# QR Code Reader & Code Scanner vs Photo QR Reader

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Photo QR Reader at none against QR Code Reader & Code Scanner's 6. Photo QR Reader also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.3). QR Code Reader & Code Scanner's advantage is ratings volume (46K vs 16) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.4). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads 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. Photo QR Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

Photo QR Reader holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: QR Code Reader & Code Scanner has 46K ratings behind it against 16, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 53% of QR Code Reader & Code Scanner's written reviews are positive against 50% of Photo QR Reader's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

QR Code Reader & Code Scanner ships an update every 3 weeks, Photo QR Reader every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | QR Code Reader & Code Scanner | Photo QR Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (46K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-code-reader-and-code-scanner/id388175979/reviews) | **[4.8 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photo-qr-reader/id6447561765/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **46K** | 16 |
| Positive reviews | **53.2% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 209 MB | 6 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ShopSavvy, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/327762559) | [Masayoshi Shibata](https://appshunter.io/developer/1474388626) |

## 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, Family Sharing

**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


### Photo QR Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photo-qr-reader/id6447561765)

Easily scan QR codes directly from your photos, even those in email attachments or screenshots. This free utility allows you to access information embedded in images without uploading them online.

**Highlights:** Scan QR codes from photos, Open QR codes from email attachments, Scan QR codes from screenshots, Free to use, No internet upload

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## 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 Photo QR Reader free?

Photo QR Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

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

Photo QR Reader is rated higher. QR Code Reader & Code Scanner averages 4.3 out of 5 from 46K ratings, while Photo QR Reader averages 4.8 from 16 ratings.

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

Both QR Code Reader & Code Scanner and Photo QR Reader show ads.

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

QR Code Reader & Code Scanner ships an update every 3 weeks, and Photo QR Reader every 5 weeks. Most recently, QR Code Reader & Code Scanner was updated on October 26, 2026 and Photo QR Reader 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.*