# Code Reader vs Expert Scan

The clearest difference is ads: Code Reader at none against Expert Scan's shown. Code Reader also leads on ratings volume (243 vs 50) and device support (4 vs 2). Expert Scan's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 6 weeks). On price, rating, review sentiment and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Code Reader sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Expert Scan sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Code Reader against 4.6 for Expert Scan. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 243 and 50 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 64% of Code Reader's written reviews are positive against 60% of Expert Scan's.

Code Reader ships an update every 6 weeks, Expert Scan every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Code Reader | Expert Scan |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (243 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/code-reader-qr-scanner/id1225393668/reviews)** | [4.6 (50 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/expert-scan-invoice-and-pdf/id1470889595/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **243** | 50 |
| Positive reviews | **64.0% of reviews** | 60.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 3 MB | 82 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 18 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Daniel ILLESCAS ROMERO](https://appshunter.io/developer/1225393667) | [Julien meyer](https://appshunter.io/developer/285361686) |

## What reviewers say

### Code Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/code-reader-qr-scanner/id1225393668)

Easily scan, generate, and share QR codes and barcodes. Quickly read various code types, including links, contacts, and product information. Generate new codes from text, emails, or Wi-Fi details, and utilize convenient extensions for seamless integration.

**Highlights:** Scan QR codes and barcodes, Generate QR codes and barcodes, Read codes from images via extension, Generate codes from text, email, Wi-Fi, Save and share scanned/generated codes, Automatic web page opening for product barcodes, Scanner preview with zoom and stabilization

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Code Reader Pro Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Code Reader Pro Yearly | $9.99 | per year |
| Donation 1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Donation 2 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Code Reader Pro Lifetime | $2.99 | one-time |
| Donation 5 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Donation 10 | $8.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Works fast
- 🆓 Free to use
- 💡 Auto-copies to clipboard
- ✅ Scans QR codes effectively

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Doesn't work for some users
- 🚫 Camera focus issues on Mac
- ❌ Unable to save codes
- 🤷 No instructions provided
- ⚠️ Scams reported

**Reported bugs**

- App not working after MacOS update
- Cannot get permissions to save
- QR codes not readable by Mac camera
- App crashes QREncoder
- Sequence of letters then stops

**Requested features**

- Add date & time to QR history
- Option to select camera
- Ability to save QR codes
- Support for SVG files
- Add logos to QR codes


### Expert Scan

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/expert-scan-invoice-and-pdf/id1470889595)

Transform your device into a professional document scanner. Digitize contracts, invoices, and notes into high-quality PDFs. Features include OCR for searchable text, multi-page scanning, and various export options.

**Highlights:** Multi-page PDF scanning, OCR for text extraction, Export as PDF, JPEG, or text, Digital signature support, Share via cloud services, Clean and sharp interface

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| One Week | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| One Month | $1.99 | per month |
| Premium | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| One Year | $9.99 | per year |
| Pro plan | $19.99 | per year |
| One Year | $24.99 | per year |
| Lifetime offer | $69.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Code Reader free?

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

### Is Expert Scan free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Code Reader or Expert Scan?

Code Reader is rated higher. Code Reader averages 4.6 out of 5 from 243 ratings, while Expert Scan averages 4.6 from 50 ratings.

### Do Code Reader or Expert Scan have ads?

Expert Scan shows ads; Code Reader does not.

### Which is updated more often, Code Reader or Expert Scan?

Code Reader ships an update every 6 weeks, and Expert Scan every 3 days. Most recently, Code Reader was updated on October 7, 2026 and Expert Scan on October 13, 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.*