Photo scanning software falls into two jobs: it either drives your scanner, or it takes finished scans and separates the photos on them. Most programs people search for do the first, and a few do both. If you scan several prints per pass, the question that matters is what the software does with the page of photos afterward. For the second job on its own, AutoCropper splits a multi-photo scan in your browser, whatever program made the scan.
What "splits multiple photos" means
A flatbed scan of four prints is one image with four photos on it. Software that splits it finds each photo, straightens it, and saves it as its own file. Software that does not split it gives you the whole page and leaves you to crop by hand. Everything below is judged on that, using each vendor's own words from the page I read while writing this.
The programs, one by one
ScanSpeeder. Its site describes it as software to "automatically crop and straighten scanned photos into separate image files" (scanspeeder.com). It runs on Windows, and needs a flatbed scanner or feeder "with TWAIN or WIA Drivers Installed". There is a Standard and a Pro edition and a free download; the page shows no price.
VueScan. Its site says: "Place multiple photos on a flatbed scanner, and VueScan will automatically detect, crop, and separate them" (hamrick.com). It lists support for over 8,000 scanners from 42 manufacturers, and runs on Windows, macOS and Linux. It has Standard and Professional versions; the page I read shows no price.
SilverFast. The site describes scanner software from LaserSoft Imaging and says it supports "all important models of the major scanner manufacturers" (silverfast.com). The feature it highlights for flatbeds is ExpressScan, which "minimizes the number of scan passes". That page does not describe splitting a page of photos into files, so I will not claim it does. No price is shown there.
Epson ScanSmart. Epson's scanner software, covered in my Epson V600 walkthrough and fast scanning guide. It is made for Epson scanners, and Epson's own guidance on multi-photo scans, quoted in the scan-multiple-photos article, asks you to keep photos at least 20 mm apart.
Photomyne. A phone app rather than scanner software: you photograph prints and it crops them. It is a subscription, and I compared it in detail in the Photomyne alternative article.
Comparison
| Drives your scanner | Splits a multi-photo scan | Platform | Price on the page I read | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ScanSpeeder | Yes (TWAIN or WIA) | Yes, per its site | Windows | Not shown |
| VueScan | Yes | Yes, per its site | Windows, macOS, Linux | Not shown |
| SilverFast | Yes | Not stated on its homepage | Not stated on its homepage | Not shown |
| Epson ScanSmart | Epson scanners only | Per Epson's guide, with 20 mm gaps | Not checked | Not checked |
| Photomyne | No, phone camera | Yes | Phone | Subscription |
| AutoCropper | No | Yes | Any browser | Free for 5 images a day |
Where AutoCropper fits
AutoCropper does not drive a scanner. You scan with whatever you already use, drop the scans into the browser, and it finds every photo, straightens it, and exports one file per photo. It is the split step after any scanner software on this list, including ones that do not split at all, and it works the same on a Mac, a Chromebook or a Windows PC. Full-resolution files stay on your device; only a compressed copy is used for detection.
Two practical points. A wrong box is a drag to fix, not a rescan. And the free plan covers 5 images a day, where a scan with several photos on it counts as one image, so a first batch costs nothing; Pro is $19 a month if you have a shoebox to clear.
Which should you pick
- You want one program that scans and splits, on Windows: ScanSpeeder or VueScan, per what their sites say. Try the free download before paying.
- You are on a Mac or Linux: VueScan lists both; otherwise your scanner's own software plus a browser splitter.
- You already have scanner software you like: keep it, scan several prints per pass, and split in the browser. My scanning tips cover the settings that matter.
- No scanner at all: a phone app such as Photomyne beats no capture, with the quality limits described in that comparison.
FAQ
What is the best photo scanning software for old photos?
It depends on whether you want to control the scanner or only the result. VueScan and ScanSpeeder control the scanner and say they split multi-photo scans; a browser tool like AutoCropper handles only the split, after any scan.
Can photo scanning software split several photos scanned together?
Some can. ScanSpeeder and VueScan both say so on their sites. Where the software does not, a separate splitter does that step.
Is there free photo scanning software that splits scans?
ScanSpeeder's site offers a free download; check its page for what the free version includes. AutoCropper is free for up to 5 images a day with no install.