# Barcode Scanner vs QR Code Reader

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Barcode Scanner at none against QR Code Reader's 3. QR Code Reader's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 10 days vs every 117 months). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. QR Code Reader sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Barcode Scanner asks for nothing beyond the download.

Barcode Scanner ships an update every 117 months, QR Code Reader every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Barcode Scanner | QR Code Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 60.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 117 months | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 6 MB | 80 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Ramalingam Sivaramakrishnan](https://appshunter.io/developer/892706271) | [Esha Trivedi](https://appshunter.io/developer/6787431287) |

## What reviewers say

### Barcode Scanner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barcode-scanner-qr-code-scan/id1081726304)

Instantly read any barcode or QR code by pointing your camera. Quickly capture and manage information, from product details to URLs. Essential for organizing items, managing inventory, or finding product information.

**Highlights:** Lightning-fast barcode and QR code scanning, Save and export scan history to CSV, Bulk scanning mode for multiple codes, Scan codes from photos, Share scan results easily

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### QR Code Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-code-reader-scan-barcode/id6795470654)

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Plan | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Plan | $5.99 | per month |
| Lifetime Plan | $12.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Barcode Scanner free?

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

### Is QR Code Reader free?

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

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

Barcode Scanner shows ads; QR Code Reader does not.

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

Barcode Scanner ships an update every 117 months, and QR Code Reader every 10 days. Most recently, Barcode Scanner was updated on October 4, 2026 and QR Code Reader on September 23, 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.*