If you want to know which photo scanners are most compatible with Macs, we’ve looked at the best macOS compatible models of 2025.
Digitizing your precious photo memories is a great way to preserve them forever and also to share older photos that were taken before digital cameras and phones came along.
Although many Mac compatible all-in-one printers and document scanners can also scan photos, they often can’t scan in high resolution or support scanning of negatives and photographic film.
Using a photo scanner produces much better results and they also usually include software to remove imperfections from old photos and images.
Unlike document only scanners, photo scanners produce higher quality resolution scans of photos which is important to avoid grainy looking images.
Table of Contents
- What We Looked For In These Models
- 1. Canon CanoScan Lide 400 Scanner (Best Overall)
- 2. Epson Perfection V850 Pro (Highest Quality Scanner)
- 3. EPSON FastFoto FF-680W (Best Photo Feeder Scanner)
- 4. Plustek Photo Scanner (Best Scanner For Multiple Photos)
- 5. Canon imageFORMULA R40 (Best Compact Scanner)
- 6. Brother DS-640 (Best Portable Scanner)
- Using VueScan With Unsupported Scanners on macOS
- What About The Epson V600?
What We Looked For In These Models
Here’s a few things we looked for when shortlisting these photo scanners.
- Ability to scan not just photos but also negatives and films. All of the models reviewed here can be used to scan old negatives and photographic film.
- Photo enhancement technology. The best machines include photo enhancement tools to remove blemishes such as scratches and dust from old photos.
- TWAIN driver support to allow them to work with any document management software or OCR scanning software. This is especially important for offices or companies that want to integrate their own scan software with a photo scanner. It also means that they will work with Preview and Image Capture which are free in macOS so if the manufacturer scanning software is useless and bloated, you’ve always got something to fall back on.
- Image Capture Support: Many scanners now work with macOS’s built-in Image Capture app, removing the need for third party software.
- Support for Apple AirPrint so that you can scan wirelessly via WiFi. Although AirPrint is designed for connecting printers wirelessly to a Mac, it also works for connecting all types of scanner quickly and easily without the need for cables.
- Support for the latest Apple Silicon Macs as well as the latest versions of macOS including Sonoma.
With this in mind, here are the best Mac compatible photo scanning machines in order of ranking.
1. Canon CanoScan Lide 400 Scanner (Best Overall)
The Canon CanoScan LiDE 400 is a compact, high-resolution flatbed photo scanner designed to deliver crisp, detailed scans up to 4800 x 4800 dpi, making it ideal for digitizing photos, artwork, and documents on a Mac.
This slim scanner features a space-saving vertical stand, and it connects via a USB-C cable that powers the device and transfers data, meaning there’s no need for a separate power supply.
It can scan a full-color A4 photo at 300 dpi in as little as 8 seconds, and includes helpful features like auto document detection, dust and fade correction, and multi-page searchable PDF creation.
The LiDE 400 comes with four one-touch ‘EZ’ buttons for scanning, copying, emailing, and creating PDFs. Its Z-lid expansion top allows it to scan thick items like books or albums with ease.
Canon continues to support the LiDE 400 with official drivers and software for macOS Ventura, Sonoma, and Sequoia, and it’s also compatible with Apple’s Image Capture app and third-party tools like VueScan for added flexibility.
While the LiDE 400 does not offer duplex scanning or wireless connectivity, its image quality, speed, and macOS compatibility make it one of the best budget flatbed scanners for photo enthusiasts and casual users alike.
Pros:
- Excellent scan resolution (4800 x 4800 dpi)
- USB-C powered – no external power adapter required
- macOS Ventura, Sonoma, and Sequoia compatible
- Compact vertical design with built-in enhancement tools
Cons:
- No duplex scanning
- No WiFi connectivity
2. Epson Perfection V850 Pro (Highest Quality Scanner)
The Epson Perfection V850 Pro is the highest quality photo scanning machine for Macs with support for an incredible 6400 dpi resolution.
For those that need high control over the tone, the Epson Perfection V850 Pro features 4.0 Dmax for smooth gradations and fine shadow detail.
The Epson Perfection V850 Pro has an unusual dual lens system which allows you to select two lenses to achieve the incredibly high 6400 dpi resolution it is capable of.
The Epson Perfection V850 Pro also scans slides and negatives and features a useful slide holder to help keep them flat in the scanner.
It comes with its own Silverfast software which works on both Mac and Windows although takes some learning since this is a high end scanner with a lot of settings to customize.
Silverfast includes an incredibly powerful scratch removal tool which also works with Kodachrome slides.
Since the Epson Perfection V850 Pro supports TWAIN, it works with Image Capture on a Mac but also OCR software such as Vuescan.
At 13 lbs, it’s by far the biggest model here but the results are worth it.
Pros:
- High quality 6400 dpi scans
- Slide holder to help scan slides
- Powerful Silverfast software
- Supports TWAIN connections to other software
Cons:
- Silverfast scanning software takes some learning
- Heavy compared to other scanners
- Price
3. EPSON FastFoto FF-680W (Best Photo Feeder Scanner)
The Epson FastFoto FF-680W is the most convenient scanner for Mac thanks to a combination of incredible speed, useful photo feeder and scan quality.
The FF-680W is a non-flatbed image scanner that can scan thousands of photos as fast as one photo per second at 300 dpi.
The convenient photo feeder allows you to batch-scan up to 36 photos at a time which is much quicker than a flatbed scanner.
The EPSON FastFoto FF-680W supports photos in sizes 4″x6″, 5″x7, 8″x10″ as well as panoramic prints.
It also includes its own Epson FastFoto software and app that allows you to add voice and text over your photos or create slideshows, right from your smartphone.
The Epson FastFoto software for Mac isn’t great and may crash sometimes on the latest versions of macOS but it’s fine for setting-up and configuring scans if needed.
The EPSON FastFoto FF-680W includes an image improvement tool with auto enhancement, color restoration, red-eye reduction, de-skew, crop and rotate tools.
It can also scan both sides of a photo at once so if there’s anything handwritten on the back of a photo such as a signature or date, the EPSON FastFoto FF-680W will copy it.
You can choose to scan in a variety of resolutions on the FastFoto FF-680W including 300 dpi, archiving (600 dpi TIFF) and enlarging (1200) dpi. It can even handle multiple sizes in one batch.
The scanner includes Epson ScanSmart software which has optical character recognition (OCR) technology so that you can convert scanned images into readable text.
The EPSON FastFoto FF-680W also comes with an accessory to scan film negatives as well.
You can also connect the EPSON FastFoto FF-680W to cloud storage solutions such as Dropbox and Google Drive so that you can share them with family and friends immediately.
You can also choose to connect the EPSON FastFoto FF-680W via USB or WiFi.
Pros:
- Incredibly fast at scanning photos
- Non flatbed photo feeder alternative
- Software allows to add voice and text to slideshows
- Double sided scanning
- Lots of image enhancement tools
- Scan film negatives
Cons:
- Lower resolution than flatbed scanners
- FastFoto Software not great on Mac
4. Plustek Photo Scanner (Best Scanner For Multiple Photos)
The Plustek Photo Scanner is a versatile scanner supporting 3×5, 4×6, 5×7, and 8×10 photo dimensions but also letter and A4 size paper.
If you need to digitize thousands of photos, then the Plustek allows you to do so very quickly compared to other photos scanners.
Unlike flatbed scanners, the Plustek Photo Scanner allows you to insert photos into a feeder one-by-one which is more efficient than having to manually open and close a flatbed scanner.
Be careful however that you don’t have any sellotape or glue attached to the photos as they will get stuck on the feeder and jam the scanner.
The optical resolution is only up to 600 dpi but scanning is extremely fast with 4×6 photos taking 2 seconds with the maximum 8×10 taking 5 seconds.
The scanner can also improve the quality of faded images and photos thanks to the ePhoto Z300 software that works on both Mac and Windows.
Unfortunately however, the Plustek does not support TWAIN which means it won’t work with other scanning software.
If you want to use it with Image Capture or other scanning software, you can however get the Plustek SmartOffice PS286 instead.
The driver software provided with the Plustek Photo scanner is bit of a poor translation of the Windows version though and can be unstable on macOS.
Pros:
- Great for scanning big batches of photos
- Supports multiple photo sizes
- Photo feeder for automatic scanning
- Photo enhancement software
Cons:
- No TWAIN support
- Mac software is poor and can be unstable
- Low resolution scans
- No WiFi connectivity
5. Canon imageFORMULA R40 (Best Compact Scanner)
The Canon imageFORMULA R40 is a compact sheet-fed scanner designed for efficient high-speed document and photo scanning, making it ideal for home offices and small businesses.
It offers fast scanning speeds of up to 40 pages per minute (ppm), with duplex scanning that captures both sides of a document in a single pass.
This model features automatic document feeding (ADF), supporting up to 60 sheets at a time, so you can quickly scan large volumes of documents or photos without the need for manual intervention.
It can scan a variety of media types, including photos, receipts, business cards, and standard documents.
The R40 integrates seamlessly with macOS, offering compatibility with both Image Capture and third-party software like VueScan. Its compact design allows it to fit easily on any desk, and it connects via USB 3.0 for fast data transfer.
While the Canon imageFORMULA R40 is not a flatbed scanner, its high-speed scanning, reliable performance, and macOS support make it an excellent choice for those who need to scan documents and photos quickly and efficiently.
Pros:
- Fast scanning speed (up to 40 ppm)
- Duplex scanning
- 60-sheet ADF for high-volume scanning
- Works with macOS and third-party software like VueScan
Cons:
- No flatbed scanning for thicker items
- Requires USB connection (no wireless support)
6. Brother DS-640 (Best Portable Scanner)
The Brother DS-640 is a portable sheet-fed scanner designed for users who need a compact and efficient mixed document & photo scanning solution on the go.
Weighing just one pound, it’s incredibly lightweight and powered via USB 3.0, meaning it can easily be used with a Mac without needing an external power supply.
This scanner offers fast scanning speeds up to 25 pages per minute (ppm) and supports scanning of both documents and photos.
It features an ADF with a capacity of up to 20 sheets, making it a great choice for scanning batches of documents without manual feed.
Despite its small size, the DS-640 supports a variety of media types, including receipts, business cards, and photos, and works with macOS using Image Capture. Its compact design makes it ideal for tight spaces, whether on your desk or while traveling.
While it lacks features like duplex scanning or WiFi connectivity, the Brother DS-640’s portability and affordability make it an excellent option for those needing a simple, on-the-go document scanner for their Mac.
Pros:
- Extremely portable and lightweight
- Fast scanning (up to 25 ppm)
- Works with macOS and Image Capture
- Powered by USB (no external power adapter needed)
Cons:
- No duplex scanning
- Not specifically focused on photo scanning
- Small ADF capacity (up to 20 sheets)
- No wireless connectivity
Using VueScan With Unsupported Scanners on macOS
If you have an older photo scanner that no longer receives official driver updates from the manufacturer—especially for macOS Ventura, Sonoma, Sequoia or newer—you can still get it working on your Mac using VueScan.
VueScan is a popular third-party OCR scanning software developed by Hamrick Software that supports over 7,400 scanners, including many discontinued or unsupported models from Canon, Epson, HP, and others.
It works with TWAIN-compatible scanners and runs on all recent versions of macOS, often extending the usable life of hardware that would otherwise become obsolete.
VueScan supports flatbed and film scanners, offers multi-page PDF creation, and even includes advanced image correction features such as dust removal and color restoration.
While VueScan is not free, it offers a one-time purchase license with lifetime updates, making it a worthwhile investment if you want to continue using a quality scanner that lacks modern driver support.
You can try VueScan for free (with watermarking) to test if it works with your scanner before committing to a license.
Pros:
- Extends compatibility for old scanners on modern macOS
- Supports thousands of models no longer supported by manufacturers
- Works with both flatbed and film scanners
- Offers powerful scanning and image correction tools
Cons:
- Paid software (standard and professional licenses)
- Interface is functional but not as modern or user-friendly as native apps
What About The Epson V600?
Previously we recommended the Epson Perfection V600 as one of the best flatbed photo scanners for Macs but we can no longer do so due to compatibility problems with the latest versions of macOS.
Many users have found that the Epson V600 and the Epson Scan 2 software simply does not work consistently with the latest versions of macOS Sequoia and Apple Silicon Macs.
Epson seem unable to provide a solution for this so we can’t recommend the Epson V600 until these issues have been resolved.