# SidePilot vs QR Reader*

The clearest difference is review sentiment: SidePilot at 57% against QR Reader*'s 0%. SidePilot also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ads (none vs shown). QR Reader*'s advantage is price (Free vs $13.99) and rating (4.4 vs 4.0). On device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

QR Reader* is free to download; SidePilot costs $13.99 up front. QR Reader* sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. SidePilot asks for nothing beyond the download.

QR Reader* holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SidePilot has 98 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 57% of SidePilot's written reviews are positive against 0% of QR Reader*'s, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

SidePilot ships an update every 6 weeks, QR Reader* every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and August 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SidePilot | QR Reader* |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $13.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.0 (98 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sidepilot/id1138193193/reviews) | **[4.4 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-reader/id6743430751/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **98** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | **57.1% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 117 MB | 21 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Tom Brereton](https://appshunter.io/developer/1137848787) | [Cijay LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1752173749) |

## What reviewers say

### SidePilot

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sidepilot/id1138193193)

This portable ground station app connects to ArduPilot drones via WiFi, Bluetooth, or cellular. It provides real-time drone data, waypoint management, and advanced flight modes like Follow Me and Orbit. It also includes ADSB integration and live video streaming capabilities.

**Highlights:** Real-time drone telemetry display, Waypoint and geofence creation, ADSB aircraft integration, Follow Me and Orbit flight modes, Live video streaming, Parameter editing and calibration

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Keeps 3DR Solo flying
- 👍 Works better than original app
- 👍 Drone runs more stable
- 👍 Great for flying Solo
- 👍 Revived dormant Solo

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App freezes
- 🐛 App crashes
- 🐛 Does not connect to drone
- 🐛 No video feed
- 🐛 Firmware update issues

**Reported bugs**

- App does not connect to drone
- No video feed from GoPro
- Firmware update failures
- Controller not pairing
- Drone stuck in 'waiting for Solo' state

**Requested features**

- French language option
- Ability to update Solo 3DR
- Fix GoPro control issues
- Fix compass calibration errors
- Add support for GoPro video settings in air


### QR Reader*

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-reader/id6743430751)

Easily scan any QR code with your iPhone camera, supporting various types like URLs, contacts, and WiFi. Generate custom QR codes for links, contacts, or WiFi, and manage your scan history. Import codes from photos for added convenience.

**Highlights:** Scan any QR code type, Generate custom QR codes, View and manage scan history, Copy scan results to clipboard, Import QR codes from photos, Clean and simple user interface

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Subscriptions | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| Yearly Subscriptions | $34.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Subscription | $49.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SidePilot free?

SidePilot costs $13.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is QR Reader* free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SidePilot or QR Reader*?

QR Reader* is rated higher. SidePilot averages 4.0 out of 5 from 98 ratings, while QR Reader* averages 4.4 from 7 ratings.

### Do SidePilot or QR Reader* have ads?

QR Reader* shows ads; SidePilot does not.

### Which is updated more often, SidePilot or QR Reader*?

SidePilot ships an update every 6 weeks, and QR Reader* every 4 months. Most recently, SidePilot was updated on September 25, 2026 and QR Reader* on August 2, 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.*