# Code Reader vs QR Code

The clearest difference is rating: Code Reader at 4.6 against QR Code's 4.2. Code Reader also leads on update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 6 months) and ratings volume (243 vs 6). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Code Reader sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and QR Code sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Code Reader holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Code Reader has 243 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Code Reader ships an update every 6 weeks, QR Code every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Code Reader | QR Code |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (243 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/code-reader-qr-scanner/id1225393668/reviews)** | [4.2 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-code-reader-and-scanner/id1530278183/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **243** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 64.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 3 MB | 10 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Daniel ILLESCAS ROMERO](https://appshunter.io/developer/1225393667) | [Hitesh Gupta](https://appshunter.io/developer/1530278185) |

## 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


### QR Code

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-code-reader-and-scanner/id1530278183)

Easily scan and create various QR codes and barcodes using your device's camera or gallery. Save, manage, and share your codes instantly. Supports batch scanning and low-light conditions.

**Highlights:** Scan all QR code and barcode types, Create custom QR codes for text, URLs, contacts, and more, Scan from camera, gallery, or media library, Batch scanning support, Flashlight for low-light scanning, Save, manage, and share codes, Export/import scans via CSV

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $1.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $11.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Purchase | $29.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Code Reader free?

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

### Is QR Code free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Code Reader or QR Code?

Code Reader is rated higher. Code Reader averages 4.6 out of 5 from 243 ratings, while QR Code averages 4.2 from 6 ratings.

### Do Code Reader or QR Code have ads?

Neither Code Reader nor QR Code shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Code Reader or QR Code?

Code Reader ships an update every 6 weeks, and QR Code every 6 months. Most recently, Code Reader was updated on September 29, 2026 and QR Code on September 23, 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.*