10 Best Cheap Document Scanner 2025 in the United States

The Epson FastFoto FF-680W is a versatile scanner that excels in both photo and document scanning. It boasts the title of the world’s fastest personal photo scanner, capable of scanning a photo per second at 300 dpi, and can handle up to 36 photos in a batch. This is a significant advantage for users with large photo collections. The scanner supports various photo sizes and types, making it quite flexible.

It has powerful document scanning capabilities with speeds up to 45 pages per minute, aided by its built-in automatic document feeder (ADF) with duplex scanning, which is great for efficiency. The 600 dpi resolution is adequate for most document scanning needs, though it might fall short for those requiring ultra-high resolution. Connectivity options include both Wi-Fi and USB, offering flexible placement and ease of use, and the setup via the Epson FastFoto app is user-friendly.

On the downside, at 8.2 pounds, the scanner is somewhat bulky and less portable compared to other compact models. Also, while it offers impressive features for photo scanning, its higher price point might be a consideration for someone strictly looking for a cheap document scanner. The included Epson ScanSmart software with optical character recognition (OCR) is a plus, converting scanned images into readable text and making it easier to manage documents. This scanner would be most beneficial for users who need to digitize both photos and documents frequently, especially those who value speed and photo-specific features.

The ScanSnap iX1300 is a solid choice for an affordable document scanner that fits well in small spaces. Its compact design is ideal for desks with limited room, and it weighs just 4.4 pounds, making it fairly portable if you need to move it around. It offers a high resolution of 600 dpi, ensuring scanned documents and photos are clear and detailed. The scanner can handle a variety of paper types, including thick items and plastic cards, which adds to its versatility.

Scanning speed is quite good, with up to 30 pages per minute for double-sided documents, allowing it to handle everyday scanning tasks efficiently. The Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) is included, enabling easy scanning of multiple pages in one go without manually feeding each sheet. Duplex scanning (scanning both sides automatically) is supported, which is a useful feature that saves time.

Connectivity options include both USB and Wi-Fi, allowing scanning directly to your computer, mobile devices, or cloud services. The scanner also works without a computer, providing a convenient standalone scanning solution. The bundled ScanSnap Home software helps organize and edit scanned files, supporting documents, receipts, business cards, and photos, and it works on both Mac and PC. Although it might be pricier compared to some basic models with fewer features and the experience on Chromebooks via a mobile app may not be as smooth as on Mac or PC, this model remains a reliable and user-friendly scanner with good speed, image quality, and flexible connectivity in the budget-friendly segment.

The Epson Workforce ES-400 II is a solid choice for those seeking an affordable document scanner. It offers a resolution of 300 dpi, which is adequate for most office or home scanning needs but might not be ideal for high-detail image scanning. Its standout feature is the 50-sheet Automatic Document Feeder (ADF), which allows for efficient batch scanning, saving time for users with large volumes of documents.

The scanner's speed is another plus, capable of processing documents quickly, making it suitable for a busy office environment or for anyone working from home who needs to digitize documents frequently. The duplex scanning capability is a significant advantage, allowing you to scan both sides of a document in one go, further enhancing productivity. Connectivity is limited to USB, which might be a drawback for those looking for wireless options.

However, the included Epson ScanSmart software is intuitive and supports seamless integration with various document management systems, cloud services like Dropbox and Google Drive, and features like OCR for creating searchable PDFs and editable Word or Excel files. The scanner is relatively compact and portable, weighing 8.14 pounds, making it easy to move if needed. While the build quality and functionality are well-regarded, some users might find the lack of wireless connectivity limiting. The Epson Workforce ES-400 II offers excellent value for its price, especially for users who prioritize speed, efficiency, and ease of use in a document scanner.