner--Easy to Carry】 Length: 10 inches. Weight: 0.44 lbs. Power source: 2AA Alkaline Batteries(not included). Carry method: Put it in a schoolbag/briefcase. Scan way: Flat scan independently from the computer. Storage method: 16G SD Card(included).
- 3️⃣ 【Multi-purpose Scanner--Advantages】 Handheld scanners make your scanning have a tactile appeal. Compared to feeding scanners, handheld scanners will maximize protection from bending and damaging old photos by the feeding machine. Scanners can digitize photos, documents, text, charts, drafts, pages, magazines, recipes, small maps, and more.
- 4️⃣ 【Scanned Images--Easy to Transfer, No Installation Needed】 Transfer method: USB cable. Computers recognize the photo scanner via a USB cable like recognize other hardware such as a camera or SD card. The portable scanner is connectable with Mac, Windows 7/8/10/XP, and Linux systems computers.
- 5️⃣【Warm Tips】 Practice a few more times to get the hang of scanning speed. Poor image quality could be fixed by cleaning the bottom of the scanner, restarting the scanner, or processing white balance calibration. Red light wronging can be solved by restarting the scanner. Please watch the instruction videos.
- 【Go Paperless】Doxie Go SE delivers smart, simple scanning that you can take anywhere – no computer required. Doxie's everything you want modern scanning to be.
- 【Fast, Easy Scanning】Doxie makes it easy to scan documents at your desk or on the go – simply insert your paper. Scan full-color pages in just 8 seconds at up to 600 dpi.
- 【Tiny + Battery Powered】Doxie is tiny – the size of a rolled up magazine – and portable with a rechargeable battery and included memory. Scan up to 400 pages per charge, store up to 8,000 pages before needing to sync.
- 【Amazing Software and OCR】Included Doxie app syncs scans, sends directly to your favorite apps, and uses the award-winning ABBYY OCR technology to recognize the text in your document to create multi-page searchable PDFs.
- 【Protected by DoxieCare】Every new Doxie includes a comprehensive 1-year manufacturer warranty. Complete with access to the best support in the scanner industry to help you scan, organize, or just provide tips on the best ways to scan your paper.
- Wirelessly scan to your smartphone, tablet or computer plus online cloud storage accounts 2, PC and Mac compatible
- Fastest scan speeds in its class1, up to 25 ppm/50 ipm(3), Single-Step Technology captures both sides in one pass
- Total portability, choose from AC, rechargeable battery or USB power(4), wherever your business takes you
- Quick batch scanning for stacks of paper, 20-page Auto Document Feeder
- Powerful software included, easy scanning with intuitive Epson ScanSmart Software(2), preview, email, upload and more, automatic file naming and object recognition save time
- Compatible with most office software, the included TWAIN driver allows for easy connection to most document management software
- Built-in Nuance Optical Character Recognition (OCR), create searchable PDFs and editable Word and Excel files
- Easy sharing and collaboration, email or upload to popular cloud storage services(2) such as Dropbox, Evernote, Google Drive
- Versatile scanning, scan 2-sided documents, receipts, business cards, plastic IDs and more
- Intelligent color and image adjustments, auto crop, skew correction, blank page and background removal with Epson Image Processing Technology
- 【Fast Scanning】This A4 scanner is easy to use and easy to get the pictures transferred. It can scan a A4 color page in 3sec, fast scanning.
- 【Lightweight】This little wand scanner is lightweight, net weight is about 0.32lb, not difficult to work with.
- 【Resolution】This Document Scanner supports 300DPI, 600DPI and 900DPI resolutions. It produces clear, good quality scans.
- 【Battery Powered】This portable scanner is powered by 2pcs AA batteries( not includes).
- 【Notice】This A4 scanner can transfer the images to the computer by USB cable. But when it connect with the computer, it cannot scan.
- Easily Scan, archive and organize file
- Save files onto a microSD/microSDHC memory card up to 32GB
- Approximately 1.5-inch class color LCD panel to preview scans
- Uses rechargeable Lithium Polymer battery
- 1200 DPI for high resolution scans; 8.5-inch x (Scanning length) up to 125-inch. PLEASE NOTE: Kindly refer the Instructional Video from the image section before use, which is very essential.
- 𝑯𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒐 𝑺𝒄𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈: Press and hold "Scan" for 3 seconds to switch on. Press the "Scan" button again and the green light will come on. The scanner slowly moves the scanned document, press Scan again and the green light goes out (or until the green light goes out automatically). The number shown on the display increases by 1 to indicate that scanning is complete. If the red light is on, the scan is moving too fast.
- 𝑬𝒂𝒔𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝑪𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒚：Hand scanner for on-the-go use with 2*AA batteries and 16GB memory card (for thousands of scanned documents).If replacing a memory card, please note that only memory cards of 32GB or less and cards of class 6 or above are supported. AA batteries are included for 1-2 hours continuous use, it is recommended to replace them with higher capacity batteries.
- 𝑬𝒂𝒔𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝑼𝒔𝒆：No Driver，No software to install.Document scanner easily connects the portable scanner to a PC via a USB cable to transfer scanned photos or documents anywhere, anytime. Can also be connected to an IPAD (requires own conversion cable).
- 𝑫𝒊𝒈𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝑴𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔：3 resolution modes - 300dpi/600dpi/900dpi; 2 formats - JPEG/PDF.Save precious and important documents from clutter and forgetfulness.
- 𝑸𝒖𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒄𝒆: 𝑿𝑸𝑪𝑲 Scanner for scanning documents, photos,pictures，magazines, assignments, drafts, manuscripts, contracts, paperwork etc. Up to A4 size. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will give you satisfactory technical support.
- Note: No software installation is required. You need 2 AA batteries (included) and a memory card ( included) to use it directly. Scan mode: Press and hold "Scan" for 2 seconds to turn on the device, and then press "Scan", the green light is on. The scanner moves to scan the file until the green light turns off automatically (or press the "Scan" key and the green light goes out). The number shown on the display increases by 1 to indicate that the scan is complete.
- Portable Scanner scans images or pictures quickly: Store JPEG/PDF files within seconds, scan images or pictures quickly, plug and play, no need any software preinstalled. Compatible with Windows XP/7/Vista/Mac OS 10.4 or above version.
- Lightweight and travel-friendly: Stored in Micro SD card directly, support read data on your computer or phone with USB connected. Powered by 2pcs AA batteries, Compact Design, it is convenient to carry outside.
- 3 Image Resolution: 3 modes of resolution for your options: 300dpi/600dpi/900dpi, you can save it at the clearest way, picture and document are showed clear as it is. Freely choose your favorite resolution.File Format: JPEG/PDF format is all available, Great storage capacity as it supports 32G Micro SD card（Included 16GB Card）,total meet your need for business trip or daily use.
- Widely Used: It is applicable in bank, insurance business, real estate agency,home, office, library or outdoors. suitable for lawyer, businessmen, students, travelers and amateur archivists. Scan your important files and save them immediately, no struggling in finding a printing shop, keep it confidential.
- ♫ 【What is a Portable Scanner】 Portable Scanner, a handheld flat scanner, is designed to scan documents, photos, magazines, homework, drafts, manuscript, and other scan targets. Compared to a feeding scanner, this portable scanner can scan targets independently without connecting to any devices and protect targets to the greatest extent. Compared to desktop scanning, portable scanners can be carried around and uploaded with the built-in Wi-Fi capability.
- ♫ 【What will a scanner help us】 Portable scanner can help us digitize different sizes of photos and documents (up to 4a paper size) by scanning them in JPG/PDF format, with color. And portable can transfer images to our computer or cell phone thru its built-in Wi-Fi function. Attention, it is a built-in Wi-Fi, which means it can not connect with home/public Wi-Fi.
- ♫ 【How to use the Portable Scanner】 1. Charge the scanner like a phone first(USB included), then long-press the "SCAN" button for 2s to startup the scanner and choose HI resolution. 2. Take some time practicing scanning to get the hang of scan speed. 3. Vertical scan your target on a flat desk at a steady speed. 4. Connect your devices to the scanner's built-in WIFI to download the images.
- ♫ 【Some details of the Portable Scanner】 Length: 9.5". Weight: 0.44lbs. Functions: Flat scan, preview images, built-in Wi-Fi, chargeable power, auxiliary pulley. Included 16GB SD card, USB cable, user manual, small bag.
- ♫【Some advantages & tips】1. Portable Scanner can convert your paper targets into digital files in high clarity(300-1050 dpi) within 5 seconds. 2. 16G SD card will store thousands of files. 3. The scanner is compatible with Android, iOS, Mac, Windows 7/8/10/XP, and Linux systems (for file transmission). 4. Attention, it is a built-in Wi-Fi and not to connect to our home Wi-Fi.
- Great storage capacity as it supports 32G Micro SD card, JPEG/PDF format is all available, total meet your need for business trip or daily use.
- 3 modes of resolution for your options: 300dpi/600dpi/900dpi, you can save it in the clearest way, picture and document are showed clear as it is.
- Stored in Micro SD card directly, support read data on your computer or phone with USB connected. Powered by 2pcs AA batteries, small and portable, it is convenient to carry outside.
- It is applicable in bank, insurance business, lawyer, real estate agency, scan your important files and save them immediately, no struggling in finding a printing shop, keep it confidential.
- If you don't know how to use the scanner, please don't hesitate to contact with us and we would send you the using manual teach you, my dearest customer!
- High resolution scanner for A4 size documents and images, excellent scanning performance.
- Compact size and lightweight design, easy to carry around.
- Built-in real time scanning detector, avoid image distortion.
- Supports memory card up to 32G, can store large capacity files; package comes with 1 * 8GB TF memory card that is inserted into the machine.
- Direct plug-in, driver installation not required.
- Flat scanning in JPEG/PDF format in 3 resolutions options (300/600/900dpi)
- Support storage in 32G Micro SD Card (not included) for USB upload, convenient for reading or further editing on computer/smartphone
- Battery powered, slim and portable, easy to carry around, ideal for business trip
- Long press to power on for free scanning without need of driver
- Must-have tool for people who need to scan files/pictures/photos in daily work or students who need to scan information from books/magazines/newspapers
How to choose a good portable scanners
Does the idea of finding a fantastic portable scanners make you anxious? When it comes to purchasing this product, specifically when deciding which model to select, has your head been spinning between options? You are not alone if that is the case. We are aware of the pressure involved in the purchasing process!
Your presence here indicates that you are interested in portable scanners. Before choosing which product would be the best for your needs after being inundated with information, locate a reliable source with genuine selections. You can get that information from a variety of sources, including buying guides and rating websites, word-of-mouth recommendations from friends and family, online discussion forums where users can share their own experiences, product reviews that can be found all over the internet, and YouTube channels. You can only get the right product through exhaustive analysis. But you realize that’s not always simple. In order to ease your concerns, we have taken the time to develop a list of the top portable scanners products available right now. You might be wondering how we came up with the list. How was this buying guide developed?
First, we used our algorithms to gather as much reliable data as we could about these products. To verify all the data gathered, we used both artificial intelligence and a lot of algorithms.
Then, our experts used criteria that are recognized in the business to evaluate them according to their quality to price ratio, allowing us to choose the top portable scanners on the market right now!
The selection of the goods is not arbitrary. Before creating a list, we take into account a number of factors. Below are some of the criteria discussed:
Brand Value: What happens if you choose a dubious brand just because it appears to be a good deal? So the likelihood of receiving a product with a short shelf life increases. That is due to the fact that well-known brands have a reputation to uphold, while others do not. Top portable scanners brands strive to provide some distinctive traits that set them apart from the competition. So, hopefully one or more of the items on our list will be perfect for you.
Features: Useful features are all you need, not tons of them. We consider the important aspects and select the top portable scanners based on those.
Specifications: Numbers always help you measure the quality of a product in a quantitative way. We try to find products with higher specifications, but with the right balance.
Quality: A product’s quality may always be quantified with the aid of numbers. We look for goods with better standards that strike the proper balance. The best quality product that gets highly appreciated and recommended by experienced users.
Customer ratings: Would it be accurate to suggest that the portable scanners were used by hundreds of customers before you? Superior ratings indicate that many customers had better service.
Customer Reviews: Like ratings, provide you with accurate and reliable information about the product from genuine customers. Customer ratings are very important to all of us because they contain accurate and reliable information about the customer service we received from several hundred customers.
Seller Rank: This is very intriguing! Not only do you need a good portable scanners, you also need a product with rising sales that is trendy. It accomplishes two goals. First, the expanding user base proves the quality of the product. Second, given that number, producers must be able to offer greater quality and after-sales support.
Value: You get what you pay for, they say, so consider the value. Cheap isn’t always good and expensive isn’t always bad. However, that does not imply that spending a lot of money on a product that is flashy but underwhelming is a good idea. Before adding them to the list, we make an effort to evaluate how much value you can get for your money from your portable scanners.
Durability: Durability and reliability are closely related concepts. You will benefit from a strong and long-lasting portable scanners for months and years to come.
Product availability: Products come and go, and new ones replace the old ones. Most likely, a few new features and required changes were made. What use is it to use a supposedly good product if the maker no longer supports it? We make an effort to highlight products that are current and offered by one or more trustworthy sellers, if not more.
Negative Reviews: Yes, we do take that into account as well! The goods with the majority of bad reviews are filtered out and disregarded when we choose the best-rated one on the market.
These are the standards by which we selected our portable scanners. Do we end our process there? Hell no. The most crucial fact about us that you should be aware of is that we regularly update our website with current and pertinent information. We have one more layer of filtration since we place the greatest importance on reader satisfaction. Please let us know if any product included here is incorrect, irrelevant, subpar, or simply out of date. We always value your opinions, and we’ll work hard to make any necessary corrections to our list in response to them.
Why should you believe us?
There are now thousands of possibilities for these products on Amazon, but choosing the best one can be difficult and time-consuming. And what portable scanners should you purchase in 2022?
This guide is the result of more than 10 years of experience in researching, testing and writing about many topics. Each member of our team is an authority in their area. We read every article we could find online and every consumer review on every retail website for seven hours. Additionally, we discovered a ton of websites that offered helpful resources, including buying tips and thorough information on portable scanners.
