The catch
Brother DS-740D
It has neither a stack feeder nor a wireless connection.
Side by side
Brother DS-740D vs DS-940DW: 940DW lets the laptop stay home
Quick verdict
The DS-940DW is for when you want to leave the laptop behind. If the laptop is already part of the job and what you mainly need is two-sided scanning at a small desk, the DS-740D is the better fit.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
The upgrade frees you from the computer cable but not from feeding
Each scans two sides in one pass and takes one original at a time. What the DS-940DW is good for is mobile capture, and it will not let a 30-sheet packet run unattended.
Where this comes from
The additions that count are battery, Wi-Fi and microSD. Neither model specifies a stack feeder.
The catch
Brother DS-940DW
It takes one sheet per feed, and the microSD card has to be bought separately.
Brother DS-740D
- Why pick it
- You scan next to a computer every time
- You'd rather run on cable power and skip charging
- The catch
- It has neither a stack feeder nor a wireless connection.
Brother DS-940DW
- Why pick it
- You have to scan to a phone with no outlet nearby
- You plan to save to a microSD card you buy separately
- The catch
- It takes one sheet per feed, and the microSD card has to be bought separately.
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What this page compares
Laptop-powered scanning goes up against battery, phone and microSD workflows here. You'll also see why long receipts need a different path on the DS-940DW.
The DS-940DW is for when you want to leave the laptop behind. If the laptop is already part of the job and what you mainly need is two-sided scanning at a small desk, the DS-740D is the better fit.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
Capturing receipts in a car with nothing but a phone
The DS-940DW is the relevant option thanks to battery power and Wi-Fi.
- Brother DS-740D
- Not suitable
- Brother DS-940DW
- Better fit
Signed forms at a laptop where no outlet is free
Both run off USB.
- Brother DS-740D
- Good
- Brother DS-940DW
- Good
A six-foot receipt and a shallow desk
For long paper you need the right path and enough room for the original as it moves.
- Brother DS-740D
- Caution
- Brother DS-940DW
- Caution
A whole folder to scan while you work on something else
Each is still a single-sheet feeder.
- Brother DS-740D
- Not suitable
- Brother DS-940DW
- Not suitable
In practice
Differences you will notice
The upgrade frees you from the computer cable but not from feeding
Each scans two sides in one pass and takes one original at a time. What the DS-940DW is good for is mobile capture, and it will not let a 30-sheet packet run unattended.
How we worked this out
The additions that count are battery, Wi-Fi and microSD. Neither model specifies a stack feeder.
A long receipt can bring back the need for open desk space
The 72-inch maximum on the DS-940DW applies to simplex only. Duplex reaches 16 inches at most, and the return path takes regular paper up to 11.69 inches and narrow receipts up to 14 inches. So a six-foot receipt cannot stay with the space-saving return setup.
How we worked this out
Go with the supported straight path and the long-document settings. A receipt within the 14-inch return limit must also be no wider than 3.13 inches.
Mobile storage means checking the package
Saving to microSD works on the DS-940DW, though the card is sold separately by Brother. If capturing offline is why you are upgrading, add a supported card to what you buy. The DS-740D sends the file to its connected host instead.
How we worked this out
The comparison is about where the file can end up. Nothing here says an SD card is encrypted or backed up automatically.
Option A
Brother, DS-740D
DS-740D
Scans both sides of a loose form without you flipping it, and its return path suits a cramped desk.
- Best for
- You scan next to a computer every time
Facts we checked
- Power when away from a host: USB power
- Wireless connection: Absent
- Standalone storage: Needs a computer
- Two-sided stack handling: Manual, with single-pass duplex
Option B
Brother, DS-940DW
DS-940DW
Take it away from an outlet, scan two-sided forms, and either send them to a phone or save them to a microSD card.
- Best for
- You have to scan to a phone with no outlet nearby
Facts we checked
- Power when away from a host: Battery or USB power
- Wireless connection: Over Wi-Fi
- Standalone storage: microSD card that is sold separately
- Two-sided stack handling: Manual, with single-pass duplex
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | Brother DS-740D | Brother DS-940DW | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power away from a host | USB power | Battery or USB power | A laptop does not need to power the DS-940DW. |
| Wireless connection | No | Wi-Fi | Scanning with a phone is an additional use case for the battery model. |
| Standalone storage | Computer required | microSD card, sold separately | Scans can go to a card when you would rather not open a computer. |
| Two-sided stack handling | Manual, single-pass duplex | Manual, single-pass duplex | An automatic feeder is not part of the upgrade. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With Brother DS-740D
- Some media can't use the return path, so keep enough space free to feed straight through when needed.
With Brother DS-940DW
- The 72-inch length holds only for simplex scanning on the straight path. Other modes do not reach it.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
A phone or memory card has to take the laptop’s place
Go with Brother DS-940DW. Those destinations come with the battery model.
All your scanning is already done at your laptop
Go with Brother DS-740D. The DS-740D does duplex capture with no battery to manage.
You work through multi-page packets again and again
Neither model fits. A compact ADF scanner cuts down the feeding you do over and over.
Decision guide
How to decide
Go with the DS-940DW if you really do want to leave the laptop behind. The DS-740D fits better when the laptop is part of the job anyway and two-sided scanning at a small desk is the main need.
The upgrade frees you from the computer cable but not from feeding
Each model scans two sides in one pass, and each takes one original at a time. The DS-940DW is worth it for mobile capture. It will not get through a 30-sheet packet unattended. Battery, Wi-Fi and microSD are the additions that matter, and neither model is specified with a stack feeder.
A long receipt can bring back the need for open desk space
That 72-inch maximum on the DS-940DW applies to simplex scanning only. In duplex it stops at 16 inches, and the return path takes regular paper up to 11.69 inches and narrow receipts up to 14 inches. So a six-foot receipt can't stay on the space-saving return setup. Switch to the supported straight path with the long-document settings. The 14-inch receipt limit on the return path also requires a width of no more than 3.13 inches.
Mobile storage means checking the package
Brother sells the microSD card for the DS-940DW separately, even though the scanner supports microSD saving. If offline capture is why you're upgrading, add a supported card to your purchase. The DS-740D, by contrast, sends the file to its connected host. This is a comparison of where the file can go, and it doesn't claim that an SD card is encrypted or backed up automatically.
What this page can’t tell you
- Manufacturer feed ratings leave out document preparation, OCR and saving time.
- Confirm the supported media, the scan mode, your current operating system and the destination before you purchase.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the document scanners we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
Show the facts and the math
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brother DS-740D |
|
| |
| Brother DS-940DW |
|
|
Ready to buy
See today’s price and what owners say
Open either model on Amazon for the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
Brother DS-740D
You scan next to a computer every time
See price & reviews on AmazonBrother DS-940DW
You have to scan to a phone with no outlet nearby
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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