What it does
ScanGuru is a document management toolkit for your phone. It turns the device's camera into a powerful scanner for documents, receipts, ID cards, and even books. The app's core function is to create clean, high-quality PDF or JPG files from physical papers. Beyond simple scanning, it uses Optical Character Recognition (OCR) to turn scanned images into editable text, which can then be annotated, signed, or even translated.
Where it shines
The app excels in its streamlined scan-to-edit workflow. Within a minute, a user can scan a document (00:59), add a signature (01:17), and have a signed file ready to go. The handwritten text recognition shown in the onboarding (00:11) is another standout moment, promising a solution for digitizing notes. Furthermore, the translation feature (02:08) is a powerful addition, turning a simple scanner into a tool for understanding international documents.
UX highlights
- The main screen (00:43) provides "Quick Actions" for common tasks like "Scan & Export", saving users several taps.
- The document cropping tool (01:00) includes a helpful magnifying loupe that appears when dragging a corner, allowing for precise adjustments.
- Editing options are well-organized into categories like Text, Image, and Markup (06:06), making it easy to find the right tool.
- The app supports various document types beyond standard pages, including ID cards, passports, and books, accessible from a single scanning interface (04:29).
- File management is straightforward, with options to create folders (05:08) and sort documents by name or date (05:28).
- The OCR feature provides a clear "Tap on text to start editing" prompt (01:37), guiding the user on how to interact with the recognized text.
Monetization & growth
The app presents its subscription offer very early in the user journey. A paywall (00:17) appears immediately after a brief feature carousel. It promotes a single subscription plan ($6.99/week) with a 7-day free trial. The trial is enabled by default with a visible toggle, a design choice that likely boosts conversion. The app also features an upsell for a "Digital Document Security Guide" (04:05), creating an additional revenue opportunity.
Who it’s for
This app is ideal for students, professionals, and anyone who frequently handles physical paperwork. Its ability to quickly digitize and sign documents makes it valuable for remote work or managing expenses on the go. The OCR and translation features also make it useful for researchers or individuals dealing with documents in multiple languages.
Notes & opportunities
The initial onboarding flow is very fast, which is good, but it might move too quickly for some users to fully absorb the feature benefits. A minor point of friction is the direct jump to system permission prompts (00:01, 00:37) without any custom warm-up screens, which could lead to a higher rate of denials. The app could also explore different pricing tiers, as a single weekly plan might not fit all user needs.