# Code Reader vs QR Code Scanner & QR Gen

The clearest difference is review sentiment: QR Code Scanner & QR Gen at 92% against Code Reader's 64%. QR Code Scanner & QR Gen also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 6 weeks) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.0). Code Reader's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 4.4) and ratings volume (251 vs 45). 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 Scanner & QR Gen sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Code Reader holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Code Reader has 251 ratings behind it against 45, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 64% of Code Reader's written reviews are positive against 92% of QR Code Scanner & QR Gen's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Code Reader ships an update every 6 weeks, QR Code Scanner & QR Gen fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Code Reader | QR Code Scanner & QR Gen |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (251 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/code-reader-qr-scanner/id1225393668/reviews)** | [4.4 (45 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-code-scanner-and-qr-gen/id1531680860/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **251** | 45 |
| Positive reviews | 64.0% of reviews | **91.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 3 MB | 44 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **10.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Daniel ILLESCAS ROMERO](https://appshunter.io/developer/1225393667) | [Ivanna Blinova](https://appshunter.io/developer/1531459837) |

## 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 |
| Donation 5 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Donation 10 | $8.99 | one-time |
| Code Reader Pro Lifetime | $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 Scanner & QR Gen

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-code-scanner-and-qr-gen/id1531680860)

Easily scan QR codes and barcodes from your camera or gallery. Generate custom QR codes for various platforms and protect your data with a security lock. Access your scan history anytime.

**Highlights:** QR Code & Barcode Scanner, Scan from camera or gallery, Scan history, QR Code generator, Password protection, Supports over 10 types

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Week | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| 1 Month | $8.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Code Reader free?

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

### Is QR Code Scanner & QR Gen free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Code Reader or QR Code Scanner & QR Gen?

Code Reader is rated higher. Code Reader averages 4.6 out of 5 from 251 ratings, while QR Code Scanner & QR Gen averages 4.4 from 45 ratings.

### Do Code Reader or QR Code Scanner & QR Gen have ads?

Neither Code Reader nor QR Code Scanner & QR Gen shows ads.

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

Code Reader ships an update every 6 weeks, and QR Code Scanner & QR Gen fortnightly. Most recently, Code Reader was updated on October 20, 2026 and QR Code Scanner & QR Gen on October 13, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*