10 Best Portable Scanners For Creatives

If you are looking for the ideal portable scanner for your scanning jobs, check out this compilation of the best portable scanners in 2022.

Whether you’re conducting business from home or at the office, you’ll need to scan an important document at some point.

In this age of remote work, you will need a portable scanner that is as adaptable as your schedule.

What are the best portable scanners?

The ideal portable scanner for you will depend on your needs and work requirements.

This list consists of portable scanners from Canon, Fujitsu, Epson, Brother, and other reliable brands.

Check out my compilation of the 10 best portable scanners to determine which of these scanners perfectly suits you.

10 Best Portable Scanners

1. Brother DS-940 DW — Best overall
2. Fujitsu ScanSnap iX1300 — Best for ID/business cards
3. Epson WorkForce ES-300W — Best for multipage
4. Epson WorkForce ES-50 — Best lightweight
5. Brother DS-640 — Best cheap
6. Canon imageFORMULA R10 — Best for small businesses
7. Epson WorkForce ES-60W — Best for document scanner
8. Fujitsu ScanSnap iX100 — Best versatile
9. Doxie Go SE Wi-Fi — Best for Mac
10. IRIScan Book 5 Wi-Fi — Best for books

How to choose the best portable scanner

There are certain factors you should keep in mind before purchasing any type of portable scanner.

We all have different needs and preferences, so we have different specification requirements.

The first thing to consider is the type of scanning job you are into, and your budget, among others.

1. Media Type
2. Resolution
3. Connectivity
4. Power
5. Compatibility
6. Price

Media Type

One of the things that you should keep in mind before purchasing a scanner is the type of media you intend to scan.

Are you planning to scan small documents like business cards and IDs?

Or are you intending to scan larger files like books, papers, or magazines?

Resolution

When scanning and printing, the resolution is typically measured in dots per inch (dpi).

The higher the resolution, the greater the detail in the scan.

The ideal scanner should have a resolution of at least 300 dpi.

Connectivity

There are scanners that only have USB ports and are compatible with PCs and Macs only computers.

Some have Wi-Fi connectivity that is perfect for mobile devices.

When selecting a scanner, keep in mind which devices you intend to connect to; it’s great if they have both types of connectivity.

Power

There are scanners that are powered by a USB connection.

There are others that come with a rechargeable battery.

When you travel a lot and need to scan most of the time, it is crucial to look for portable scanners that are convenient to power on.

Compatibility

Make sure that they are compatible with your devices before purchasing any portable scanner.

Many portable scanners include a smartphone app or a web app.

You don’t want to be caught up in numerous steps before you will be able to save your files, right?

Price

There are numerous options for portable scanners, ranging from the most affordable to the most expensive.

You can get higher-resolution results and better software packages if you have the means to buy an expensive one.

Your budget always determines which brand or model you can afford.

We’ve compiled a list of the best portable scanners so you can find the perfect fit for you based on the criteria listed above.

1. Brother DS-940 DW

The Brother DS-940DW portable document scanner scans quickly and comes with all the specific software you need to maximize your productivity.

The best overall portable scanner.

This device can do almost any scanning task you could ask for.

Its two-sided scanning feature can save you time and effort if you’re feeding the same document twice.

It also has the capability to scan everything from receipts and business cards to photos and A4 paper.

You will struggle to find a better option than the DS-940DW document scanner.

If you are looking for the best portable scanner on the market, the Brother DS-940DW portable document scanner is a must-try.

Specifications

Resolution: 300 dpi
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, USB
Wattage: 2 watts
Scanning Speed: 16 ppm
Product Dimension: 12.6 x 2.5 x 1.8 inches
Weight: 1.5 lbs.

Pros

1. Scans of nearly everything
2. Duplex Scanning

Cons

1. The MicroSD card is not included
2. No automatic document feeder

Buy Brother DS-940DW on Amazon Now

2. Fujitsu ScanSnap iX1300

The best portable scanner for IDs and business cards.

It can connect to Mac, PC, iOS, and Android devices and work virtually in any environment.

It enables users to do more with a single one-touch device and a PC-free connection to the cloud.

The iX1300 scans at 30 pages per minute in both simplex and duplex modes.

It offers two scanning methods: U-turn Scan for continuous scanning and Returns Scan for folded documents and cards, among others.

If you are looking for the best portable scanner to scan IDs and business cards, then the Fujitsu ScanSnap iX1300 is a perfect choice.

Specifications

Resolution: 600 dpi
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, USB
Wattage: 17 watts
Scanning Speed: 12–30 ppm
Product Dimension: 11.7 x 4.5 x 3.3 inches
Weight: 4.4 lbs.

Pros

1. Good scan quality
2. Scans both in colored and black and white

Cons

1. The limited capacity of the document feeder
2. Other scanners’ OCR documents cannot be read

Buy Fujitsu ScanSnap iX1300on Amazon Now

3. Epson WorkForce ES-300W

The WorkForce ES-300W is a compact and feature-packed scanner that is fast and reliable.

The best portable scanner for multi-page documents.

This is a wireless and portable scanner with lightning-fast scanning performance.

The Epson ES-300W can scan wirelessly to your smartphone, tablet, or computer.

It offers extremely fast scanning with automatic feed from a fold-out tray that holds approximately 50 sheets.

The Epson ES-300W compact duplex document scanner keeps you organized inside and outside the office.

The included TWAIN driver is compatible with most office software and allows for a simple connection to most document management software.

If you are looking for the best portable scanner for multiple-page files, the Epson WorkForce ES-300W is the best pick for you.

Specifications

Resolution: 1200 dpi
Connectivity: Wi-Fi
Wattage: 8 watts
Scanning Speed: 25 ppm
Product Dimension: 11.3 x 3.5 x 2.6 inches
Weight: 2.9 lbs.

Pros

1. Highly portable
2. Super fast

Cons

1. Expensive
2. Glitchy feed sensor

Buy Epson WorkForce ES-300W on Amazon Now

4. Epson WorkForce ES-50

The Workforce ES-50 is simple to use, lightweight, and can scan as fast as 4 seconds.

The best lightweight portable scanner on the market.

This portable scanner is ideal for scanning on the go, simply plug it into your laptop and go.

The WorkForce ES-50 does not support double-sided scanning, but it is relatively flexible.

It has the capability to handle all types of material and paper up to 270 gsm.

This ES-50 is powered by USB connectivity and can scan at up to 5.5 seconds per page.

It also comes with Epson’s own SmartScan software to help you manage your scans and get the best results.

If you are looking for the best lightweight portable scanner on the market, try the Epson WorkForce ES-50.

Specifications

Resolution: 1200 dpi
Connectivity: USB
Scanning Speed: 10 ppm
Product Dimension: 1.8 x 10.7 x 1.3 inches
Weight: 0.59 lbs.

Pros

1. Super light-weight
2. Quick scan

Cons

1. Not wireless
2. Can’t do double-sided scanning

Buy Epson WorkForce ES-50 on Amazon Now

5. Brother DS-640

The Brother DS-640 is the best low-cost option for a portable scanner currently available on the market.

The best cheap portable scanner.

This device is inexpensive but quite impressive.

It is compact and lightweight and has a scanning speed of up to 15 ppm.

This is a low-cost scanner that scans quickly and accurately, but it lacks single-pass duplex scanning.

If you are looking for the best portable scanner that is budget-friendly, the Brother DS-640 is an excellent choice.

Specifications

Resolution: 300 dpi
Connectivity: USB
Wattage: 2.5 watts
Scanning Speed: 15 ppm
Product Dimension: 11.9 x 2.2 x 1.4 inches
Weight: 1.85 lbs.

Pros

1. Very affordable
2. Scans quickly

Cons

1. Single-sided scanning
2. No internal battery

Buy Brother DS-640 on Amazon Now

6. Canon ImageFORMULA R10

The Canon ImageFORMULA R10 provides professional scans in a portable package at an astonishingly low price.

The best portable scanner for small business owners.

It makes it simple to digitize everything from receipts to legal documents and business cards.

The imageFORMULA R10 is ideal for mobile workers and home-based employees who don’t need a lot of desk space.

It supports two-sided scanning to make your life easier, and it can handle a variety of media.

It also comes with its own built-in software that is ready to use as soon as you plug it into your computer.

If you have a startup business and are in need of a portable scanner, the Canon imageFORMULA R10 is a great option.

Specifications

Resolution: 600 dpi
Connectivity: USB
Wattage: 2.5 watts
Scanning Speed: 12 ppm
Product Dimension: 13.49 x 6.5 x 4.8 inches
Weight: 2.2 lbs.

Pros

1. Double-sided scanning
2. Setup is quick and easy

Cons

1. Not recommended for photos
2. Not wireless

Buy Canon imageFORMULA R10 on Amazon Now

7. Epson WorkForce ES-60W

The Epson ES-60W is a quick and light document scanner that is small enough to carry with you.

The best portable scanner for documents.

This wireless document scanner was simple to set up and use.

It is quick, well-made, and extremely convenient to use while traveling.

With a DPI of up to 1,200, this wireless and portable scanner is well worth your consideration.

If you are always on the go and looking for a portable scanner, the Epson Workforce ES-60W is the perfect companion for you.

Specifications

Resolution: 1200 dpi
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, USB
Wattage: 60 watts
Scanning Speed: 15 ppm
Product Dimension: 1.8 x 10.7 x 1.3 inches
Weight: 0.66 lbs.

Pros

1. Scans fast
2. Wireless

Cons

1. Single-sided scan
2. It lacks memory card support

Buy Epson Workforce ES-60W on Amazon Now

8. Fujitsu ScanSnap iX100

The ScanSnap iX100 is a perfect portable scanner for your home-based business because of its flexibility.

The most versatile portable scanner.

This device is precise and efficient, and the battery life is more than adequate.

The ScanSnap iX100 is an excellent choice for document management, cloud scanning, financial documents, and business card backing up.

It may be portable, but it has a neat trick up its sleeve to scan A3 documents, which is great if you need to scan larger documents.

It’s also fairly fast and battery-powered, with up to 260 A4 scans on a single charge.

If you are looking for a portable scanner that has the capability to do it all, then the Fujitsu ScanSnap iX100 is a perfect option.

Specifications

Resolution: 600 dpi
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, USB
Wattage: 4.7 watts
Scanning Speed: 12 ppm
Product Dimension: 1.87 x 10.74 x 1.42 inches
Weight: 0.88 lbs.

Pros

1. Wireless
2. Very versatile

Cons

1. Not a duplex scanner
2. A bit pricey

Buy Fujitsu ScanSnap iX100 on Amazon Now

9. Doxie Go SE Wi-Fi

The Doxie Go SE is a wireless portable scanner that has the capability to scan even without a computer.

The best portable scanner for the Mac.

This device allows you to scan up to 400 pages per charge.

In general, it’s a bit difficult to find a scanner that isn’t Mac-compatible these days, but the Doxie Go SE is the best fit for a Mac workflow.

In just eight seconds, you can scan full-color paper, photos, and receipts at up to 600 dpi.

The Doxie Go SE has all the potential of a fantastic portable scanner because of its capacity to produce high-quality scan results at reasonable speeds.

It is much faster and more convenient to use than the flat-bed scanner function found in all-in-one printers.

If you are looking for the best portable scanner for Mac, then the Doxie Go SE Wi-Fi is the one you are looking for.

Specifications

Resolution: 600 dpi
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, USB
Scanning Speed: 7 ppm
Product Dimension: 12.25 x 2.25 x 1.75 inches
Weight: 1.9 lbs.

Pros

1. Extremely portable and light-weight
2. Mac-compatible

Cons

1. Complex set-up
2. A bit pricey

Buy Doxie Go SE Wi-Fi on Amazon Now

10. IRIScan Book 5 Wi-Fi

The IRIScan Book 5 Wi-Fiis a wand scanner that can scan directly from books, magazines, journals, and notebooks.

The best portable scanner for books.

It is relatively quick and accurate and it can scan directly to a PC.

This device can connect to your Android or iOS device either through Wi-Fi or simply store scanned documents on it using the MicroSD card.

Just simply slide the scanner over documents to scan them at up to 1,200 dpi.

If you are looking for the best portable scanner for books, magazines, and the like, the IRIScan Book 5 Wi-Fi is perfect.

Specifications

Resolution: 1200 dpi
Connectivity: Wi-Fi
Wattage: 2 watts
Scanning Speed: 1 sec B&W/2 secs Colored
Product Dimension: 10.19 x 1.49 x 0.87 inches
Weight: 0.34 lbs.

Pros

1. Easy-to-use
2. Can scan without a computer

Cons

1. Less battery life
2. Does not support duplex scanning

Buy IRIScan Book 5 Wi-Fi on Amazon Now‍

Conclusions

That wraps up the list of the best portable scanners you can choose from.

In general, there is a wide range of portable scanners that are available on the market.

What is the best portable scanner to buy?

As I have mentioned, the ideal portable scanner for you will basically depend on the type of media you intend to work on.

Your needs and your job requirements matter when choosing the best scanner to use for your work.

Our current top pick is the Brother DS-940DW because of its versatility and flexibility.

If you intend to scan larger documents and files, the Fujitsu ScanSnap iX100 is highly recommended for you.

Your choice of portable scanners doesn’t imply that it will be the best option for everyone.

Take time to think about what you truly need and require before purchasing one.

Originally published at https://www.ebaqdesign.com on October 29, 2022.