Top Six Pen Scanners to Take You From Primers to Proust

Imagine a highlighter pen that not only underscores critical information but also captures important text and digitally transmits it to your computer instantaneously, sort of like an advanced “cut and paste” function. That tool actually exists! It’s called a digital scanner pen, and uses a technology called optical character recognition (OCR) to digitize printed text and transfer it to a computer or device.

Our highest-rated digital highlighter and the best pen scanner on our list is the ScanMarker Air.

Our Three Best-Rated Pen Scanners & Digital Highlighters

In a hurry? Of the six pen scanners we reviewed, these were our favorites.

A Pen That Scans Text & Reads to You

Pen scanners can be a great boon to students who are required to read volumes of printed text and take copious notes. The scanner pen will scan, store and transfer selected passages as well as hand-written script, numbers, and even small images. Some can even translate text into different languages, which can be priceless when traveling abroad or learning a new tongue.

Most pen scanners can actually read text back to you, which is an invaluable tool for people with learning challenges or reading difficulties, developing readers, or those who are visually impaired. Experts have found that pen scanners can actually aid in reading comprehension and improve vocabulary range and pronunciation.

When looking for a reliable pen scanner, it’s important to consider a few factors.

• Fine motor skills. Children and the elderly or physically challenged may not have the dexterity required to operate a pen scanner. They also tend to be larger than a regular highlighter. However, OCR pen scanners have a learning curve and get easier to operate with practice.
• Functionality. Are you learning a new language, using the scanner to record barcodes and numbers, or wanting a tool to help with reading skills? The best pen scanners have a text to speech option for those with impaired vision. Make sure you select a product with additional features that meets your primary needs.
• Compatibility is important. Be certain that the pen scanner you buy is compatible with your computer or device, that you can download the necessary software, and that if you need a portable option, that your pen scanner is battery-charged. In this case battery life should also be a consideration.
• Accuracy. With optical character recognition devices, cheaper and older technology can be prone to mistakes. Check independent reviews from real customers or try the pen out yourself with some printed text before you purchase.

Here’s a table with basic information on top pen scanners. Below that, you’ll find our in-depth analysis for each of the top six pen scanners on the market today.

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These are the best products available based on reading features, accuracy, ease of use and cost.

1. C-Pen Reader 2

Although more pricy than any of the other products on this list, the C-Pen Reader gets the highest rating for its accessibility, text to speech for pronunciation, and high level of accuracy. It also has a built-in microphone, allowing you to record audio and voice memos that can be saved in the device or uploaded to your computer. It’s compatible with PC or Mac, with no additional software required. The C-Pen can read a range of font sizes with accuracy, including highlighted text, making it appropriate for ages 6 and older.

The C-Pen has an integrated OLED screen that instantly displays definitions and reads aloud. It has 1G of storage and includes a microphone for audio recording and earbuds.

2. Scanmarker Air

The Scanmarker Air is a wireless OCR digital highlighter and reading pen that is compatible with Mac, Windows, Android and iOS devices. It’s portable and lightweight, and easily connectable via a Bluetooth connection. It also has a built-in battery, rechargeable with USB. This pen has a text-to-speech read-aloud feature, and also scans text directly into any computer application. It can also recognize barcodes, number sequences and small images, and can translate text into over 50 languages.

The Scanmarker Air is surprisingly affordable for such a highly-rated device, and comes with a Bluetooth dongle, USB cable, soft case, guide and a one-year warrantee.

3. Ectaco C-Pen 3.0

This pen is a handheld scanner that is compatible with Windows XP and later Mac operating systems. It gets high scores for efficiency and ease of use, and the fact that it doesn’t leave any marks on the page when scanning. It recognizes over 180 different languages (but only with Latin, Greek and Cyrillic character sets).

The Ectacto C-Pen does not have a battery, so it must be connected to your computer via USB for operation. It’s also pretty affordable, scans text accurately and has both left-to-right and right-to-left capabilities.

Check out our full review of the Ectaco-C handheld scanner.

4. PenPower WorldPenScan

This Bluetooth wireless pen scanner connects to your computer, tablet or phone automatically when turned on. You can look up word definitions with one click, or scan ISBN codes to see book reviews. It recognizes several different languages, including Chinese, Korean, and Arabic. With the PenPower, users can easily manually adjust the input by adding or removing a letter.

This device gets high praise for its lightweight construction, hand feel and ease of use. It does get dinged for only offering translations and not full definitions when working in multiple languages, and appears to have less accuracy scanning numbers as opposed to words. It also needs to be downloaded from the internet, so it can only be used with one device. Otherwise, it is reasonably priced and could be a vital accessory when studying another language.

Take a look at our full review here.

If you’re only interested in learning Mandarin, we’ve also reviewed the PenPower Junior.

5. IRISPen Executive 7

The IRISPen is a USB-powered digital pen scanner that has text, number and barcode recognition as well as table separator mode functionality. It also has integrated translation capability for over 40 languages. It does read aloud as well. Signatures and small graphics can also be digitally highlighted with this pen; right-click any image and convert it into a searchable PDF file.

The IRISPen loses points for difficulty installing but seems to be a great buy once you get the hang of it. It is compatible with Microsoft® Windows® 8, 7, Vista®, XP or 2000 (so, not for Mac users). It’s slightly more expensive than the other pen scanners on this list, but not by much.

6. Wizcom WRP2 ReadingPen 2

This model is purely a reading pen; it was created with the intention of helping readers improve reading skills and to assist students with dyslexia or aphasia and English-language learners to overcome reading challenges and increase fluency, reading flow and comprehension. The Wizcom is easy to use and recommended for ages 10 and up. It is not a digital pen scanner, but rather a self-contained reading aid. It has a digital screen right on the pen that shows letter-by-letter spelling, synonyms, syllabication and definitions of scanned words and phrases.

Like all things, mastery takes some practice, and the pronunciation of the Wizcom can be hard to understand for some. It does include earbuds and a headphone jack, and is portable and mobile. The cost is affordable on Amazon.

Take a look at our full review of the Wizcom Reading Pen.

All of these products do better with a steady hand, a flat surface and lots of practice, but even the least perfect of them can be a huge advantage when trying to disseminate information, learn a new dialect, or simply to aid in filling the gaps where learning disabilities or literacy difficulties have challenged us.

Recap
What are pen scanners used for?	These clever devices copy text, for example from a book or newspaper, and transfer them to your computer or device.
Who are they designed for?	Pen scanners are particularly useful for students, language learners, or people who are visually impaired.
Which is our best pen scanner?	The C-Pen Reader takes our top spot for its accessibility, pronunciation, and accuracy.