So you need a scanner but you don’t want to spend a lot. But, you also don’t want to lose quality. What are the best cheap scanners of 2023? That’s what we’re here to find out. Let’s get to our top pick.
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Our Choice for the Best cheap scanner of 2023
The Good
- Compact
- Lightweight
- USB Powered
The Bad
- cheaply built
- sensitive
The Bottom Line:
We love the Brother DS-620! This is a great cheap scanner, and we’ll tell you why.
The Brother DS-620 is small. It also is easy to use and it can be used anywhere. It’s a great cheap scanner for almost anyone, and that’s why it’s our choice for the best cheap scanner of 2023.
Want to skip our list? Here are all the scanners that made our list of the best cheap scanners of 2023.
- best cheap scanner of 2023 | Brother DS-620
- best cheap photo scanner of 2023 | Epson Perfection V39
- best cheap document scanner of 2023 | Epson Perfection V19
- best cheap flatbed scanner of 2023 | Canon CanoScan Lide 400
- best cheap portable scanner of 2023 | Brother DS-640
- best cheap scanner for professionals of 2023 | Epson WorkForce ES-400
- Canon CanoScan LiDE 300
- Doxie Go SE
- Epson Workforce ES-200
- iCODIS Document Camera X3
Best cheap scanners of 2023 | Some Quick Background Info
Do I need a scanner?
Having an in-house scanner for home or business use is all about saving time and quality. If you are running out to a print shop every time you need to scan a document, you will be wasting a lot of time.
Also, if you want good quality reproductions, you need a scanner. A scanning app on your phone just isn’t going to cut it.
What makes a good scanner?
A good scanner has high-resolution scans and great color reproduction. It will also scan quickly and work with a multitude of file types. Most scanners have terrible software but will scan to programs like Photoshop fast and easy.
Can a cheap scanner really be good?
Yes, to an extent. Like most things, scanners are going to lose some features at lower price points. Bonus features like touch displays or great software aren’t going to be included.
Top 10 Best cheap scanners of 2023 | Here's Our List
That’s all the background info for this list, let’s get into the nitty-gritty.
best cheap scanner of 2023
The Good
- Compact
- Lightweight
- USB Powered
The Bad
- cheaply built
- sensitive
The Bottom Line:
As we said above, the Brother DS-620 is a fantastic cheap scanner. This cheap scanner can be used anywhere. It also can be powered by the USB port on your computer and it is small. It’s just a great cheap scanner. That’s why we chose the Brother DS-620 as the best cheap scanner of 2023. We highly recommend you go and check it out.
best cheap photo scanner of 2023
The Good
- Easy push-button operation
- scan to google drive
- compact
The Bad
- cheap parts
- not built for volume
The Bottom Line:
The Epson Perfection V39 has been one of our favorite cheap scanners for a long time.
This cheap scanner can scan directly to Google Drive. It also has a simple push-button operation and it is small.
The Epson Perfection V39 is a great cheap scanner, and we highly recommend you check it out. That’s why it’s so high on our list of the best cheap scanners of 2023.
best cheap document scanner of 2023
The Good
- affordable
- simple
- high-resolution
The Bad
- cheap
- poor software
- computer use only
The Bottom Line:
Our choice for the best cheap document scanner is the Epson Perfection V19. Here’s why.
The Epson Perfection V19 is super affordable. It also is very simple and works well for home use. While the Epson Perfection V19 is poorly built, it’s still a great cheap scanner. That’s why it’s our choice for the best cheap document scanner of 2023.
best cheap flatbed scanner of 2023
The Good
- USB-C connection
- EZ buttons
- 8-second scans
The Bad
- cheaply built
- bad driver
- poor image duplication
The Bottom Line:
If you are looking for the best cheap flatbed scanner, then you’ve found it. The Canon CanoScan Lide 400 is a great cheap scanner. It can connect with USB-C. While it has awful software, the Canon CanoScan Lide 400 is super simple to use and is very thin. It’s a fantastic option for anyone looking for a cheap scanner in 2023.
best cheap portable scanner of 2023
The Good
- USB Powered
- Compact
- Simple
The Bad
- sensitive paper feed
- won't work with cardstock
- cheaply built
The Bottom Line:
If you are searching for the best cheap portable scanner, then the Brother DS-640 is what you have been searching for. This cheap scanner is simple to operate and it is powered by a USB port. Although the Brother DS-640 doesn’t work with heavyweight paper, it’s still an incredible option, and it’s our choice for the best cheap portable scanner of 2023.
best cheap scanner for professionals of 2023
The Good
- built for business
- fast document scanning
- auto Document Feeder
The Bad
- not wireless
- drops connection
The Bottom Line:
The Epson WorkForce ES-400 is a wonderful cheap scanner. It is designed for heavy business use and it scans super quickly. The Epson WorkForce ES-400 is the best cheap scanner for professionals of 2023, and it’s worth your time to give it a look.
Best cheap scanners of 2023 | Other Great Options
The Good
- simple
- fast
- 2400 DPI
The Bad
- cheap lid
- doesn't work with mac
- buggy software
The Bottom Line:
The Canon CanoScan LiDE 300 is a great cheap scanner. It is affordable. It also doesn’t take up much space and scans up to 2400 dpi.
The Canon CanoScan LiDE 300 feels cheap and it has terrible software. However, It’s still a very solid cheap scanner. Check it out!
The Good
- Rechargeable Battery
- 8-second scans
- stores up to 4000 files
The Bad
- single page scans
- large file sizes
- weak software
The Bottom Line:
Another great option for the best cheap scanner of 2023 is the Doxie Go SE. It includes a rechargeable battery and is quick. It also stores a bunch of files right on the scanner. Give it a look!
Epson Workforce ES-200
The Good
- Extremely Portable
- Fast mobile scanning
- AC or USB Powered
The Bad
- difficult setup
- terrible software
The Bottom Line:
When we were testing the best cheap scanners of 2023, we were pleasantly surprised by how much we liked the Epson Workforce ES-200.
This cheap scanner is super compact and is very portable. There are definitely better options on this list, but this just might be the right cheap scanner for you.
iCODIS Document Camera X3
The Good
- document camera
- works with a full scope of print media
- TWAIN driver
The Bad
- Takes up a lot of space
- limited usage
- poor image quality
The Bottom Line:
While the iCODIS Document Camera X3 is big and bulky, it’s still a good cheap scanner. This cheap scanner is a unique scanning option and takes photo snapshots of your media. That’s why it got the final spot on our list of the best cheap scanners of 2023.
Top 10 Best cheap scanners of 2023 | Final Thoughts
That was our list of the best cheap scanners of 2023. We hope you liked it! Our top choice was the Brother DS-620, but all of these cheap scanners are great options. We hope you found one that works for you.
If you liked this list, let us know in the comments. Also, be sure to check out our other articles like this one!
