Why Scan Apps Ask for Camera Access

When installing a scan app, one of the first permission prompts you’ll see is for camera access. That might raise privacy concerns — especially in a world where apps sometimes overreach. So why do scan apps need your camera, and how can you be sure it’s only used for what you expect?

The primary reason: scanning your receipts

To convert physical receipts into digital records, scan apps rely on your phone’s camera. It captures the image, which is then processed by OCR (optical character recognition) to extract details like date, amount, and items.

What camera access does — and doesn’t — mean

Granting camera access allows the app to use your camera only when open and active. It doesn’t mean the app is recording in the background or watching without permission — unless it's abusing permissions, which is where GDPR and app store rules come in.

How to stay in control

• Use apps from trusted developers with strong reviews
• Check if the app allows you to scan from saved images (not just live camera)
• Visit your phone’s privacy settings to toggle camera access anytime

Transparency matters

Any app that requests camera access should clearly state why and when it uses it. If the privacy policy doesn’t explain this, that’s a red flag.

ScanTicket’s approach

ScanTicket uses your camera only when you choose to scan. It doesn’t access the camera in the background, and doesn’t store any footage or photos unless you ask it to save them locally.

Conclusion: Camera access is essential for scan apps — but your trust and control are even more important. Always read permissions and stick to apps that treat your privacy with respect.

📲 The app is available on iPhone and iPad. ScanTicket on the App Store