# Barcode Scanner vs Shelf Companion

The clearest difference is rating: Barcode Scanner at 4.7 against Shelf Companion's 3.0. Barcode Scanner also leads on ratings volume (1.9K vs 2) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.1). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

Barcode Scanner holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Barcode Scanner has 1.9K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Barcode Scanner ships an update fortnightly, Shelf Companion every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Barcode Scanner | Shelf Companion |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (1.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barcode-scanner-orca-scan/id1161117971/reviews)** | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shelf-companion/id6765639874/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.9K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 83.5% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 10 MB | 45 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ORCA SCAN LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1083450789) | [Shelf Asset Management, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896020316) |

## 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


### Shelf Companion

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shelf-companion/id6765639874)

This app allows teams to manage and audit assets directly from their mobile devices. Scan QR codes or barcodes to quickly access asset details, update information, and conduct real-time inventory audits. It syncs instantly with the web platform and is designed for collaborative team use.

**Highlights:** Scan QR codes and barcodes, Real-time inventory audits, View and update asset details, Assign and release asset custody, Multi-workspace support, Role-based access control

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Barcode Scanner free?

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

### Is Shelf Companion free?

Shelf Companion is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Barcode Scanner or Shelf Companion?

Barcode Scanner is rated higher. Barcode Scanner averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.9K ratings, while Shelf Companion averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Barcode Scanner or Shelf Companion have ads?

Neither Barcode Scanner nor Shelf Companion shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Barcode Scanner or Shelf Companion?

Barcode Scanner ships an update fortnightly, and Shelf Companion every 2 weeks. Most recently, Barcode Scanner was updated on October 26, 2026 and Shelf Companion on October 25, 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.*