# Bar vs Panel Smart

The clearest difference is ads: Panel Smart at none against Bar's shown. Panel Smart also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 20 months). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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, Panel Smart every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bar | Panel Smart |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 42.9% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 20 months | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | — |
| Size | 6 MB | 47 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Aishvarya Sadasivam](https://appshunter.io/developer/1062048241) | [Narayanaswamy Kuppala](https://appshunter.io/developer/1796379166) |

## 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


### Panel Smart

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/panel-smart-customer/id6757590792)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bar free?

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

### Is Panel Smart free?

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

### Do Bar or Panel Smart have ads?

Bar shows ads; Panel Smart does not.

### Which is updated more often, Bar or Panel Smart?

Bar ships an update every 20 months, and Panel Smart every 3 days. Most recently, Bar was updated on October 10, 2026 and Panel Smart on October 13, 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.*