Comparison

SmartLabel vs Code Scan

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

SmartLabel

Access detailed product information for food, beverages, household goods, pet care, and personal care items. Scan barcodes or search for products to find ingredient definitions, sourcing practices, certifications, and more.

Highlights
  • Scan product UPC codes
  • Scan SmartLabel QR codes
  • Search specific products
  • View ingredient definitions
  • Access sourcing practices
  • Discover third-party certifications
  • Find sustainability information
Read full description

Ever find yourself wondering about what goes into the products you use and consume on a daily basis? SmartLabel gives you access to this information whether you’re interested in food, beverage, household, pet care or personal care products, Smart Label has the information you’re looking for no matter where you are, right at your finger tips. Using this app, you can either search a specific product using the Product Search function or scan a product’s UPC code or SmartLabel QR code on the package. Either approach will take you to a variety of information, including: • ingredient definitions • sourcing practices • third-party certifications • social compliance and sustainability programs • usage instructions • advisories & safe handling instructions • genetically engineered ingredient disclosure • company/brand information • And much, much more… Visit www.smartlabel.org for more information. SmartLabel now supports DWCode by GS1 and Digimarc Barcode. For Digimarc end-user license agreement (EULA) visit https://www.digimarc.com/m/eula

About

Code Scan

This app scans and generates a wide variety of 1D and 2D barcodes, including QR codes, DataMatrix, and specialized formats like VDS. It offers features like camera zoom, flash support, and a history of scanned codes. Users can also share scanned data and create new barcodes.

Highlights
  • Scans all 1D and 2D barcodes
  • Supports MicroQR, VDS, and ICAO Datastructures
  • Adjustable camera zoom and flash for low light
  • Scan history and sharing functionality
  • Generates QR, DataMatrix, and PDF417 barcodes
  • Dark mode and dark AppIcon support
Features
Read full description

Scan and create every common 1D and 2D barcode - one at a time or continuously in Batch Scan. Export your history as CSV or automatically send scans to your own server. Unlike an ordinary scanner, Code Scan also verifies the cryptographic seals on official documents. WHAT IT READS • QR, MicroQR and rMQR (rectangular MicroQR) • DataMatrix, including DMRE • Aztec, PDF417, MaxiCode • EAN-8, EAN-13, UPC-A, UPC-E • Code 39, Code 93, Code 128, Codabar, ITF / ITF-14 • GS1 DataBar and DataBar Expanded • VDS, VDS-NC and IDB document seals Codes are decoded on your device: from the live camera, from a photo in your library, or from an image you share into the app from somewhere else. DIGITAL SEALS ON OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS This is what sets Code Scan apart: it does not just read the seal, it checks the cryptographic signature. • VDS (Visible Digital Seal, BSI TR-03137) in DataMatrix • VDS-NC (ICAO) and IDB (ICAO Datastructure for Barcode) in QR codes • Signatures verified against X.509 certificates, kept up to date automatically • Import your own X.509 certificates for closed ecosystems • MRZ data contained in a seal is parsed and shown in readable form This app supports reading and verification of (among others) VDS Profiles: - Social Insurance Card - Residence Permit Document - ICAO Visa Document - ICAO Emergency Travel Document - German Arrival Attestation Document - Address Sticker for German Identity Card - Place of Residence Sticker for German Passports VDS-NC Profiles: - ICAO PoT and PoV (ISO/IEC JTC1 SC17 WG3/TF5) CREATE YOUR OWN CODES • QR, DataMatrix, Aztec, PDF417 and Code 128 • Live preview while you type • Choose the QR error correction level (L / M / Q / H) or the PDF417 level (0-8) • Keep your codes in a library, mark favorites, share any of them as an image FASTER IN EVERYDAY USE • Camera light in four brightness steps and 1x / 2x / 4x zoom - for tiny print, dark rooms and laminated documents • Share a screenshot from any app to read the code inside it, or share a link to turn it into a code • Batch Scan: capture multiple codes without a result screen and save them straight to your history • Siri and Shortcuts: create a code or open the scanner by voice, or build both actions into your own shortcuts • Recreate a scanned code in a single tap, with the content already filled in A HISTORY THAT STAYS ORGANIZED • Grouped into Starred, Today, This Week and Before • Scanning a code again updates the existing entry instead of piling up duplicates • Export and share your scan history as a CSV file • Stored seals are re-verified in the background against the current certificates, so an expired signature stops showing as valid FOR PROFESSIONAL USE • GS1 application identifiers parsed and labelled • Open recognized links immediately, skipping the result screen • Copy and share the raw code data instead of the interpreted content • Optionally send scans automatically to your own HTTPS endpoint (off by default) • Play a confirmation sound after successful transfers • Native iPad layouts PRIVACY Decoding happens entirely on your device, and your history stays there. There is no account and no tracking. To verify seals, the app downloads the public signer certificates from our certificate service. The optional face comparison against a document portrait is the one feature that sends an image to a KURZ Digital service, and only when you start it yourself. For wishes and suggestions just contact us at info@kurzdigital.com

Screenshots

SmartLabel2 screens
Code Scan4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Code Scan at 81% against SmartLabel's 11%. Code Scan also leads on rating (4.6 vs 2.2) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 months). SmartLabel's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 18.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Code Scan holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Code Scan has 741 ratings behind it against 97, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 11% of SmartLabel's written reviews are positive against 81% of Code Scan's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SmartLabel ships an update every 3 months, Code Scan every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
SmartLabel versus Code Scan: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSmartLabelCode Scan
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.2 (97 ratings)4.6 (741 ratings) — better
Positive reviews11.3% of reviews80.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings97741 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS11.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size23 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperConsumer Brands AssociationKURZ Digital Solutions GmbH & Co. KG

Customer experience

SmartLabel

All ratings97 ratings
Positive29.9%
Neutral3.1%
Negative67.0%
Written reviews53 reviews
Positive11.3%
Neutral3.8%
Negative84.9%

Code Scan

All ratings741 ratings
Positive89.3%
Neutral2.4%
Negative8.2%
Written reviews36 reviews
Positive80.6%
Neutral8.3%
Negative11.1%

Bugs and requests

SmartLabel

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Code Scan

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Does not load websites
  • Copy or close options produce no result

Requested features

2 requests
  • Ability to view previously scanned QR codes (not just data)
  • Option to contribute via donation instead of ads

In-app purchases

None

SmartLabel

No in-app purchases

None

Code Scan

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SmartLabel free?
SmartLabel is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Code Scan free?
Code Scan is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, SmartLabel or Code Scan?
Code Scan is rated higher. SmartLabel averages 2.2 out of 5 from 97 ratings, while Code Scan averages 4.6 from 741 ratings.
Do SmartLabel or Code Scan have ads?
Neither SmartLabel nor Code Scan shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SmartLabel or Code Scan?
SmartLabel ships an update every 3 months, and Code Scan every 2 weeks. Most recently, SmartLabel was updated on October 16, 2026 and Code Scan on October 14, 2026.

Other comparisons