# QR Reader for iPhone vs QR Code Scanner

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: QR Code Scanner at none against QR Reader for iPhone's 4. QR Reader for iPhone's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 4.3) and ratings volume (1.4M vs 786). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. QR Reader for iPhone sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. QR Code Scanner asks for nothing beyond the download.

QR Reader for iPhone holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: QR Reader for iPhone has 1.4M ratings behind it against 786, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 78% of QR Reader for iPhone's written reviews are positive against 63% of QR Code Scanner's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | QR Reader for iPhone | QR Code Scanner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (1.4M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-reader-for-iphone/id368494609/reviews)** | [4.3 (786 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-code-scanner-fast-scan/id911060973/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.4M** | 786 |
| Positive reviews | **77.6% of reviews** | 62.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Best chart rank | **#49** | — |
| Size | 387 MB | 13 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [TapMedia Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/359632753) | [Sabrina Holzer](https://appshunter.io/developer/1450658703) |

## What reviewers say

### QR Reader for iPhone

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-reader-for-iphone/id368494609)

**Currently charting:** #49 Top Grossing · Utilities, #150 Top Free · Utilities (US App Store)

This app functions as a versatile scanner, capable of reading QR codes, barcodes, business cards, and documents. It also allows for the creation of custom QR codes and provides features like auto-detect scanning and website security checks.

**Highlights:** QR code and barcode scanning, Document and business card scanning, Puzzle scanning, Database scanning, NFC scanning, QR code creation

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Database Scanner (1 month) | $0.99 | per month |
| TapMedia PRO - 1 month | $4.99 | per month |
| TapMedia PRO - 1 Month | $4.99 | per month |
| QR Reader PRO (one-time fee) | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ⭐ Excellent service
- 🔍 Accurate scanning
- 🤝 Helpful staff
- 🏆 Great experience
- 🕰️ Fast and efficient

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤑 Subscription-based model
- 🚫 Difficulty canceling subscription
- 🐌 Slow or unresponsive app
- 🤔 Confusing information about pricing
- 🔒 Privacy concerns

**Reported bugs**

- Freezing or crashing issues
- Incompatibility with older devices
- Thumbnail issues and unwanted app attachments

**Requested features**

- Create QR codes
- Add contact information to phone
- Improve PDF handling
- Fix puzzle scanning feature
- Add dark mode option


### QR Code Scanner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-code-scanner-fast-scan/id911060973)

Quickly scan QR codes with your device's camera. Open web links, copy text, or save contact information directly from scanned codes. Features a built-in flashlight for low-light scanning.

**Highlights:** Fast QR code scanning, Open URLs in browser, Copy text content, Save VCards to contacts, Built-in flashlight

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Lightning-fast scanning speed
- 👍 Simple and intuitive user interface
- ✅ Reliable and consistent performance
- 💾 Lightweight app with minimal storage
- 🎯 Accurate QR code recognition

**What reviewers complain about**

- 📢 Intrusive and deceptive advertising
- 🐛 Inconsistent functionality across devices
- ❌ Fails to scan certain barcode types
- 🔍 No zoom feature available
- 📱 Compatibility issues with iOS updates

**Reported bugs**

- App fails to recognize scanned QR codes despite camera detection
- App crashes or freezes after opening camera
- Installation failures on some devices
- Non-functional on specific iOS versions
- Intermittent scanning failures

**Requested features**

- Zoom functionality for better scanning
- Scan history/saved results feature
- Barcode scanning capability
- Better compatibility with technical barcodes


## Frequently asked questions

### Is QR Reader for iPhone free?

QR Reader for iPhone is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is QR Code Scanner free?

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

### Which has better reviews, QR Reader for iPhone or QR Code Scanner?

QR Reader for iPhone is rated higher. QR Reader for iPhone averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.4M ratings, while QR Code Scanner averages 4.3 from 786 ratings.

### Do QR Reader for iPhone or QR Code Scanner have ads?

Both QR Reader for iPhone and QR Code Scanner show ads.

### Which is updated more often, QR Reader for iPhone or QR Code Scanner?

QR Reader for iPhone ships an update every 3 months, and QR Code Scanner every 3 months. Most recently, QR Reader for iPhone was updated on September 25, 2026 and QR Code Scanner on September 21, 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.*