# PetScanner vs Petnow

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Petnow at 50% against PetScanner's 4%. Petnow also leads on rating (4.2 vs 1.2) and in-app purchases (none vs 11). PetScanner's advantage is ratings volume (51 vs 11). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PetScanner sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 3 months. Petnow asks for nothing beyond the download.

Petnow holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 1.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 51 and 11 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 4% of PetScanner's written reviews are positive against 50% of Petnow's.

PetScanner ships an update every 10 days, Petnow every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and June 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PetScanner | Petnow |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.2 (51 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/petscanner/id1447633547/reviews) | **[4.2 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/petnow/id1600931982/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **51** | 11 |
| Positive reviews | 3.5% of reviews | **50.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 10 days | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 6 MB | 97 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Petscanner](https://appshunter.io/developer/1447633546) | [Petnow Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1504831007) |

## What reviewers say

### PetScanner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/petscanner/id1447633547)

This app facilitates pet microchip registration and identification for owners and professionals. It helps reunite lost pets quickly by scanning microchips and providing contact information for registered pets. It also guides users on next steps for unregistered or externally registered pets.

**Highlights:** Microchip registration, Contact detail updates, Smart microchip scanner pairing, FDX-B microchip reading, Lost pet reunification support, Database identification

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Quarterly subscription, 1 pet | $2.99 | per 3 months |
| Quarterly subscription, 2 pets | $5.99 | per 3 months |
| Quarterly subscription, 3 pets | $8.49 | per 3 months |
| Quarterly subscription, 5 pets | $12.49 | per 3 months |
| Quarterly subscription, 6 pets | $14.49 | per 3 months |
| Quarterly subscription 12 pets | $26.49 | per 3 months |
| Quarterly subscription 16 pets | $32.99 | per 3 months |
| Quarterly subscription 17 pets | $33.99 | per 3 months |
| Quarterly subscription 18 pets | $34.99 | per 3 months |
| Quarterly subscription 19 pets | $35.99 | per 3 months |
| Quarterly subscription 20 pets | $36.99 | per 3 months |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Massive improvement since update
- 👍 Scanners can be used multiple times
- 👍 Customer service from Kieran was helpful

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App keeps stopping working
- 🐛 App keeps freezing
- 🐛 Barcode scanner does not work
- 🐛 Entering chip number manually closes app
- 🐛 Cannot log into account

**Reported bugs**

- App keeps stopping/freezing
- Barcode scanner not working
- App closes when entering chip number manually
- Login issues
- Subscription automatically added

**Requested features**

- Add dark mode option
- Improve scanning functionality
- Allow manual entry of chip number without crashing
- Fix website login issues
- Provide clear information about scanner requirement upfront


### Petnow

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/petnow/id1600931982)

This app uses AI to create a unique digital ID for your pet using their nose print or face. It provides a secure and non-invasive way to register your pet, offering peace of mind in case they get lost. The service aims to help reunite lost pets with their owners faster and more easily.

**Highlights:** AI-powered pet identification, Unique nose print and face core registration, Supports both dogs and cats, Non-invasive and cost-free pet registry, Automatic scanning without button presses, Selfie mode for easy scanning (iPhone 14+), 99% accuracy rate

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PetScanner free?

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

### Is Petnow free?

Petnow is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, PetScanner or Petnow?

Petnow is rated higher. PetScanner averages 1.2 out of 5 from 51 ratings, while Petnow averages 4.2 from 11 ratings.

### Do PetScanner or Petnow have ads?

Neither PetScanner nor Petnow shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PetScanner or Petnow?

PetScanner ships an update every 10 days, and Petnow every 9 days. Most recently, PetScanner was updated on September 28, 2026 and Petnow on June 1, 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.*