Microsoft has announced that it’s scanner app Microsoft Lens will be retired from Android and iOS devices starting September 15, 2025. This leaves many Microsoft Lens users searching for an alternative, as Microsoft’s suggestion of their Copilot app comes with feature limitations and costs, compared to Lens.
Microsoft Lens, which was released in 2015 and formerly named Office Lens, will be removed from App Store and Google Play Store by November 15, 2025.
Is Copilot a good alternative to Lens?
Whether Copilot is a good alternative to Lens depends on the use case. What we already know is that compared to Lens users need a Microsoft 365 subscription to access Copilot and the built-in-scanning feature, which comes at a price. Even with the subscription, Microsoft already states that the following features will not be available in the app:
- Saving scans directly to OneNote, Word, or PowerPoint
- Scanning business cards to save to OneNote
- Read out loud functionality
- Immersive Reader integration
If you are wondering whether there is a better tool than Google Lens, we got you covered: Consider the Docutain Scanner App. We understand it might be challenging to switch to an app that you are used to. Therefore, we want to make it as easy as possible and introduce you to all the exciting features Docutain is offering.
Scan documents fast and in the best quality with Docutain
Download the Docutain Scanner App for free for Android or iOS and see for yourself how easy scanning and managing documents can be.
Scan the QR code with your smartphone
Docutain is the best alternative to Microsoft Lens
Docutain is a high-quality document scanner app for Android and iOS that not only scans but manages your documents safely and efficiently.
In a prevoiusly conducted Best document scanner apps review Docutain was also compared with Microsoft Lens and other scanner apps such as Adobe Scan and CamScanner and was crowned the winner.
In contrast to Copilot, you don’t need a subscription for Docutain to get started right after you download it for free on the App Store of Google Play Store.
First steps to get started with the scanner app Docutain:
- Download Docutain for free
- Open the app. Docutain automatically starts in the scanning mode, and you can scan as many documents as you like.
- After scanning, you can either save the document and start indexing it or share a document via email or social media.
Docutain is a very feature-rich scanning app, that has a lot more to offer than Microsoft Lens. Apart from high-quality scanning and many edit and filter options, here is an overview of everything you can do with Docutain:
- Batch Scanning: Docutain turns your phone into a multi-page scanner that creates high-quality scans in just seconds, all in one go.
- Automatic document edge detection: Docutain detects the document and captures the scan automatically.
- Filter: After scanning, Docutain does a perspective correction, reduces errors such as creases so that it looks like a perfect scan. Even in low-light conditions, Docutain works flawlessly and generates a perfect scan. You can remove stains from a document using a specific eraser function.
- Turn your scan into a searchable PDF: Thanks to OCR text recognition, that works 100% locally on the user’s device, the document ‘s content will be read and can be extracted for further processing.
- Import and export your documents as PDFs or images: Let Docutain transform your document into a high-quality PDF or image file, that you can easily export. Import options are available as well.
- Share your documents: Easily share or export your documents after scanning via email, messaging apps, social media and more. You can even print documents if needed.
- 100% Data safety: Docutain lays great importance on data safety, therefore scanning and OCR run locally on the device without any server connection. Documents can be password-protected and Docutain has no ads involved as other scanner apps like CamScanner do to earn money.
- Optional cloud connection: You have the choice to connect a cloud to store your documents there as well, which allows you to access the files from any device.
Extra features to support document management workflows in Docutain:
- Initiate payment of a scanned invoice: Docutain has interfaces to multibanking apps so that a scanned invoice in Docutain with the relevant payment data can be payed in the respective banking app.
- AI document summary: Docutain enables you to summarize the content of a document to gain a quick overview.
- AI document translation: Docutain enables you to translate a document into the language of your choice for further processing.
Here is what customers write about Docutain in the App Store:
Best comprehensive scanned image database ★★★★★
This is the only program that totally stores exports and saves in the cloud if you so choose to all your documents perfectly. It is very versatile and can be adapted to many different workflows.
LuisMartell-iTunesStore, US App Store in 2025
Scan documents fast and in the best quality with Docutain
Download the Docutain Scanner App for free for Android or iOS and see for yourself how easy scanning and managing documents can be.
Scan the QR code with your smartphone