# Barcode Scanner vs Boxes

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Barcode Scanner at none against Boxes's 8. Barcode Scanner also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Boxes sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 3 months. Barcode Scanner asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Barcode Scanner against 4.8 for Boxes. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.9K and 964 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 83% of Barcode Scanner's written reviews are positive against 91% of Boxes's.

Barcode Scanner ships an update fortnightly, Boxes every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on November 2, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Barcode Scanner | Boxes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (1.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barcode-scanner-orca-scan/id1161117971/reviews) | **[4.8 (964 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/boxes-storage-made-simple/id1335784284/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.9K** | 964 |
| Positive reviews | 83.5% of reviews | **90.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 10 MB | 18 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ORCA SCAN LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1083450789) | [StackTracks, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/452778225) |

## What reviewers say

### Barcode Scanner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barcode-scanner-orca-scan/id1161117971)

Streamline inventory and asset tracking with a powerful barcode scanning solution. Build custom tracking systems without coding, reduce counting time significantly, and export data easily. Works offline and syncs automatically.

**Highlights:** Scan any barcode type, Export data to Excel/Google Sheets, Offline functionality with cloud sync, Capture photos, signatures, GPS, Log asset history with location tracking, Design and print barcode labels

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and efficient scanning
- 👍 Customizable fields and options
- 📤 Easy data export and sharing
- 💡 Helpful for inventory management
- 🚀 Quick and accurate barcode scanning

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional app freezing or crashes
- 🔒 Requires account creation to use
- 🔒 Limited functionality in free version
- 🔋 Camera issues on some devices

**Reported bugs**

- Deleted local barcodes after update
- Incompatibility with newer iPhone models
- Inconsistent barcode recognition

**Requested features**

- Ability to manually input barcodes
- More advanced reporting and analytics
- Improved sorting and filtering of scanned items
- Support for more barcode types


### Boxes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/boxes-storage-made-simple/id1335784284)

Effortlessly track all your belongings, from moving boxes to holiday decorations. Organize items by location, add details like photos and custom attributes, and generate reports. Ideal for moving, inventory, or general storage management.

**Highlights:** Organize items by space/location, Track box and item numbers, Add photos and custom attributes, Generate and export reports, Print custom labels, Scan QR codes and use NFC tags, Offline access and syncing

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

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tier One | $4.99 | per 3 months |
| Tier Two | $5.99 | per 3 months |
| Tier Three | $7.99 | per 3 months |
| Tier Four | $9.99 | per 3 months |
| Pro Tier | $17.99 | per 3 months |
| Pro Add-On | $25.00 | one-time |
| Lifetime Unlock | $34.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Unlock Pro | $59.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Practical and user-friendly
- 👍 Excellent organization and tracking features
- 💡 Customizable labels and QR codes
- 👍 Responsive and helpful developer
- 🚀 Simple yet powerful app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Printing labels can be cumbersome
- 🐛 Lack of ability to access photo library
- 🔒 Paid subscription after 10 items

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when entering large amounts of data
- Issues with syncing data across devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to add multiple photos per box
- Option to track item quantities
- Shared access with read-only permissions
- Offline functionality
- Customizable dashboard and manifest


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Barcode Scanner free?

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

### Is Boxes free?

Boxes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Barcode Scanner or Boxes?

Boxes is rated higher. Barcode Scanner averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.9K ratings, while Boxes averages 4.8 from 964 ratings.

### Do Barcode Scanner or Boxes have ads?

Neither Barcode Scanner nor Boxes shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Barcode Scanner or Boxes?

Barcode Scanner ships an update fortnightly, and Boxes every 3 weeks. Most recently, Barcode Scanner was updated on November 2, 2026 and Boxes on November 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.*