# QR Code Reader vs Barcode

The clearest difference is rating: Barcode at 4.6 against QR Code Reader's 4.1. QR Code Reader's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (77% vs 43%). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. QR Code Reader sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Barcode sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Barcode holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: QR Code Reader has 70 ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 77% of QR Code Reader's written reviews are positive against 43% of Barcode's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

QR Code Reader ships an update monthly, Barcode every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and August 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | QR Code Reader | Barcode |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (70 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-code-reader-quickmark-barcode-scanner/id384883554/reviews) | **[4.6 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barcode-qr-bar-code-reader/id1192120417/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **70** | 11 |
| Positive reviews | **76.8% of reviews** | 42.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 18 MB | 34 MB |
| Requires iOS | **6.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [AngleTech Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1609888530) | [Yen Nguyen Thi Hai](https://appshunter.io/developer/1808401365) |

## What reviewers say

### QR Code Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-code-reader-quickmark-barcode-scanner/id384883554)

Easily scan and generate various barcode formats, including QR codes. Access web links, make calls, send emails, and more directly from scanned data. Decode barcodes from photos and export your scan history.

**Highlights:** Scan QR codes and other barcodes, Generate QR codes, Decode barcodes from photos, Access web links and maps, Add contacts and calendar events, Export scan history, Continuous scanning (in-app purchase)

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Continuous Scan | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and accurate scanning
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 💡 Supports multiple barcode/QR code types
- 🚀 Instant response with no extra steps
- 👍 Allows saving and sharing scanned data

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or freezes
- 🐛 Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions
- 🔋 High battery consumption reported
- 🐛 Scanning issues with certain barcode types
- 🔒 Concerns about lack of support and updates

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when trying to sign up or sign in
- Scanning issues with barcodes on certain pages
- Structured append feature not working reliably
- Location-based QR code generation not functioning
- Duplicate scans being recorded unexpectedly

**Requested features**

- Add support for more barcode/QR code types
- Implement batch export/CSV export functionality
- Provide more customization options (e.g. scan sound)
- Improve integration with other apps and services
- Add an option to clear scan history selectively


### Barcode

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barcode-qr-bar-code-reader/id1192120417)

This app quickly scans QR codes and barcodes to provide product information, compare prices, and access web links. It also functions as a QR code generator for various data types. Save money by scanning coupons and comparing in-store prices with online options.

**Highlights:** Scan all QR code types, Scan product barcodes, Compare prices, Generate QR codes, Save scan history, Share scanned codes

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly PREMIUM Scanner | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Yearly PREMIUM Scanner | $24.99 | per year |
| Lifetime PREMIUM Scanner | $29.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is QR Code Reader free?

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

### Is Barcode free?

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

### Which has better reviews, QR Code Reader or Barcode?

Barcode is rated higher. QR Code Reader averages 4.1 out of 5 from 70 ratings, while Barcode averages 4.6 from 11 ratings.

### Do QR Code Reader or Barcode have ads?

Barcode shows ads; QR Code Reader does not.

### Which is updated more often, QR Code Reader or Barcode?

QR Code Reader ships an update monthly, and Barcode every 3 weeks. Most recently, QR Code Reader was updated on September 26, 2026 and Barcode on August 25, 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.*