Comparison

QR Widgets vs HelixNotes

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

Head to head
About

QR Widgets

Display a customizable QR code directly on your device's home screen for instant access. Input any text to generate a unique code and personalize its appearance with custom colors and sizes.

Highlights
  • Add QR code to homescreen
  • Automatic code generation from text
  • Customizable colors
  • Multiple size options
Features
Read full description

- Add a QR code to your homescreen for quick and easy access when you need it. - Generates the code automatically based on your text input. - Customise the colours to suit your home screen. - Comes in 3 different sizes.

About

HelixNotes

A private, open-source Markdown note-taking app that keeps your data on your device. Organize notes with notebooks, tags, and wiki links, and utilize advanced features like mathematical notation and diagrams.

Highlights
  • Local Markdown storage
  • Visual and source code editor
  • Notebooks, tags, and wiki links
  • Task management and calendar views
  • KaTeX and Mermaid diagram support
  • Version history and backups
  • Optional WebDAV sync
Features
Read full description

HelixNotes is a private, open-source Markdown notes app. Your notes remain standard Markdown files under your control. No account is required, and HelixNotes has no company-operated cloud. Write with a clean visual editor or switch to source mode when you want direct access to the Markdown. Organize your work with notebooks, tags, wiki links and full-text search. Features include: • Tasks collected from checklists across your notes • List and calendar views with priorities and due dates • Wiki links and an interactive graph view • Daily notes with a built-in calendar • Markdown tables, code blocks and syntax highlighting • KaTeX mathematical notation and Mermaid diagrams • Outline navigation and tag autocomplete • Version history and automatic backups • Light, dark and customizable themes • Optional WebDAV sync with your own server • Optional AI tools using your own provider Nothing leaves your device unless you enable a feature that connects to an external service. Your notes stay readable outside HelixNotes, without a proprietary format or platform lock-in. HelixNotes is free software released under the GNU AGPLv3. Its source code is publicly available on GitLab.

Screenshots

QR Widgets4 screens
HelixNotes2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: HelixNotes at Free against QR Widgets's $0.99. HelixNotes also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On rating, ratings volume, ads and device support 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

HelixNotes is free to download; QR Widgets costs $0.99 up front. QR Widgets sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. HelixNotes asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for QR Widgets against 5.0 for HelixNotes. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 2 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

QR Widgets ships an update every 2 months, HelixNotes every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 15, 2026 and September 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
QR Widgets versus HelixNotes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterQR WidgetsHelixNotes
Price$0.99Free — better
Rating5.0 (2 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings22
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.014.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB18 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCollin HemeltjenYuri Karamian

Customer experience

QR Widgets

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

HelixNotes

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

QR Widgets

One-time1
  • Colors$0.99
None

HelixNotes

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is QR Widgets free?
QR Widgets costs $0.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is HelixNotes free?
HelixNotes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, QR Widgets or HelixNotes?
QR Widgets and HelixNotes are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 2 and 2 ratings respectively.
Do QR Widgets or HelixNotes have ads?
Neither QR Widgets nor HelixNotes shows ads.
Which is updated more often, QR Widgets or HelixNotes?
QR Widgets ships an update every 2 months, and HelixNotes every 3 weeks. Most recently, QR Widgets was updated on September 15, 2026 and HelixNotes on September 4, 2026.

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