Comparison

M vs Barcode Stash

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

Head to head
About

M

This utility app allows users to create, store, and share QR codes directly from their iPhone or Apple Watch. It offers local storage and the ability to upload QR codes to an online database for easy access and retrieval.

Highlights
  • Local QR code storage
  • Share QR codes online
  • Download QR codes from online database
  • iPhone and Apple Watch support
Read full description

M-Code is your all-in-one barcode toolkit. Scan, create, and manage QR codes and barcodes — all from your pocket. SCAN CODE Point your camera or import from your photo library. M-Code recognizes 11 barcode formats including QR Code, Code 128, PDF417, Aztec, EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-E, Code 39, Code 93, ITF-14, and Interleaved 2 of 5. CREATE FROM TEXT Type any content and generate a barcode instantly. Choose from QR Code, Code 128, PDF417, or Aztec — with a live preview of each format before you save. YOUR PERSONAL LIBRARY Organize saved codes with custom titles. Search, reorder, and access them anytime. View the encoded content, copy it, or open embedded URLs directly. APPLE WATCH Access all your saved codes on your wrist. Perfect for quickly showing a code at checkout or entry.

About

Barcode Stash

Effortlessly scan, generate, and organize all your barcodes in one secure location. This app supports numerous formats, offers smart actions based on scanned data, and allows for easy sharing and cross-device synchronization.

Highlights
  • Scan 11 barcode formats
  • Generate custom barcodes
  • Organize with descriptions and tags
  • Smart actions for scanned data
  • Map scanned locations
  • Cross-device iCloud sync
  • Export/import in JSON or CSV
Features
Read full description

Barcode Stash is a fast, private barcode scanner and generator that keeps your entire barcode library organized in one place. SCAN ANYTHING Point your camera at any barcode and Barcode Stash reads it instantly. Supports 11 formats: QR, EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-E, Code 128, Code 39, Code 93, PDF417, Aztec, DataMatrix, and ITF-14. Bulk mode lets you scan dozens of barcodes in rapid succession - each one is highlighted live in the viewfinder, and duplicates are automatically skipped. CREATE YOUR OWN Generate barcodes from scratch. Pick any supported format, enter your data, and get a pixel-perfect barcode ready to save or share. Real-time input validation catches errors before you tap save. STAY ORGANIZED Every barcode, scanned or created, is saved to a searchable history grouped by date. Add descriptions, tags, and favorites. Batch select to delete, tag, or export multiple barcodes at once. Filter by type, source, favorites, or tags to find what you need fast. SMART ACTIONS Barcode Stash detects what's inside each barcode and offers the right action: open a URL, compose an email, make a call, send an SMS, connect to Wi-Fi, add a calendar event, save a contact, or view a location on the map. MAP YOUR SCANS Barcodes captured with location data appear on an interactive map. Choose between standard, satellite, and hybrid views. Add or update locations on any barcode at any time. SHARE BEAUTIFULLY Share barcodes as a clean image or as a rich card with the barcode type, raw value, description, date, address, and a map snapshot. Choose exactly which details to include - your preferences are remembered. COLLECTION STATS View a breakdown of your barcode library: totals by type, favorites count, tags, locations, and how many you've generated versus scanned. SYNC ACROSS DEVICES iCloud keeps your barcodes in sync across all your devices. Changes sync automatically, no duplicates, no data loss. EXPORT & IMPORT Back up your entire collection as JSON or CSV, or import barcodes from another device. Duplicates are automatically detected and skipped on import. FULLY ACCESSIBLE Complete VoiceOver support throughout the app. Every button, toggle, and barcode row has descriptive labels and hints. Animations respect the Reduce Motion setting. AVAILABLE IN 10 LANGUAGES English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese. PRIVACY FIRST No accounts. No tracking. No servers. Your barcodes stay on your device and in your iCloud - nowhere else.

Screenshots

M4 screens
Barcode Stash4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Barcode Stash at every 4 days against M's every 4 months. M's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 26.0). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases 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

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

M ships an update every 4 months, Barcode Stash every 4 days. Both last shipped on October 7, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
M versus Barcode Stash: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMBarcode Stash
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size10 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperWai Yin ChanAlexis Lours

Customer experience

M

Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Barcode Stash

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

M

No in-app purchases

None

Barcode Stash

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is M free?
M is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Barcode Stash free?
Barcode Stash is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do M or Barcode Stash have ads?
Neither M nor Barcode Stash shows ads.
Which is updated more often, M or Barcode Stash?
M ships an update every 4 months, and Barcode Stash every 4 days. Most recently, M was updated on October 7, 2026 and Barcode Stash on October 7, 2026.

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