# Bar vs Cool Guard

The clearest difference is ads: Cool Guard at none against Bar's shown. Cool Guard also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 20 months). Bar's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.0). On price and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

Bar ships an update every 20 months, Cool Guard every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bar | Cool Guard |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 42.9% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 20 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | — |
| Size | 6 MB | 22 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Aishvarya Sadasivam](https://appshunter.io/developer/1062048241) | [TouchLync, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1740499417) |

## What reviewers say

### Bar

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bar-code-scanner/id1081663531)

Instantly scan QR codes and barcodes using your device's camera. Open links, save your scan history, and share results quickly. This utility works offline and features a simple, user-friendly design for quick access to information.

**Highlights:** Fast QR and barcode scanning, Scan QR codes from photos, Save scan history, Share and open links, Offline scanning capability, Lightweight and easy to use

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Cool Guard

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cool-guard-qc-test-app/id6502345075)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bar free?

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

### Is Cool Guard free?

Cool Guard is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Bar or Cool Guard have ads?

Bar shows ads; Cool Guard does not.

### Which is updated more often, Bar or Cool Guard?

Bar ships an update every 20 months, and Cool Guard every 2 months. Most recently, Bar was updated on October 10, 2026 and Cool Guard on October 4, 2026.

---

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