ToPDF vs Google Drive’s built-in scanner

Android users have a scanner hiding in the Drive app: tap +, Scan, and the page lands in your Drive. Zero extra installs, decent quality — with one defining property: the destination is the cloud.

The practical comparison

	Drive scan	ToPDF
Where the PDF ends up	Google Drive (account storage)	Your device; you choose what happens next
Requires	Google account, Drive app	A browser
iPhone availability	Via Drive app	Any browser, no app
Editing before export	Crop/rotate basics	Per-page re-crop with magnifier, reorder, name suggestions, passport data-page handling
Offline	Capture queues for upload	Complete offline workflow

Use Drive scan when

The document's rightful home is that Google account anyway — shared team folders, your own archive — and the content is fine living in cloud storage. It's the shortest path from paper to Drive.

Use ToPDF when

• The scan should not automatically enter a cloud account — IDs, medical, anything you'd rather hand-place.
• You need a file to send (email, WhatsApp, a portal) rather than to store.
• You're on iPhone/desktop without the Drive app, or on someone else's device.
• You want the stronger multi-page editing before export.

Frequently asked questions

Can I still put ToPDF scans into Drive?

Of course — Share → Drive, or upload the downloaded PDF. The difference is that it’s your explicit choice per document, not the default destination.

Is Drive scanning private?

It’s as private as your Google account: encrypted, access-controlled, governed by Google’s terms. That’s a real level of protection — and a different model from “never leaves the device”.