# Bar vs DictaNote

The clearest difference is price: Bar at Free against DictaNote's $0.99. Bar also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). DictaNote's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 20 months). On in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Bar is free to download; DictaNote costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Bar ships an update every 20 months, DictaNote every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on August 16, 2026 and September 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bar | DictaNote |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $0.99 |
| Positive reviews | 42.9% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 20 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | — |
| Size | 6 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Aishvarya Sadasivam](https://appshunter.io/developer/1062048241) | [Jamie Ward](https://appshunter.io/developer/1870821825) |

## 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


### DictaNote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dictanote/id6759176055)

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bar free?

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

### Is DictaNote free?

DictaNote costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Bar or DictaNote have ads?

Bar shows ads; DictaNote does not.

### Which is updated more often, Bar or DictaNote?

Bar ships an update every 20 months, and DictaNote every 6 weeks. Most recently, Bar was updated on August 16, 2026 and DictaNote on September 11, 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.*