PaperScan vs XSane

PaperScan is a Windows scanning application that acquires documents through TWAIN and WIA and includes OCR for searchable output. It accepts more than 100 input formats and supports PDF-OCR output in more than 60 languages. Image tools include deskewing, rotation, border and punch-hole removal, blank-page removal, color adjustment, filters and effects. Annotation options include highlights, freehand marks, shapes, lines, pens, rubber stamps, text, sticky notes and a ruler. It can save to SharePoint on-premises or online, send email through Outlook, read encrypted PDFs, create encrypted PDFs and support digital signatures. Output options include PDF/A, TIFF, JPEG, PNG, DOCX, XLSX and other listed formats. The Free Edition allows 10-page batch scanning or import. Home Edition costs $79, paid once for unlimited batch work; Professional single license costs $149 as a one-time purchase for one user on one computer. Home and Professional trials include all features for 30 days without a credit card, then require a license key to continue.

XSane is a free, open-source graphical frontend for scanners. It supports ICC/ICM color profiles and image enhancements for gamma handling and histograms. Standalone tools can scan and save, scan and view, copy, fax and email. Scan-and-save supports JPEG, PNG, PNM, PS, raw and TIFF formats. XSane also works as a GIMP plug-in. The SANE frontend listing marks it temporarily offline, while download guidance points users to distributor or volunteer binary packages and recommends vendor packages for Linux. Git snapshots may contain fixes or features absent from stable releases, but the project says those builds are untested. The SANE homepage lists sane-frontends 1.0.14 as released on 2005-09-18. Listed platforms include Linux, Unix, OS/2 and Windows, including a Windows 9x/NT/2000 network scanning version. Users can report bugs or missing features through the project issues system.