# Barcode Reader for iPhone vs Barcode Lookup

The clearest difference is rating: Barcode Lookup at 4.6 against Barcode Reader for iPhone's 3.0. Barcode Lookup also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and review sentiment (51% vs 31%). Barcode Reader for iPhone's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (7.0 vs 15). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Barcode Reader for iPhone sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Barcode Lookup asks for nothing beyond the download.

Barcode Lookup holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 173 and 658 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 31% of Barcode Reader for iPhone's written reviews are positive against 51% of Barcode Lookup's.

Barcode Reader for iPhone ships an update every 11 months, Barcode Lookup every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Barcode Reader for iPhone | Barcode Lookup |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (173 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barcode-reader-for-iphone/id426941562/reviews) | **[4.6 (658 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barcode-lookup/id953488535/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 173 | **658** |
| Positive reviews | 31.0% of reviews | **51.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 11 months | **Every 6 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 53 MB | 65 MB |
| Requires iOS | **7.0** | 15 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [TapMedia Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/359632753) | [Huge Impact Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/953488534) |

## What reviewers say

### Barcode Reader for iPhone

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barcode-reader-for-iphone/id426941562)

Easily scan barcodes to compare product prices across thousands of online stores. Get related reviews, images, and videos instantly. Save items to a wishlist and share deals with friends.

**Highlights:** Compare prices on thousands of websites, Search by barcode or keyword, View related reviews, images, and videos, Add items to favorites/wishlist, Auto-detect barcode scanning, Share deals via social media and email

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove ads | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast scanning
- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 💡 Useful for checking prices and product details

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and freezes frequently
- 🔍 Fails to find information for many products
- 🤷‍♀️ Inconsistent and unreliable performance

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on startup
- Buttons and menus don't work as expected
- Incompatible with newer iOS versions

**Requested features**

- Ability to save scanned items for later reference
- Support for more product types beyond just barcodes
- Improved accuracy and coverage of product database


### Barcode Lookup

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barcode-lookup/id953488535)

Instantly search over a billion products by scanning barcodes or by name. Get detailed information including pricing, images, reviews, and descriptions to compare prices and find the best deals online. Save favorite items and share product details easily.

**Highlights:** Scan UPC, EAN, ISBN, GTIN barcodes, Search products by name, View pricing, images, and reviews, Compare prices from online retailers, Save favorite products, Share product details

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and efficient barcode scanning
- 👍 Intuitive and easy-to-use interface
- 💾 Comprehensive product database with 525 million items
- 🛍️ Shows pricing and store availability information
- 📍 Store locator feature helps find items in stock

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and freezes
- ❌ Fails to scan many common barcodes
- 🔍 Poor barcode recognition accuracy
- 📷 Camera zoom is excessively magnified
- 🤔 Inconsistent and inaccurate product matching

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when attempting to scan barcode
- Barcode scanner hangs and never completes scan
- App fails to load or immediately closes on launch
- Stuck on splash screen unable to proceed
- Update notification loop prevents app usage

**Requested features**

- CSV export functionality for product data
- Ad-free premium version
- Map integration showing nearby store locations
- Improved camera zoom controls
- Better data input and manual entry system


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Barcode Reader for iPhone free?

Barcode Reader for iPhone is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Barcode Lookup free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Barcode Reader for iPhone or Barcode Lookup?

Barcode Lookup is rated higher. Barcode Reader for iPhone averages 3.0 out of 5 from 173 ratings, while Barcode Lookup averages 4.6 from 658 ratings.

### Do Barcode Reader for iPhone or Barcode Lookup have ads?

Barcode Lookup shows ads; Barcode Reader for iPhone does not.

### Which is updated more often, Barcode Reader for iPhone or Barcode Lookup?

Barcode Reader for iPhone ships an update every 11 months, and Barcode Lookup every 6 months. Most recently, Barcode Reader for iPhone was updated on September 28, 2026 and Barcode Lookup on September 30, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*