Comparison

Forward vs QR Reader

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Forward

Capture ideas and tasks to be delivered to you at a future date, up to a week in advance. This app acts as a rapid note-taking tool and a time-independent reminder system.

Highlights
  • Quickly capture ideas
  • Schedule notes for future dates
  • Set reminders up to a week ahead
  • Time-independent reminders
  • Rapid note taking
Features
Read full description

Have a thought you don't need right now? Email it to your future self. forward is part rapid note-taker, part time-shifted reminder. Type what's on your mind, pick the day it matters - now, tomorrow, or any day this week - and it lands in your inbox that morning. All of a day's notes arrive gathered into a single email: one tidy list, not ten pings. Your inbox is the one list you already check - forward simply puts things there on time. WHY IT WORKS • Capture instantly - open the app and type; your note is one tap from sent. • Share from anywhere - push links, text, and ideas into forward from any app. • Schedule by day - notes for the same day travel together, in one email. • Forget on purpose - write it tonight, see it Thursday morning, think about it never in between. NEW IN 1.7 • Dark Mode - follows your system theme, or stays dark for good. • Sign in with your email - no usernames to remember. • More dependable scheduled delivery. A SMALL APP WITH A LONG STORY forward began as a weekend project by Dan Hopwood of drivn.co - an app called Jot, born in 2014. We used it every single day, so when it shut down in January 2017, we bought it and brought it back, renamed for what it does: pushing notes forward to the day you need them. We've been emailing our future selves ever since.

About

QR Reader

Effortlessly scan and generate QR codes and barcodes with this fast, intuitive iOS app. It also includes a PDF scanner and document signing features to manage your documents on the go.

Highlights
  • Fast QR code and barcode scanning
  • Generate custom QR codes and barcodes
  • Portable PDF document scanner
  • Document signing functionality
  • Supports various QR code formats
  • User-friendly interface
Features
Read full description

QR Reader is a powerful and intuitive iOS app designed to make QR code and barcode scanning a breeze. With its lightning-fast performance and robust functionality, this app enables users to effortlessly read and generate codes on their devices. Gone are the days of struggling to scan QR codes or barcodes with unreliable apps. QR Reader harnesses cutting-edge technology to deliver an exceptional scanning experience. Simply point your device's camera at the code, and QR Reader instantly recognizes and decodes it, providing you with the relevant information or action associated with the code. But QR Reader doesn't stop at just scanning codes—it goes above and beyond. With its efficient code generation feature, the app allows you to effortlessly create your own QR codes and barcodes. Whether you need to share contact details, URLs, Wi-Fi information, or any other type of data, QR Reader empowers you to generate custom codes in seconds. It's a convenient tool for businesses, marketers, and individuals alike. One of the standout features of QR Reader is its exceptional speed. Using advanced algorithms and optimization techniques, the app ensures that scanning and generating codes is near-instantaneous. You no longer have to wait around for the app to process the information—it's swift and efficient, saving you valuable time. QR Reader also boasts a user-friendly interface that prioritizes simplicity and ease of use. Its intuitive design guides you through the scanning and code generation process effortlessly, even if you're new to QR codes and barcodes. The app's clean and minimalistic layout ensures that the focus remains on the task at hand—quickly accessing information or creating codes. Furthermore, QR Reader supports a wide range of QR code and barcode formats, including popular types like URL, email, phone numbers, text, and more. This versatility allows you to decode and generate codes for various purposes, whether it's accessing website links, adding contacts, or performing specific actions. Your privacy and security are of utmost importance, and QR Reader understands that. The app prioritizes data protection by implementing secure scanning and generation processes. You can use QR Reader with peace of mind, knowing that your personal information remains safe and secure. PDF Scanner feature is a powerful tool that transforms your smartphone into a portable document scanner. With its intuitive interface and advanced image processing technology, it effortlessly converts physical documents into high-quality PDF files. Featuring auto-crop, image enhancement, and multi-page scanning capabilities, it ensures optimal results. Seamlessly share, store, and organize your scanned documents, and enjoy the convenience of accessing them anytime, anywhere. Simplify your document management tasks with this efficient and user-friendly PDF scanner app for iOS. Document signing Feature offers a powerful solution that will facilitate users' work. You can save different signature styles with the possibility to create multiple signature templates. Adding signatures to PDF documents is also very practical. You can adjust the position, angle and size of the signature as you wish. In this way, it has never been easier to add your digital signature to your documents in a personal and secure way. Speed up your workflow and gain a professional touch to your documents. In summary, QR Reader App is an indispensable tool for anyone needing fast and reliable QR code and PDF & Barcode scanning and generation. Whether you're a business professional, a tech-savvy individual, or simply looking to enhance your productivity, this app provides the perfect solution. Experience the convenience and efficiency of QR Reader today and unlock a world of possibilities with every scan and code generated. Terms & Conditions: https://www.sanmobile.co/terms.html https://www.sanmobile.co/privacy.html

Screenshots

Forward4 screens
QR Reader4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: QR Reader at Free against Forward's $4.99. Forward's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ads (none vs shown). On rating, ratings volume, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

QR Reader is free to download; Forward costs $4.99 up front. QR Reader sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. Forward asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Forward against 5.0 for QR Reader. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 3 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 100% of Forward's written reviews are positive against 71% of QR Reader's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Forward ships an update every 2 weeks, QR Reader weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Forward versus QR Reader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterForwardQR Reader
Price$4.99Free — better
Rating5.0 (5 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better71.4% of reviews
Number of ratings5 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksWeekly — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS13.013.0
Further details — not scored
Size24 MB31 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperwestlinkSAN MOBILE

Customer experience

Forward

All ratings5 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

QR Reader

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews14 reviews
Positive71.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative28.6%

In-app purchases

None

Forward

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

QR Reader

Subscriptions2
  • QR Scanner & Reader Weekly3 Days trial$0.997 Days
  • QR Scanner & Reader Monthly3 Days trial$24.991 Month

Questions

Is Forward free?
Forward costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is QR Reader free?
QR Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Forward or QR Reader?
Forward and QR Reader are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 5 and 3 ratings respectively.
Do Forward or QR Reader have ads?
QR Reader shows ads; Forward does not.
Which is updated more often, Forward or QR Reader?
Forward ships an update every 2 weeks, and QR Reader weekly. Most recently, Forward was updated on October 8, 2026 and QR Reader on October 1, 2026.

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