# QR Code Reader & Code Scanner vs FreeScanner

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: FreeScanner at none against QR Code Reader & Code Scanner's 6. FreeScanner also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (87% vs 53%). QR Code Reader & Code Scanner's advantage is ratings volume (46K vs 904). On price, update cadence, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. QR Code Reader & Code Scanner sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. FreeScanner asks for nothing beyond the download.

FreeScanner holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: QR Code Reader & Code Scanner has 46K ratings behind it against 904, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 53% of QR Code Reader & Code Scanner's written reviews are positive against 87% of FreeScanner's.

QR Code Reader & Code Scanner ships an update every 3 weeks, FreeScanner fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | QR Code Reader & Code Scanner | FreeScanner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (46K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-code-reader-and-code-scanner/id388175979/reviews) | **[4.6 (904 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/freescanner/id560068210/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **46K** | 904 |
| Positive reviews | 52.8% of reviews | **86.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 199 MB | 17 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | **10.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | +4 | 4+ |
| Developer | [ShopSavvy, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/327762559) | [n3rds](https://appshunter.io/developer/510673312) |

## What reviewers say

### QR Code Reader & Code Scanner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-code-reader-and-code-scanner/id388175979)

Easily scan QR codes and product barcodes to find the best prices and reviews. This app also allows you to generate custom QR codes for various information types and save your scan history.

**Highlights:** Scan QR codes, Scan product barcodes, QR code generator, Save scan history, Share scanned codes, Create QR codes for URLs, text, and more

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Safari Extension

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| QR Code Reader Pro | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| QR Code Reader Pro | $2.99 | per month |
| QR Code Reader Pro | $3.99 | per month |
| QR Code Reader Pro | $29.99 | per year |
| QR Code Reader Pro | $34.99 | per year |
| QR Code Reader Pro | $49.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and efficient
- 👍 Easy to use
- 👍 Excellent service
- 👍 Friendly and accommodating staff
- 🚀 Scans QR codes quickly

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional glitches or bugs
- 💸 Too many ads
- 🔍 Difficulty finding specific scanned items
- 🔍 Inconsistent scanning results

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when trying to open scanned links
- Inability to delete or remove the app from browser
- Scanning issues with certain QR codes

**Requested features**

- Ability to remove ads
- Improved scanning accuracy and reliability
- Search functionality for scanned items
- History or log of previous scans


### FreeScanner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/freescanner/id560068210)

This utility app quickly scans and decodes a wide variety of barcode and QR code formats. It provides instant lookup of useful information after each scan, making it a convenient tool for accessing data from product codes.

**Highlights:** Scans all major barcode and QR code types, Provides quick information lookup, Supports QR-Code, EAN, UPC, Code 128, and more, Handles various code formats

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Fast and accurate scanning
- 💡 Useful features like URL linking
- 👍 Simple and straightforward interface
- 🚀 Works great for testing barcodes

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional scanning issues
- 🐛 Compatibility problems on some devices
- 🐛 Difficulty exporting/sharing scanned data

**Reported bugs**

- Scanning not working on some products
- App crashes or freezes on certain devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to organize/manage scanned items
- Option to export/share scanned data in batches
- More customization options (e.g., dark mode)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is QR Code Reader & Code Scanner free?

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

### Is FreeScanner free?

FreeScanner is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

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

FreeScanner is rated higher. QR Code Reader & Code Scanner averages 4.3 out of 5 from 46K ratings, while FreeScanner averages 4.6 from 904 ratings.

### Do QR Code Reader & Code Scanner or FreeScanner have ads?

QR Code Reader & Code Scanner shows ads; FreeScanner does not.

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

QR Code Reader & Code Scanner ships an update every 3 weeks, and FreeScanner fortnightly. Most recently, QR Code Reader & Code Scanner was updated on September 25, 2026 and FreeScanner on September 22, 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.*