# Code Scanner QR Barcode Reader vs The QR Code Reader

The clearest difference is update cadence: Code Scanner QR Barcode Reader at every 2 weeks against The QR Code Reader's every 4 months. Code Scanner QR Barcode Reader also leads on ratings volume (650 vs 8). The QR Code Reader's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 72%) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 18.0). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Code Scanner QR Barcode Reader sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and The QR Code Reader sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. 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 Scanner QR Barcode Reader against 4.6 for The QR Code Reader. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Code Scanner QR Barcode Reader has 650 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 72% of Code Scanner QR Barcode Reader's written reviews are positive against 100% of The QR Code Reader's.

Code Scanner QR Barcode Reader ships an update every 2 weeks, The QR Code Reader every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and August 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Code Scanner QR Barcode Reader | The QR Code Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (650 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/code-scanner-qr-barcode-reader/id1387307495/reviews) | [4.6 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-qr-code-reader/id1600519099/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **650** | 8 |
| Positive reviews | 72.2% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 20 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Ben Gilroy](https://appshunter.io/developer/1222411256) | [Adam Feher](https://appshunter.io/developer/1462164182) |

## What reviewers say

### Code Scanner QR Barcode Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/code-scanner-qr-barcode-reader/id1387307495)

Easily scan, read, and decode over 20 types of QR codes and barcodes. Save your scan history, generate custom codes, and view product details. Supports various scanning methods and export options.

**Highlights:** Scan 20+ QR code and barcode types, Scan from photos, Generate custom QR codes, Save, search, and filter scan history, View product details via Google/Amazon, Export history as text or CSV

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

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Code Scanner Pro | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Code Scanner Pro | $3.99 | per month |
| Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $9.99 | per year |
| Yearly | $14.99 | per year |
| Yearly | $14.99 | per year |
| Yearly | $19.99 | per year |
| Yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| Lifetime | $24.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime | $29.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime | $59.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and intuitive user interface
- 🚀 Fast and efficient scanning
- 📵 No ads or distracting pop-ups
- 💰 Free to use (historically)
- 🎯 Does one job well

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💸 Switched to paid subscription model
- 🐛 Broken functionality on iPhone 12
- ❌ Fails to scan QR codes and barcodes
- 🔍 Missing zoom feature
- 😕 Non-intuitive operation

**Reported bugs**

- App stopped working on iPhone 12 - no barcode recognition
- Cannot scan from photos
- Fails to read unclear or damaged QR codes
- Data matrix format not supported
- Inconsistent app name across platforms (iPhone vs App Store)

**Requested features**

- Zoom functionality for better scanning
- Integrated search option within app
- Data matrix code support
- Scan history/log feature
- Ability to delay browser opening after scan


### The QR Code Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-qr-code-reader/id1600519099)

This utility scans QR codes and barcodes quickly and efficiently. It works offline, respects user privacy by not collecting data, and offers features like scan history and QR code generation. Advanced options include exporting history and batch scanning.

**Highlights:** QR code and barcode scanning, Offline functionality, Privacy-focused (no data collection), Scan history, QR code generation, Export scan history (PRO), Batch scanning (PRO)

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Reader | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Code Scanner QR Barcode Reader free?

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

### Is The QR Code Reader free?

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

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

Code Scanner QR Barcode Reader and The QR Code Reader are both rated 4.6 out of 5 on the App Store, from 650 and 8 ratings respectively.

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

Neither Code Scanner QR Barcode Reader nor The QR Code Reader shows ads.

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

Code Scanner QR Barcode Reader ships an update every 2 weeks, and The QR Code Reader every 4 months. Most recently, Code Scanner QR Barcode Reader was updated on September 21, 2026 and The QR Code Reader on August 27, 2026.

---

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