# SmartScanner vs Thunder Scanner

The clearest difference is ads: SmartScanner at none against Thunder Scanner's shown. Thunder Scanner's advantage is review sentiment (71% vs 40%) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, rating, ratings volume and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SmartScanner sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and Thunder Scanner sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for SmartScanner against 4.7 for Thunder Scanner. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.2K and 649 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 40% of SmartScanner's written reviews are positive against 71% of Thunder Scanner's.

SmartScanner ships an update every 2 months, Thunder Scanner every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SmartScanner | Thunder Scanner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartscanner-ai-measure-and-count/id1663170838/reviews) | [4.7 (649 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thunder-scanner-qr-reader/id6444072721/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.2K** | 649 |
| Positive reviews | 40.0% of reviews | **71.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 90 MB | 127 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Top Joy](https://appshunter.io/developer/1573223422) | [APEXMOBI PTE. LTD.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1604377579) |

## What reviewers say

### SmartScanner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartscanner-ai-measure-and-count/id1663170838)

This app transforms your phone into a versatile scanning tool. Measure heights, lengths, and areas with precision using augmented reality. It also features automatic item counting, plant identification, text extraction, and QR code scanning.

**Highlights:** Height measurement, Precision ruler, Auto item counting, Area calculator, Plant identification, Text extraction, QR/Barcode scanner

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| SmartScanner Premium (monthly) | $0.99 | per month |
| 基础订阅 | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| SmartScanner Premium (weekly) | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| 高级订阅 | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| SmartScanner Premium (weekly) | $8.99 | per 7 days |
| 基础季度订阅 | $39.99 | per 3 months |
| SmartScanner Premium (Yearly) | $65.99 | per year |
| SmartScanner Premium (1 Month) | $14.99 | one-time |
| SmartScanner Premium (1 Year) | $34.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Premium | $65.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🌟 Excellent features
- ✨ Precision measurements
- 👍 Easy to use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Not free as advertised
- 🚫 Inaccurate measurements
- 🤖 Unreliable plant/object recognition

**Reported bugs**

- Unexpected charges and billing issues
- Compatibility problems on certain devices

**Requested features**

- More measurement options
- Improved accuracy
- Reliable plant/object identification


### Thunder Scanner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thunder-scanner-qr-reader/id6444072721)

This app allows for quick scanning and generation of QR codes for various purposes, including sharing Wi-Fi passwords and event details. It also integrates AI to analyze scanned codes, providing context and summaries for a more insightful experience.

**Highlights:** Fast QR code scanning, QR code generation, AI analysis of scanned codes, Scan photos with GPT-4o, Obtain detailed information from codes, Easy sharing of generated codes

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Thunder Premium Weekly | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Thunder Premium Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Thunder Premium Yearly | $49.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SmartScanner free?

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

### Is Thunder Scanner free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SmartScanner or Thunder Scanner?

SmartScanner and Thunder Scanner are both rated 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1.2K and 649 ratings respectively.

### Do SmartScanner or Thunder Scanner have ads?

Thunder Scanner shows ads; SmartScanner does not.

### Which is updated more often, SmartScanner or Thunder Scanner?

SmartScanner ships an update every 2 months, and Thunder Scanner every 2 weeks. Most recently, SmartScanner was updated on September 26, 2026 and Thunder Scanner on September 19, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*