Paperless-ngx is a system that turns paper documents into a searchable archive on your own computer or server, so you can keep less paper around. It is for people who want to manage their scanned documents themselves, often at home or in a small office.
Has 0 of 7 · No server needed ✗
How many people bookmarked its code on GitHub. It shows how popular it is, not how good it is or how well it replaces the app.
How hard it is to start using it. Easy: install it like a normal app, or use it in your browser. Advanced: you run it on your own server, use the command line, or it is a tool for developers.
Its code changed within the last year, so someone is still looking after it.
Does part of the job.
Ordered by how fully it replaces the app, Verified, setup and, when there are enough, people's votes.
Windows · Mac · LinuxGPL-2.0-or-laterReplaces partly
NAPS2 is a free program for Windows, Mac, and Linux that scans paper documents using a scanner and saves them as PDF, TIFF, JPEG, or PNG files. It is aimed at everyday people who want a simple way to scan and organize their documents.
Has 2 of 7 · Phone app ✗
How many people bookmarked its code on GitHub. It shows how popular it is, not how good it is or how well it replaces the app.
How hard it is to start using it. Easy: install it like a normal app, or use it in your browser. Advanced: you run it on your own server, use the command line, or it is a tool for developers.
Its code changed within the last year, so someone is still looking after it.
Does part of the job.
Ordered by how fully it replaces the app, Verified, setup and, when there are enough, people's votes.
This is a free Android phone app that scans paper documents with the camera and turns them into files. It is meant for people who want to digitize and organize paperwork without using closed commercial scanning apps.
Has 1 of 7
How many people bookmarked its code on GitHub. It shows how popular it is, not how good it is or how well it replaces the app.
How hard it is to start using it. Easy: install it like a normal app, or use it in your browser. Advanced: you run it on your own server, use the command line, or it is a tool for developers.
Its code changed within the last year, so someone is still looking after it.
Does part of the job.
Ordered by how fully it replaces the app, Verified, setup and, when there are enough, people's votes.
Papra is a free tool for storing, organizing and searching your important documents, like receipts, warranties and letters, in one digital archive. It is meant for individuals and families, and can also be shared with friends or colleagues.
Has 3 of 7 · Scan with your phone ✗ +1
How many people bookmarked its code on GitHub. It shows how popular it is, not how good it is or how well it replaces the app.
How hard it is to start using it. Easy: install it like a normal app, or use it in your browser. Advanced: you run it on your own server, use the command line, or it is a tool for developers.
Its code changed within the last year, so someone is still looking after it.
Does part of the job.
Ordered by how fully it replaces the app, Verified, setup and, when there are enough, people's votes.
None of these match. Try another device.
Help me choose
I want to pick an open-source replacement for Microsoft Lens. Below is a list from Open Source Everything (CC BY-SA 4.0), in the order its website shows it. The order is a starting point, not a verdict.
- Paperless-ngx: Paperless-ngx is a system that turns paper documents into a searchable archive on your own computer or server, so you can keep less paper around. It is for people who want to manage their scanned documents themselves, often at home or in a small office. [Advanced setup; runs on a server you set up; replaces partly; GPL-3.0; https://github.com/paperless-ngx/paperless-ngx]
- NAPS2: NAPS2 is a free program for Windows, Mac, and Linux that scans paper documents using a scanner and saves them as PDF, TIFF, JPEG, or PNG files. It is aimed at everyday people who want a simple way to scan and organize their documents. [Easy setup; Windows · Mac · Linux; replaces partly; GPL-2.0-or-later; https://github.com/cyanfish/naps2]
- OSS Document Scanner: This is a free Android phone app that scans paper documents with the camera and turns them into files. It is meant for people who want to digitize and organize paperwork without using closed commercial scanning apps. [Easy setup; Android; replaces partly; MIT; https://github.com/Akylas/OSS-DocumentScanner]
- Papra: Papra is a free tool for storing, organizing and searching your important documents, like receipts, warranties and letters, in one digital archive. It is meant for individuals and families, and can also be shared with friends or colleagues. [Advanced setup; runs on a server you set up; replaces partly; AGPL-3.0; https://github.com/papra-hq/papra]
Setup rating: "Easy setup" means you can install it like a normal app, use it in a browser. "Advanced setup" means you must run it on your own server or use the command line, or it is a tool for developers.
Full details: https://opensourceeverything.org/data/groups/paperwork.json
Before recommending anything, ask me these three questions (one at a time, in plain words): 1) Which device or devices will I use it on (Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iPhone)? 2) How comfortable am I with technical setup: only installing apps from a store, happy to follow a step-by-step guide, or comfortable with servers and the command line? 3) What is my budget: free only, or willing to pay for hosting or support? Then recommend one to three projects from this list only, and for each say why, using how fully it replaces the app, its setup rating, and the devices it runs on. If nothing on the list fits me, say so plainly instead of stretching.
Want an open Microsoft Lens?
Before you build
Read the list of open-source projects at https://opensourceeverything.org/data/groups/paperwork.json. Compare it with my project or idea below. Tell me which projects overlap, what I could reuse instead of rewriting, and what mine does that none of them do.
My project or idea:
