In short: If you are looking for a GDPR-safe alternative to CamScanner or Microsoft Lens, two things usually matter: who develops the app and where your documents go. Scandora is developed by an independent developer (see the Imprint). It keeps your original scans on your device and in the storage you choose (a low-resolution preview, the extracted text and the document's details reach our servers), and uses EU hosting (Hetzner, in Germany) for its few server-side steps. Add AI extraction that goes directly from your device to Google Gemini in Frankfurt, real network-scanner support, and cookieless, consent-free analytics. This page describes verifiable product properties and is not legal advice.
Why people look for an alternative
Classic scanner apps are convenient, but with sensitive documents — invoices, contracts, ID documents — the question becomes who operates the app and where the documents are processed. Two verifiable starting points:
- CamScanner is developed by INTSIG Information Co., Ltd, headquartered in Shanghai, China (per the developer's own listings).
- Microsoft Lens is developed by Microsoft Corporation, headquartered in the United States.
That is not an accusation — it is a factual statement about who is responsible. Whether and how these apps process documents on their own servers is something you should check in each provider's current privacy policy; the details may change. For businesses subject to the GDPR, the point is accountability: the moment a document contains personal data, you are responsible for its processing — including which country it is transferred to.
What “GDPR-safe” means for a scanner app
There is no official “GDPR-safe” seal for apps. But the properties that make an app privacy-friendly are verifiable:
- Data location. Are documents processed on the provider's servers at all — and if so, in which country?
- Data minimisation. Do the documents ideally stay on the device, rather than moving into a provider cloud?
- Transparency. Is it clearly documented what data flows — and is there a data processing agreement (DPA) for business use?
- Tracking. Does the website set tracking cookies and force consent banners, or does it measure sparingly without personal tracking?
For more on what to look for in a GDPR document scanner, see the linked page.
How Scandora is different
- Your originals stay with you. Your original scans stay on your device and go only directly to Google Gemini for extraction — using a short-lived credential our server issues — and to the cloud services you choose. So your history syncs across your devices, we store a low-resolution preview, the extracted text and the document's details on our EU servers — never your original files. The text and preview are encrypted on your device before upload; we hold a key to them unless you turn on Advanced Protection in the app, which locks them with your own code.
- EU hosting. The few server-side steps run on EU hosting (Hetzner, in Germany).
- Managed AI. Extraction runs on Scandora's managed AI — no key to set up.
- Real scanners. Pull in receipts over a network scanner via eSCL/AirScan (such as Brother, Epson).
- Cookieless, consent-free analytics. The website measures sparingly, without tracking cookies and without personal cross-site tracking — details in the privacy policy.
- GoBD record-keeping features. Content hash and audit log; Verfahrensdokumentation coming soon (not “GoBD-certified”).
Comparison at a glance
Note: the CamScanner details below reflect publicly available information as of July 2026 and may change — please verify current details on the provider's own site. Where we could not independently verify a CamScanner capability, we describe Scandora's instead.
| Feature | Scandora | CamScanner |
|---|---|---|
| Who develops it | An independent developer (see the Imprint) | INTSIG Information Co., Ltd, headquartered in Shanghai, China |
| Data location for server-side processing | EU hosting (Hetzner, in Germany); original files stay on device | See provider's privacy policy |
| Documents on the vendor's servers | Originals stay on device; a preview, the extracted text and document details sync (EU servers) | See provider's privacy policy |
| Managed AI | Yes (managed credits) | Verify with provider |
| DATEV / lexoffice / sevDesk export | Coming soon (Business / DATEV plan) | Verify with provider |
See the full side-by-side on the Scandora vs CamScanner page.
Switching over
Want a scanner that keeps your original files with you? Try Scandora free — AI extraction goes directly from your device to Google Gemini in Frankfurt. For business use, the AVV / DPA governs data processing.
FAQ
What is a GDPR-safe alternative to CamScanner?
A scanner app that verifiably minimises data: documents stay on the device where possible, server-side steps run in the EU, and the processing is transparently documented. Scandora keeps your original files on your device and uses EU hosting (Hetzner, in Germany).
Where is CamScanner from?
CamScanner is developed by INTSIG Information Co., Ltd, a company headquartered in Shanghai, China, per the developer's own listings. Scandora runs its own servers in the EU.
Is my data processed in the EU?
With Scandora, your original files stay on your device and the few server-side steps run on EU hosting (Hetzner in Germany). For CamScanner or Microsoft Lens, please review each provider's own privacy policy.
Can I export to DATEV for my tax advisor?
Scandora's DATEV-format export (EXTF booking batch) and its lexoffice and sevDesk voucher export are coming soon on the Business / DATEV plan and are not available in this version yet. Verify other apps' current export options on their own sites.