# Barcode vs QR Code Reader

The clearest difference is ads: QR Code Reader at none against Barcode's shown. QR Code Reader also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 3 weeks) and review sentiment (91% vs 65%). Barcode's advantage is ratings volume (535 vs 6) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 14.0). On price, rating, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.2 for Barcode against 4.3 for QR Code Reader. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Barcode has 535 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 65% of Barcode's written reviews are positive against 91% of QR Code Reader's.

Barcode ships an update every 3 weeks, QR Code Reader every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Barcode | QR Code Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (535 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barcode-qr-code-scanner/id1468426442/reviews) | **[4.3 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-code-reader-barcode-scan/id1541317915/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **535** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 65.4% of reviews | **90.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | **Free** |
| Size | 25 MB | 6 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Huy Nguyen Dang](https://appshunter.io/developer/1447842064) | [Veecells Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1184210156) |

## What reviewers say

### Barcode

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barcode-qr-code-scanner/id1468426442)

Easily scan and generate QR codes and barcodes. This app decodes various types of information, including text, URLs, contacts, and Wi-Fi credentials. It also allows you to create custom QR codes for sharing and saving.

**Highlights:** Scan QR codes and barcodes, Generate QR codes, Decode text, URLs, contacts, Wi-Fi, Save and share generated codes, View product information, Offline scanning support, Scan history management

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Works beautifully
- 👍 Best Christian source for information
- 👍 Brilliant and easy to use
- 👍 Great scanner
- 👍 Simple to use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 This is horrible and does nothing
- 🐛 Doesn't work
- 🐛 Didn't open safari
- 🐛 Poor for creating
- 🐛 Not taking me too the online websites

**Reported bugs**

- Login screen freezes
- Incompatible with older devices

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Advanced analytics dashboard


### QR Code Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-code-reader-barcode-scan/id1541317915)

This app quickly scans QR codes, barcodes, and various document types. It also functions as a generator for QR codes, URLs, and text from images. Enjoy a fast, all-in-one scanning and generation experience.

**Highlights:** Scan QR codes and barcodes, Generate QR codes and URLs, Scan business cards and documents, Support for multiple QR code types, Flashlight for dark scanning, Batch scanning and history reuse, Customizable QR code appearance

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Quick and accurate scanning
- ⚡️ Fast and efficient
- 🔍 Useful for everyday tasks
- 📱 Works well on iPhone
- 🤩 Great app overall

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤖 Excessive ads and pop-ups
- 🕰️ Slow performance and long loading times
- 🔓 Potential security/privacy concerns
- 💰 Deceptive about free trial period

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes frequently
- Fails to scan codes properly
- Causes device performance issues

**Requested features**

- Ability to disable ads
- More advanced scanning options
- Improved compatibility with older devices


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Barcode free?

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

### Is QR Code Reader free?

QR Code Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

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

QR Code Reader is rated higher. Barcode averages 4.2 out of 5 from 535 ratings, while QR Code Reader averages 4.3 from 6 ratings.

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

Barcode shows ads; QR Code Reader does not.

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

Barcode ships an update every 3 weeks, and QR Code Reader every 2 days. Most recently, Barcode was updated on October 9, 2026 and QR Code Reader on October 5, 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.*