# QR Code Reader & Code Scanner vs Lighting Scanner

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Lighting Scanner at 100% against QR Code Reader & Code Scanner's 53%. Lighting Scanner also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.3) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 weeks). QR Code Reader & Code Scanner's advantage is ratings volume (46K vs 442). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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 and Lighting Scanner sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Lighting Scanner 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 442, 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 100% of Lighting Scanner's.

QR Code Reader & Code Scanner ships an update every 3 weeks, Lighting Scanner every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | QR Code Reader & Code Scanner | Lighting Scanner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (46K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-code-reader-and-code-scanner/id388175979/reviews) | **[4.8 (442 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lighting-scanner-scan-qr-code/id6476649650/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **46K** | 442 |
| Positive reviews | 52.8% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 199 MB | 64 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | +4 | 4+ |
| Developer | [ShopSavvy, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/327762559) | [APPSFLYDARGON LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1725447360) |

## 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


### Lighting Scanner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lighting-scanner-scan-qr-code/id6476649650)

This app allows you to quickly scan QR codes and barcodes to access information, coupons, and links. It also functions as a generator, enabling you to create custom QR codes for various purposes, including social media, Wi-Fi, and contact details.

**Highlights:** QR code and barcode scanning, QR code generation, Customizable QR code colors and designs, Scan from camera or media library, Share scanned codes and generated codes, Save scan history

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Premium Membership | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Yearly Premium Membership | $39.99 | per year |


## 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 Lighting Scanner free?

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

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

Lighting Scanner is rated higher. QR Code Reader & Code Scanner averages 4.3 out of 5 from 46K ratings, while Lighting Scanner averages 4.8 from 442 ratings.

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

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

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

QR Code Reader & Code Scanner ships an update every 3 weeks, and Lighting Scanner every 5 days. Most recently, QR Code Reader & Code Scanner was updated on September 25, 2026 and Lighting Scanner on September 18, 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.*