# Barcode Monsters vs Lenz

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Barcode Monsters at none against Lenz's 3. Barcode Monsters also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). Lenz's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 8 months). On price, rating, ratings volume and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Lenz sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Barcode Monsters asks for nothing beyond the download.

Lenz holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 9 respectively.

Barcode Monsters ships an update every 8 months, Lenz weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Barcode Monsters | Lenz |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barcode-monsters/id1571582155/reviews) | **[4.6 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lenz-image-search-and-scan/id6748814909/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 8 | **9** |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 13 MB | 54 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Kevin Otoshi](https://appshunter.io/developer/1225815953) | [Hue Nguyen Thi](https://appshunter.io/developer/1806028035) |

## What reviewers say

### Barcode Monsters

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barcode-monsters/id1571582155)

Discover and collect unique monsters hidden within barcodes. Scan any barcode to reveal a creature and add it to your journal and collection. Explore over 40 different monsters and track your progress.

**Highlights:** Scan barcodes to discover monsters, Collect over 40 unique monsters, Monster journal to track scans, View monster profiles and achievements, Supports 10+ barcode types

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Lenz

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lenz-image-search-and-scan/id6748814909)

Instantly identify plants, animals, landmarks, food, and objects using advanced AI. Explore detailed facts and insights about scanned items, turning everyday moments into learning opportunities. Decode QR codes and barcodes for quick access to information.

**Highlights:** AI-powered identification of various objects, In-depth learning and facts about scanned items, Instant recognition of objects and codes, Smart object detection for QR codes and barcodes, Visual encyclopedia in your pocket

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly 2 | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Yearly | $24.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Barcode Monsters free?

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

### Is Lenz free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Barcode Monsters or Lenz?

Lenz is rated higher. Barcode Monsters averages 4.4 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Lenz averages 4.6 from 9 ratings.

### Do Barcode Monsters or Lenz have ads?

Lenz shows ads; Barcode Monsters does not.

### Which is updated more often, Barcode Monsters or Lenz?

Barcode Monsters ships an update every 8 months, and Lenz weekly. Most recently, Barcode Monsters was updated on November 3, 2026 and Lenz on November 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.*