Code Scanner by ScanLife vs The QR Code Reader
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Code Scanner by ScanLife
Instantly scan QR codes and barcodes to access product information, reviews, and more. Features enhanced security alerts and the ability to discover new products and experiences. Save and share your scans with ease.
- QR code and barcode scanning
- Product and venue information
- Security alerts for unsecured codes
- Nutritional facts and health scores
- Scan history and sharing
- Support for major code formats
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Fast, secure, and easy to use QR Code and Barcode scanner – FREE Download. QR Codes are everywhere - get to scanning today! Discover more about your favorite products, brands, restaurants, retailers and more today. Simply point scanner window over the QR Code or Barcode you want to scan and app will automatically display requested information. Updated features include: -New attractive user interface -Additional security feature alerts you when scanning an unsecured code -QR codes on menus or venues now provide location, reviews, ratings and additional information -Learn more about products’ nutritional facts and health score by scanning products barcodes -Browse new products and experiences scanned by other users -Saves scans in your History tab for quick reference to your favorite codes -Share with family and friends via text, WhatsApp, email, Facebook or Twitter -Decode all QR codes today: access contact details, URLs, phone numbers, email addresses, calendar event, and more -Supports all major barcodes and 2D code formats -Any questions? Contact us directly from the app Additional information: Code Scanner by ScanLife works with third parties to collect certain non-identifying information about your interests, including aggregate level and/or anonymous information, to provide targeted advertising and analytics services on our application, or across other sites and other applications. These entities may use technologies to collect information about your use of our mobile applications, including device attributes such as: operating system, hardware version, device settings, IP address, time zone, device carrier, applications installed on the device, and device advertising identifiers. We may share and allow our third-party partners to share this non-identifying information with other third parties that perform targeted advertising activities across other apps and websites. Data collected from a particular device may be used on a different device linked to the device on which the data was originally collected. Any choice made by you regarding Scanbuy’s collection of data on one device will be reflected on the other device(s) linked to that device. You can disable this data collection at any time by choosing “Limit Ad Tracking” in your device settings.
The QR Code Reader
This utility scans QR codes and barcodes quickly and efficiently. It works offline, respects user privacy by not collecting data, and offers features like scan history and QR code generation. Advanced options include exporting history and batch scanning.
- QR code and barcode scanning
- Offline functionality
- Privacy-focused (no data collection)
- Scan history
- QR code generation
- Export scan history (PRO)
- Batch scanning (PRO)
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Simple and easy QR Code & Barcode scanner: - Advertisement free - Works offline - Respects your privacy: Data Not Collected - Scan QR Codes, Barcodes - See the history of your scanned codes - Generate QR codes - Export scan history (PRO) - Batch scan (PRO) Code types: - QR codes - Aztec - Data Matrix - Barcodes (Code 39, Code 39 Mod43, Code 93, Code 128, Interleaved 2 of 5, UPC, EAN-8, EAN-13, PDF417, ITF-14)
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: The QR Code Reader at 100% against Code Scanner by ScanLife's 50%. The QR Code Reader also leads on rating (4.6 vs 2.2). Code Scanner by ScanLife's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 4 months). On price, 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
Both are free to download. The QR Code Reader sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Code Scanner by ScanLife asks for nothing beyond the download.
The QR Code Reader holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 28 and 8 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of Code Scanner by ScanLife's written reviews are positive against 100% of The QR Code Reader's.
Code Scanner by ScanLife ships an update every 2 months, The QR Code Reader every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 4, 2026 and August 27, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Code Scanner by ScanLife | The QR Code Reader |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.2 (28 ratings) | 4.6 (8 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 28 — better | 8 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months — better | Every 4 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 10.0 — better | 14.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 168 MB | 1 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Becausal, Inc. | Adam Feher |
Customer experience
Code Scanner by ScanLife
The QR Code Reader
Bugs and requests
Code Scanner by ScanLife
Reported bugs
12 issues- App crashes on launch
- Crashes when scanning QR codes
- Black screen with camera standby message
- Keyboard input issues in form fields
- Buttons unresponsive after scanning
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- Force closes immediately upon opening
- Fails to open scanned URLs
- Returns only character strings instead of URLs
- Cannot identify common products and barcodes
- Incompatibility with iOS 10, 11, and later versions
- Battery drain from background processes
- Confirmation screen creates endless loop
Requested features
9 requests- Default browser selection option
- Ability to disable automatic sharing and Discover feature
- Option to turn off location-based notifications
- Better product database with store-specific information
- In-app code creation feature
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- Support for China Mobile contact format
- Ability to save scans as text notes without opening web pages
- User-submitted data for improved accuracy
- Canadian database support
The QR Code Reader
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Code Scanner by ScanLife
No in-app purchases
The QR Code Reader
- Pro Reader$4.99
Questions
Is Code Scanner by ScanLife free?
Is The QR Code Reader free?
Which has better reviews, Code Scanner by ScanLife or The QR Code Reader?
Do Code Scanner by ScanLife or The QR Code Reader have ads?
Which is updated more often, Code Scanner by ScanLife or The QR Code Reader?
Other comparisons
