# QR Code Reader vs QR Scanner

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: QR Code Reader at none against QR Scanner's 5. QR Code Reader also leads on ratings volume (160K vs 6). QR Scanner's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. QR Scanner sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. QR Code Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

QR Scanner holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: QR Code Reader has 160K ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 84% of QR Code Reader's written reviews are positive against 100% of QR Scanner's.

QR Code Reader ships an update every 2 months, QR Scanner every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and July 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | QR Code Reader | QR Scanner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (160K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-code-reader-quick-scan/id1080558159/reviews) | **[5.0 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-scannerbarcode-code-app-ai/id6755075231/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **160K** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 84.4% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 47 MB | 12 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Komorebi Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/481596469) | [启鹏 田](https://appshunter.io/developer/1845107614) |

## What reviewers say

### QR Code Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-code-reader-quick-scan/id1080558159)

Scan QR codes and barcodes quickly with your iPhone camera. Access your scan history, scan from photos, and use a flashlight for dark environments. Share your scanned items easily.

**Highlights:** Automatic camera activation, Scan from photo library, Scan history access, Flashlight for low light, Barcode scanning support, Share scan history

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Friendly and helpful staff
- 🚀 Fast and efficient service
- 💡 Convenient features
- 🤖 Reliable and accurate scanning
- 🌟 Excellent overall experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional scanning issues
- 💰 Concerns about hidden costs
- 📋 Unclear instructions or information

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes or freezes
- Scanning not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Ability to save and organize scanned data
- Integration with other apps or services
- More customization options


### QR Scanner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-scannerbarcode-code-app-ai/id6755075231)

This app quickly scans QR and barcodes from your camera or photo library. It also allows you to generate custom QR codes with various options. All data is processed locally for enhanced privacy.

**Highlights:** Real-time camera scanning, Image recognition from photo library, Customizable QR code generation, Local history records, Sharing and export options, Multilingual support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Personal Monthly Subscription | $2.99 | per month |
| Pro Monthly Subscription | $4.99 | per month |
| Enterprise Monthly Subscription | $9.99 | per month |
| Personal Yearly Subscription | $19.99 | per year |
| Pro Lifetime Purchase | $29.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is QR Code Reader free?

QR Code Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is QR Scanner free?

QR Scanner is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, QR Code Reader or QR Scanner?

QR Scanner is rated higher. QR Code Reader averages 4.7 out of 5 from 160K ratings, while QR Scanner averages 5.0 from 6 ratings.

### Do QR Code Reader or QR Scanner have ads?

Both QR Code Reader and QR Scanner show ads.

### Which is updated more often, QR Code Reader or QR Scanner?

QR Code Reader ships an update every 2 months, and QR Scanner every 2 weeks. Most recently, QR Code Reader was updated on September 24, 2026 and QR Scanner on July 17, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*