Why it matters
People scan passports, contracts, tax forms, invoices and medical papers. If a scanner app uploads those pages to a server, requires an account or shares data with advertisers, you're trusting a stranger with your paperwork.
Five things to check
- Does it require an account? A scanner rarely needs one. If it asks for your email before scanning, ask why.
- Where do your scans go? Some apps process and store everything on the device; others upload pages to the cloud (for example for text recognition). Check the description and the privacy policy.
- What does the App Store privacy label say? On the app's page, look at “App Privacy”. “Data Not Collected” is the best case; “Data Linked to You” or “Data Used to Track You” deserves a closer look.
- Which permissions does it ask for? A scanner needs the camera. It shouldn't need your contacts or location.
- Are the payment terms clear? Look for visible pricing, a Restore Purchases option and a plain explanation of how to cancel.
What DocLensr does
- No account is needed, and there are no ads or analytics.
- Scanning, cropping, filters and redaction all run on your iPhone; documents are stored on the device and never uploaded to us.
- The only third party is RevenueCat, which manages purchases with an anonymous ID and your purchase status.
- The camera is the only permission requested.
If your iPhone is backed up to iCloud or a computer, the app's data may be included in that backup — which is controlled by you and Apple. You can read the full details in the privacy policy.
