# Barcode Reader vs QR Scanner

The clearest difference is update cadence: QR Scanner at every 4 weeks against Barcode Reader's every 48 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Barcode Reader ships an update every 48 months, QR Scanner every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Barcode Reader | QR Scanner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.7 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-scanner-barcode-reader/id1547006294/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **12** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 48 months | **Every 4 weeks** |
| Monetization | — | Ad-supported |
| Size | 6 MB | 45 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Aishvarya Sadasivam](https://appshunter.io/developer/1062048241) | [Tuan Nguyen Van](https://appshunter.io/developer/1547006296) |

## What reviewers say

### Barcode Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barcode-reader-scan/id1081653184)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### QR Scanner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-scanner-barcode-reader/id1547006294)

Instantly scan QR codes and barcodes to retrieve URLs, connect to Wi-Fi, and access product information. Share scanned content, save codes for later, and customize your scanning experience with various themes and settings.

**Highlights:** Scan QR codes and barcodes, Retrieve URLs and Wi-Fi credentials, Scan product codes (UPC, ISBN), Save scanned codes, Share scanned content, Customizable themes and settings

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Barcode Reader free?

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

### Is QR Scanner free?

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

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

Both Barcode Reader and QR Scanner show ads.

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

Barcode Reader ships an update every 48 months, and QR Scanner every 4 weeks. Most recently, Barcode Reader was updated on October 13, 2026 and QR Scanner on November 3, 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.*