# QR Code Reader vs Safe QR Code & Barcode Scanner

The clearest difference is rating: Safe QR Code & Barcode Scanner at 4.7 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 Safe QR Code & Barcode Scanner sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Safe QR Code & Barcode Scanner holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: QR Code Reader has 70 ratings behind it against 12, 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 Safe QR Code & Barcode Scanner'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, Safe QR Code & Barcode Scanner every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | QR Code Reader | Safe QR Code & Barcode Scanner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (70 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-code-reader-quickmark-barcode-scanner/id384883554/reviews) | **[4.7 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/safe-qr-code-and-barcode-scanner/id1192120417/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **70** | 12 |
| 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 | 40 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


### Safe QR Code & Barcode Scanner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/safe-qr-code-and-barcode-scanner/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 Safe QR Code & Barcode Scanner free?

Safe QR Code & Barcode Scanner is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

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

Safe QR Code & Barcode Scanner is rated higher. QR Code Reader averages 4.1 out of 5 from 70 ratings, while Safe QR Code & Barcode Scanner averages 4.7 from 12 ratings.

### Do QR Code Reader or Safe QR Code & Barcode Scanner have ads?

Safe QR Code & Barcode Scanner shows ads; QR Code Reader does not.

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

QR Code Reader ships an update monthly, and Safe QR Code & Barcode Scanner every 3 weeks. Most recently, QR Code Reader was updated on November 1, 2026 and Safe QR Code & Barcode Scanner on October 24, 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.*