Comparison

LotDate vs Beauty Box

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

Head to head
About

LotDate

Instantly decode cosmetic batch codes to find out when your products were made and their estimated expiry dates. Supports over 2000 brands with an AI-powered engine and saves your decoding history.

Highlights
  • Decode batch codes instantly
  • Supports 2000+ cosmetic brands
  • AI-powered decoding engine
  • Check product freshness and expiry
  • Saves decoding history
  • Optional Pro subscription for unlimited queries
Features
Read full description

LotDate helps you check cosmetic batch codes and lot codes for makeup, skincare, perfume, fragrance, haircare, and body care. Select a brand, enter the code printed on your product, and see the production date with an estimated expiry window. WHY PEOPLE USE LOTDATE • Check freshness before buying or opening a product • Review gifts, imports, older stock, and backups • Decode batch codes with brand-specific rules • Save successful lookups in searchable history • Save favorite products with production and expiry dates • Set reminders before products expire • Send feedback when a code looks wrong 3000+ BEAUTY BRANDS LotDate supports batch-code lookup across major skincare, makeup, perfume, haircare, and body-care brands. BRAND-SPECIFIC DECODING LotDate matches the brand first, then applies the right rule across multiple batch code formats for more reliable results. OPTIONAL PRO Unlock unlimited queries, all supported brands, unlimited favorites, and stronger decoding coverage. Important: Batch code results are estimates based on known formats and available rules. Always follow the printed expiry date, PAO symbol, product packaging, product condition, and official brand guidance. By using this app, you agree to Apple's Standard End User License Agreement (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Beauty Box

Decode beauty batch codes to track product freshness and expiration. Organize your cosmetics, skincare, and fragrances to ensure they are safe and effective for use. Get notified before products expire to maintain an optimal beauty routine.

Highlights
  • AI Batch Code Scanner
  • Freshness Countdown (PAO tracking)
  • Digital Vanity Organizer
  • Support for 1,700+ Brands
  • Expiration Notifications
Features
Read full description

Stop guessing! Start glowing! Is your favorite serum still effective, or is it causing breakouts? Beauty Box is the ultimate cosmetic inventory and batch code tracker designed to keep your skincare routine safe and effective. Every skincare, makeup, and fragrance product has a shelf life. Foundations oxidize, retinol degrades, and mascaras harbor bacteria. Beauty Box removes the guesswork by decoding hidden manufacture dates and tracking your Period After Opening (PAO), helping you maintain a safe, effective, and organized beauty routine. Unlock the full potential of your vanity with Beauty Box Pro: - Upgrade to enjoy Unlimited AI Photo Scanning, Unlimited Collection Storage, and Advanced Organization tools. KEY FEATURES - AI Batch Code Scanner: Simply snap a photo or type the code to reveal the manufacture date instantly. - Freshness Countdown: Track PAO (Period After Opening) and get notified before products expire. - Digital Vanity Organizer: Categorize your collection into custom folders like "Backups," "Morning Routine," or "Travel Kit." - 1,700+ Brand Support: From luxury giants like Estée Lauder to indie favorites, we cover the brands you love. WHO IT’S FOR - Skincare Enthusiasts: Ensure active ingredients are at peak potency for the best results. - Makeup Lovers: Keep track of deep collections and remember exactly when that mascara was opened. - Fragrance Collectors: Manage vintage bottles and monitor their longevity over the years. - The Conscious Consumer: Enjoy peace of mind before applying anything that’s been sitting in a drawer for "too long."

Screenshots

LotDate4 screens
Beauty Box4 screens

Verdict

The call

LotDate and Beauty Box both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of Beauty Box's written reviews are positive against 47% of LotDate's. Beauty Box also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). LotDate's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 4 days vs fortnightly). On price, rating, 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. LotDate sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Beauty Box sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for LotDate against 4.9 for Beauty Box. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: LotDate has 317 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 47% of LotDate's written reviews are positive against 100% of Beauty Box's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

LotDate ships an update every 4 days, Beauty Box fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
LotDate versus Beauty Box: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLotDateBeauty Box
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (317 ratings)4.9 (9 ratings) — better
Positive reviews46.7% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings317 — better9
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterFortnightly
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB31 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer占辉 百Yijun Yin

Customer experience

LotDate

All ratings231 ratings
Positive92.6%
Neutral3.5%
Negative3.9%
Written reviews15 reviews
Positive46.7%
Neutral13.3%
Negative40.0%

Beauty Box

All ratings9 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

LotDate

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Premium Membership$2.991 Month
  • Yearly Premium Membership$9.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Premium$17.99
1 purchases

Beauty Box

One-time1
  • Beauty Box - Batch Code Decoder$4.99

Questions

Is LotDate free?
LotDate is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Beauty Box free?
Beauty Box is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, LotDate or Beauty Box?
Beauty Box is rated higher. LotDate averages 4.7 out of 5 from 317 ratings, while Beauty Box averages 4.9 from 9 ratings.
Do LotDate or Beauty Box have ads?
Beauty Box shows ads; LotDate does not.
Which is updated more often, LotDate or Beauty Box?
LotDate ships an update every 4 days, and Beauty Box fortnightly. Most recently, LotDate was updated on October 29, 2026 and Beauty Box on October 24, 2026.

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