PaperScan Free Edition

Name: PaperScan Free Edition
Availability: InStock
Author: Orpalis

PaperScan Free Edition is a document scanning application that works with any TWAIN or WIA compatible scanner and saves scans as PDF, TIFF, JPEG, or PNG files. It handles single and multi page scanning from flatbed scanners and automatic document feeders, with a built in page editor for basic adjustments before export.

What it does

PaperScan connects to your scanner hardware and lets you preview, scan, and save documents from one window. You select your scanner source, set the resolution and color mode, then scan pages into a workspace where they appear as thumbnails on the left side. Multiple pages stack into a single document, so scanning a ten page report produces one PDF file instead of ten separate images.

The built in editor lets you rotate pages, crop margins, adjust brightness and contrast, and delete unwanted pages before saving. You can also import existing image files from disk and combine them with freshly scanned pages into one output file. The free edition covers the core scanning and export workflow, while the paid versions add OCR text recognition, barcode detection, and annotation tools.

Advantages

Works with virtually all scanners through TWAIN and WIA driver support
Multi page scanning into a single PDF or TIFF file without extra steps
Built in rotation, cropping, and brightness controls for quick page cleanup
Supports automatic document feeder (ADF) and duplex scanning on compatible hardware

Drawbacks

No OCR in the free edition, so scanned text cannot be selected or searched
Annotation and redaction tools are locked behind the paid version
Interface feels dated compared to modern scanning utilities
Windows only, no macOS or Linux version available

Who it is for

I recommend PaperScan Free Edition to anyone who needs a straightforward scanner companion that just works with their existing hardware. If you scan receipts, contracts, or paper documents to PDF a few times a week and your scanner's bundled software is clunky or missing, PaperScan fills that gap without cost. For users who need text recognition from scans, NAPS2 is a better free alternative because it includes built in OCR at no charge.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is PaperScan Free Edition really free?

Yes. The Free Edition handles scanning, page editing, and export to PDF, TIFF, JPEG, and PNG without cost. OCR, barcode detection, and annotation tools are locked behind the paid Home or Professional editions.

Does PaperScan work with my scanner?

PaperScan works with any scanner that uses TWAIN or WIA drivers, which covers virtually all flatbed and document scanners sold in the last 20 years. If your scanner works with Windows, it should work with PaperScan.

Can PaperScan do OCR on scanned documents?

Not in the free edition. OCR text recognition requires the paid Home or Professional version. For free OCR scanning, NAPS2 is an alternative that includes built-in text recognition at no charge.

Can I scan multiple pages into one PDF?

Yes. PaperScan stacks each scanned page into a workspace. You can reorder, rotate, or delete pages, then export the entire batch as a single multi-page PDF or TIFF file.

Features & How-To Guide

#	Feature	How to use
1	Document scanning to PDF	File › Scan › Select a scanner from the list › Set resolution and color mode › Scan › File › Save as PDF.
2	Multiple page scanning to single file	File › Scan › Scan the first page › Click Scan again for subsequent pages › All pages go into a single document › Save as PDF.
3	Rotating and cropping scanned pages	Select a page in the thumbnail panel › Edit › Rotate (90/180/270) or Crop › Select the area to cut › Apply.
4	Automatic document feeder scanning (ADF)	File › Scan › Source: ADF › Check Duplex if the scanner supports it › Scan › All sheets are scanned automatically.
5	Scan export to graphics formats	File › Save as Image › Select format (JPEG/PNG/BMP/TIFF) › Set compression quality › Save.
6	Scan brightness and contrast adjustment	Edit › Image Adjustments › Brightness and Contrast sliders › Live preview › Apply to the selected page.
7	PDF page order change 2	Thumbnail panel on the left › Drag a page to a new position › The order is saved when exporting to PDF/TIFF.
8	Email import from Outlook and other clients	File › Import › Select JPEG/PNG/TIFF files from disk › They load as pages for further processing and export.
9	Empty page removal	Right-click a page in the thumbnail panel › Delete Page › Confirm deletion of blank or unwanted pages.
10	Scan source selection	File › Select Source › List of available TWAIN and WIA scanners › Select a device › Close the window › The next scan will use the selected scanner.