# Code Reader vs QR & Barcode Scanner Expert

The clearest difference is rating: Code Reader at 4.6 against QR & Barcode Scanner Expert's 4.1. Code Reader also leads on review sentiment (64% vs 29%) and ads (none vs shown). QR & Barcode Scanner Expert's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, ratings volume, update cadence 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 QR & Barcode Scanner Expert sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 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 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 243 and 295 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 64% of Code Reader's written reviews are positive against 29% of QR & Barcode Scanner Expert's.

Code Reader ships an update every 6 weeks, QR & Barcode Scanner Expert monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Code Reader | QR & Barcode Scanner Expert |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (243 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/code-reader-qr-scanner/id1225393668/reviews)** | [4.1 (295 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-and-barcode-scanner-expert/id1586936061/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 243 | **295** |
| Positive reviews | **64.0% of reviews** | 28.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 3 MB | 81 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Daniel ILLESCAS ROMERO](https://appshunter.io/developer/1225393667) | [Hazel Mobile](https://appshunter.io/developer/1555634974) |

## 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 & Barcode Scanner Expert

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-and-barcode-scanner-expert/id1586936061)

This app quickly scans and decodes all QR and barcode formats. It also allows you to generate custom QR codes for various data types, including text, URLs, and contact information. Businesses can create product QR codes to enhance customer engagement.

**Highlights:** Scan all QR and barcode formats, Generate custom QR codes, Scan from gallery, Auto-zoom and flashlight, Scan history, Price scanner

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads & Stylish - Weekly | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Remove Ads & Stylish - Monthly | $7.99 | per month |
| Remove Ads + Make Stylish | $24.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Code Reader free?

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

### Is QR & Barcode Scanner Expert free?

QR & Barcode Scanner Expert is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

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

Code Reader is rated higher. Code Reader averages 4.6 out of 5 from 243 ratings, while QR & Barcode Scanner Expert averages 4.1 from 295 ratings.

### Do Code Reader or QR & Barcode Scanner Expert have ads?

QR & Barcode Scanner Expert shows ads; Code Reader does not.

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

Code Reader ships an update every 6 weeks, and QR & Barcode Scanner Expert monthly. Most recently, Code Reader was updated on October 7, 2026 and QR & Barcode Scanner Expert on October 10, 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.*