# Code Scanner by ScanLife vs QR Code Scanner

The clearest difference is rating: QR Code Scanner at 4.3 against Code Scanner by ScanLife's 2.2. QR Code Scanner also leads on ratings volume (788 vs 28) and review sentiment (63% vs 50%). Code Scanner by ScanLife's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

QR Code Scanner holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 2.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: QR Code Scanner has 788 ratings behind it against 28, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of Code Scanner by ScanLife's written reviews are positive against 63% of QR Code Scanner's.

Code Scanner by ScanLife ships an update every 2 months, QR Code Scanner every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Code Scanner by ScanLife | QR Code Scanner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.2 (28 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/code-scanner-by-scanlife/id381292358/reviews) | **[4.3 (788 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-code-scanner-fast-scan/id911060973/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 28 | **788** |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | **62.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 168 MB | 13 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Becausal, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1828933003) | [Sabrina Holzer](https://appshunter.io/developer/1450658703) |

## What reviewers say

### Code Scanner by ScanLife

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/code-scanner-by-scanlife/id381292358)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and quick scanning performance
- 👍 Easy to use interface
- 📱 Works reliably on compatible devices
- 🔍 Scans QR codes and barcodes effectively
- 💰 Free application

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes on startup and during use
- ❌ Fails to recognize products and barcodes
- 📉 Degraded functionality after updates
- 🔋 Battery drain from background processes
- 📡 Server connection issues

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- 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


### 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 Code Scanner by ScanLife free?

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

### Is QR Code Scanner free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Code Scanner by ScanLife or QR Code Scanner?

QR Code Scanner is rated higher. Code Scanner by ScanLife averages 2.2 out of 5 from 28 ratings, while QR Code Scanner averages 4.3 from 788 ratings.

### Do Code Scanner by ScanLife or QR Code Scanner have ads?

QR Code Scanner shows ads; Code Scanner by ScanLife does not.

### Which is updated more often, Code Scanner by ScanLife or QR Code Scanner?

Code Scanner by ScanLife ships an update every 2 months, and QR Code Scanner every 3 months. Most recently, Code Scanner by ScanLife was updated on October 8, 2026 and QR Code Scanner on October 11, 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.*