VueScan
Scanner software for a very wide range of scanners
- Driver coverage is what people buy it for: it runs a very wide range of scanners, including many older models whose makers no longer ship current drivers.
- Deep control for film, slides and colour, especially in the Professional edition.
- Runs on Windows, Mac and Linux.
Where it stops for a box of prints: It makes excellent files and leaves the rest to you: naming, folders, pairing backs, backup and getting the family involved.
Price: Standard £7.95/month, £29.95/year or £74.95 once. Professional £15.95/month, £69.95/year or £174.95 once. A one-time purchase is used indefinitely with one year of updates. Regular UK prices as displayed; temporary discounts excluded. Source: hamrick.com, checked 6 September 2026.
NAPS2
Free, open-source scanning
- It is free and open source.
- Runs on Windows, Mac and Linux, with crop and rotation built in.
- Strong for documents: multi-page scans saved straight to PDF.
Where it stops for a box of prints: It is built around documents and files. Albums, finding photos on a crowded bed, backs and family sharing are not what it is for.
Price: Free. Source: naps2.com, checked 6 September 2026.
Epson FastFoto and Epson Scan
Epson's photo feeder scanner and its scanner software
- FastFoto's sheet feeder is much faster than a flatbed for a stack of loose prints in good condition, and it can capture the back as it scans.
- Epson Scan is made for Epson's own scanners, so it is the natural first choice if you have one.
Where it stops for a box of prints: A feeder is not for curled, torn or fragile prints, or photos stuck in albums; those still need a flatbed. Its files go to folders on your computer.
Price: We have not sourced a price for FastFoto or Epson Scan. Check Epson for current prices.
Apple Image Capture
The scanning app built into macOS
- Already on every Mac and simple to use.
- Detect Separate Items can save each print on the bed as its own file.
- Nostalgia scans through the same macOS scanner drivers, so if Image Capture sees your scanner, Nostalgia can too.
Where it stops for a box of prints: It saves image files to a folder. Turning photos upright, pairing backs, albums, tracking what is left to check and backup are up to you.
Price: Part of macOS, with no separate purchase.
Nostalgia for Mac
The whole job, from one bed of prints to a family album
- Finds each print on the bed and cuts it out; you check every outline.
- Turns sideways photos upright from their faces, and leaves a photo alone when unsure.
- Links a photo to its back, keeps the original scan, and shows which photos are still to check.
- Backs up to an online family album when you choose, then restores and shares on the web.
Where it stops: Scanning runs on a Mac, with scanners that work with macOS Image Capture. There are no film or slide controls, and we have not qualified any sheet feeder.
Price: The Mac app is free to download. Scanning, checking and saving copies need no account and are free. Online backup, restoring and family sharing follow your plan: free to start, or Family at $7.99/month or $79.99/year. Local prices differ by country. See pricing.