# QR Code Reader & Code Scanner vs CodeNow

The clearest difference is ads: CodeNow at none against QR Code Reader & Code Scanner's shown. CodeNow also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.3). QR Code Reader & Code Scanner's advantage is ratings volume (46K vs 3) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, update cadence, 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 CodeNow sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

CodeNow holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: QR Code Reader & Code Scanner has 46K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.

QR Code Reader & Code Scanner ships an update every 3 weeks, CodeNow every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | QR Code Reader & Code Scanner | CodeNow |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (46K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-code-reader-and-code-scanner/id388175979/reviews) | **[4.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/codenow-qr-and-barcode-scanner/id6621245752/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **46K** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 53.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 209 MB | 107 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ShopSavvy, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/327762559) | [Magenta Apps](https://appshunter.io/developer/1613710846) |

## 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


### CodeNow

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/codenow-qr-and-barcode-scanner/id6621245752)

Instantly scan QR codes and barcodes to access product details, compare prices, and check nutrition facts. Create and customize your own QR codes for various purposes, with options to personalize their appearance.

**Highlights:** Fast QR & barcode scanning, Product details & price comparison, Nutrition & ingredient analysis, Custom QR code generation, QR code personalization, Scan from media library

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 7 Days Trial | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| 7 Days Trial | $12.99 | per 7 days |
| 7 Days Trial | $14.99 | per 7 days |
| 1 Year | $19.99 | per year |
| 1 Year | $39.99 | per year |
| 1 Year | $59.99 | 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 CodeNow free?

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

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

CodeNow is rated higher. QR Code Reader & Code Scanner averages 4.3 out of 5 from 46K ratings, while CodeNow averages 4.7 from 3 ratings.

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

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

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

QR Code Reader & Code Scanner ships an update every 3 weeks, and CodeNow every 10 days. Most recently, QR Code Reader & Code Scanner was updated on October 20, 2026 and CodeNow on October 10, 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.*