# Code Reader vs QR Code Scanner

The clearest difference is ads: Code Reader at none against QR Code Scanner's shown. Code Reader also leads on device support (4 vs 2). QR Code Scanner's advantage is review sentiment (89% vs 64%). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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 sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $2.09 per month. 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 QR Code Scanner. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 243 and 116 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 64% of Code Reader's written reviews are positive against 89% of QR Code Scanner's.

Code Reader ships an update every 6 weeks, QR Code Scanner every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Code Reader | QR Code Scanner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (243 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/code-reader-qr-scanner/id1225393668/reviews)** | [4.6 (116 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-code-scanner-quick-scan/id1558630497/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **243** | 116 |
| Positive reviews | 64.0% of reviews | **88.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 3 MB | 119 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Daniel ILLESCAS ROMERO](https://appshunter.io/developer/1225393667) | [DigitAlchemy LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/376971628) |

## 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 Scanner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-code-scanner-quick-scan/id1558630497)

Easily scan and read all types of QR and barcodes with this versatile code reader. Save scanned codes for later, share information, and access discounts. Works offline and supports numerous formats.

**Highlights:** Scan all QR and barcode types, Read Wi-Fi passwords, Search product barcodes online, Share scanned information, Save scan history, Use flashlight for dark scanning, Zoom for better scanning

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| QR Code Reader Plus - 30% OFF | $2.09 | per month |
| QR Code Reader PRO for 1 month | $2.99 | per month |
| QR Code Scanner for 1 month | $2.99 | per month |
| Barcode Scanner - 30% OFF | $13.99 | per year |
| QR Code & Barcode for 1 year | $19.99 | per year |
| QR Code Scanner for 1 year | $19.99 | per year |
| Barcode Scanner (Remove ads) | $2.99 | one-time |
| QR Code Scanner - 30% OFF | $24.49 | one-time |
| Scan QR Code, Barcode: Forever | $34.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🔍 Accurate barcode scanning
- 💡 Ability to create custom QR codes
- 🚀 Fast and responsive
- 🔒 No unnecessary permissions or data collection

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Paid app features
- 🐛 Occasional scanning issues
- 📱 Compatibility problems on some devices

**Reported bugs**

- Scanning not working on certain barcodes
- App crashes when opening large QR codes

**Requested features**

- Integration with popular e-commerce platforms
- Barcode history and analytics
- Offline scanning support


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Code Reader free?

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

### Is QR Code Scanner free?

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

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

Code Reader is rated higher. Code Reader averages 4.6 out of 5 from 243 ratings, while QR Code Scanner averages 4.6 from 116 ratings.

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

QR Code Scanner shows ads; Code Reader does not.

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

Code Reader ships an update every 6 weeks, and QR Code Scanner every 5 weeks. Most recently, Code Reader was updated on October 3, 2026 and QR Code Scanner on October 4, 2026.

---

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