Universal QR vs Useful QR Code Reader
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Universal QR
Easily scan QR codes to access information and view your scan history. Create your own QR codes and share them with others. This utility app offers a straightforward way to manage and generate QR codes.
- Scan QR codes
- View scan history
- Create QR codes
- Share QR codes
- Favorite codes
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Universal QR is a free app that lets you scan QR codes quickly and easily. You can also create your own QR codes for all kinds of uses. [Instant scanning right after launch] The scanner starts the moment you open the app. Just point your camera at a QR code and it's recognized instantly. Tap a URL to open it straight in your browser. You can also send the content to a friend as-is, or save it as a memo. [Scanned items are automatically saved to your history] Even a link you scanned yesterday is easy to find again in your history list. Swipe a history item to view, share, rename, or delete it in a flash. You can also edit the content and recreate the QR code. [Name your history entries your way] Give any history item a name you like — "Cafe Wi-Fi", "Event check-in" — so you can tell what it is at a glance. Turn on the switch at the top of the List screen, and scanned URLs will show the web page's title instead of a raw link. So long, walls of URLs ^^ (Title fetching is off by default — it's entirely your choice.) [Create QR codes] Turn any URL or text into a QR code. Exchanging messages with friends via QR codes can be fun too ^^ Share it through apps like LINE, or save the QR code image to your Camera Roll. Great if you want to display a code on a blog or a flyer. Universal QR is free and supported by ads. Prefer an ad-free experience? A single one-time purchase in the settings removes ads for good — no subscription.
Useful QR Code Reader
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A convenient QR Code Reader app has been released! This app is an easy, simple, and fast QR code reading application. Additionally, it is a handy QR code reader app that records your scan history. After launching the app, grant camera access, hold your device over a QR code, and scan it. The scanned QR code will be displayed at the top of the main screen. Tap it to open the browser and view the URL, or long-press to copy it to the clipboard and use the text as needed. After launching, tap the "Load Image" button and grant access to your photo library. Then, load an image containing a QR code, such as a screenshot, and the app will scan the QR code within the image. (In some cases, it may fail to read due to errors.) It's free, so feel free to use it! A paid version without ads (PRO version) is also available! [How to Use] - Point the camera at a QR code on the initial screen to scan it. - The top right button on the screen transitions to the main screen but skips QR code scanning. - The top left button on the screen scans a QR code from an image in the photo library. - The scanned content is displayed at the top of the main screen. - Tap to open the browser. - Long-press to copy to the clipboard. - QR code scan history is displayed at the bottom of the screen. - Delete all history with "Delete All History." - You can delete history individually. - Tapping on history entries also opens the browser. - Long-pressing history entries copies them to the clipboard. - Tap the "I" in the top right to view information about the app. - Use the back arrow in the top left to return to the initial QR code scanning screen. That's how to use the app. It is a simple, convenient, and fast QR code reading app! Download and try it today!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is device support: Useful QR Code Reader at 3 against Universal QR's 1. Useful QR Code Reader also leads on iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.6). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Universal QR ships an update every 3 days, Useful QR Code Reader weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Universal QR | Useful QR Code Reader |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (2 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 2 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 days — better | Weekly |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 15.6 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 13 MB | 99 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Yasuko Shikiuchi | katapu.net |
In-app purchases
Universal QR
No in-app purchases
Useful QR Code Reader
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Universal QR free?
Is Useful QR Code Reader free?
Do Universal QR or Useful QR Code Reader have ads?
Which is updated more often, Universal QR or Useful QR Code Reader?
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