# QR Code Reader ® vs Lighting Scanner

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Lighting Scanner at 100% against QR Code Reader ®'s 33%. Lighting Scanner also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 4 weeks) and rating (4.8 vs 4.5). QR Code Reader ®'s advantage is ratings volume (14K vs 442). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. QR Code Reader ® sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days and Lighting Scanner sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Lighting Scanner holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: QR Code Reader ® has 14K ratings behind it against 442, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 33% of QR Code Reader ®'s written reviews are positive against 100% of Lighting Scanner's.

QR Code Reader ® ships an update every 4 weeks, Lighting Scanner every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | QR Code Reader ® | Lighting Scanner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (14K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-code-reader/id1510307885/reviews) | **[4.8 (442 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lighting-scanner-scan-qr-code/id6476649650/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **14K** | 442 |
| Positive reviews | 32.8% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 64 MB | 64 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [SMM service, s.r.o.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1503472689) | [APPSFLYDARGON LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1725447360) |

## What reviewers say

### QR Code Reader ®

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-code-reader/id1510307885)

Easily scan, generate, and store QR codes and barcodes. Create custom codes for links, contacts, and more. Organize scanned data with folders and search product barcodes on major online marketplaces.

**Highlights:** QR code generator, Barcode scanner, Document scanner, Customizable QR code design, Secure data storage with folders, Import from Gallery/iCloud, Product barcode search on marketplaces

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

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Week Special | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| 1 WEEK PLAN | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| 1 Week Plan | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| 1 Month Promo | $6.99 | per month |
| 1 Month Plan - Documents | $7.99 | per month |
| 1 MONTH PLAN | $9.99 | per month |
| 1 Month Plan | $9.99 | per month |
| 6 Months Plan | $29.99 | per 6 months |
| 1 Year Plan - Documents | $29.99 | per year |
| 1 YEAR PLAN | $49.99 | per year |
| 1 Year Plan - 3 Days | $49.99 | per year |
| 1 Year Special | $49.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- ⭐ Great service and friendly staff
- ⭐ Helpful and knowledgeable employees
- ⭐ Easy to use and works well
- ⭐ Useful for restaurants and menus

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription fees
- 🚫 Unclear pricing and hidden charges
- 🤖 Aggressive upselling and subscription traps
- 🔒 Difficult to cancel subscription
- 🐛 Bugs, crashes, and compatibility issues

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes frequently
- Scanning functionality not working properly
- Subscription issues and unexpected charges

**Requested features**

- Add an easy unsubscribe option
- Provide clear pricing information upfront
- Improve user experience and reduce ads


### Lighting Scanner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lighting-scanner-scan-qr-code/id6476649650)

This app allows you to quickly scan QR codes and barcodes to access information, coupons, and links. It also functions as a generator, enabling you to create custom QR codes for various purposes, including social media, Wi-Fi, and contact details.

**Highlights:** QR code and barcode scanning, QR code generation, Customizable QR code colors and designs, Scan from camera or media library, Share scanned codes and generated codes, Save scan history

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Premium Membership | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Yearly Premium Membership | $39.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is QR Code Reader ® free?

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

### Is Lighting Scanner free?

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

### Which has better reviews, QR Code Reader ® or Lighting Scanner?

Lighting Scanner is rated higher. QR Code Reader ® averages 4.5 out of 5 from 14K ratings, while Lighting Scanner averages 4.8 from 442 ratings.

### Do QR Code Reader ® or Lighting Scanner have ads?

Both QR Code Reader ® and Lighting Scanner show ads.

### Which is updated more often, QR Code Reader ® or Lighting Scanner?

QR Code Reader ® ships an update every 4 weeks, and Lighting Scanner every 5 days. Most recently, QR Code Reader ® was updated on September 25, 2026 and Lighting Scanner on September 18, 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.*