Comparison

Now MusicAlarm vs QR Code Reader

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Now MusicAlarm

Wake up to your favorite music or voice recordings with this versatile alarm app. It offers holiday alarms, hourly notifications, and custom scheduling for specific workdays, ensuring you never miss an important event or appointment.

Highlights
  • Use iPod playlist songs as ringtone
  • Voice recording alarm
  • Holiday alarm
  • Hourly notifications
  • Set alarm for every other day/Saturday
  • Music timer before sleeping
Features
Read full description

MusicAlarm helps you wake up with the music you love and skip alarms on the days you want to rest. Key features - Play alarm music from songs, albums, artists, and playlists in your music library - Skip alarms on public holidays or your own custom holidays - Create notification sounds from your own TTS text - Generate hourly voice sets and custom chime times - Choose different chime sounds by time - Fall asleep with the music timer and stop playback automatically - Configure alarm volume, fade in, snooze, and wake check options You can make sounds such as “Time for lunch” or “It is one o’clock” and use them for alarms or regular chimes. Chimes can run on the hour or at your own custom times. Notification, sound, and media-library permissions are required. For reliable music alarms, follow the in-app setup and battery-saving guidance. Apple Watch companion View iPhone alarms, repeat schedules, holiday rules, skipped dates, and the next alarm on Apple Watch. With a confirmed iPhone connection, turn individual alarms on or off and stop or snooze alarms detected as ringing by the iPhone app. Alarm scheduling and music playback run on iPhone; Apple Watch does not play music or run standalone alarms.

About

QR Code Reader

Scan QR codes and barcodes quickly with your iPhone camera. Access your scan history, scan from photos, and use a flashlight for dark environments. Share your scanned items easily.

Highlights
  • Automatic camera activation
  • Scan from photo library
  • Scan history access
  • Flashlight for low light
  • Barcode scanning support
  • Share scan history
Features
Read full description

QR Code Reader is a fast, free QR code scanner for iPhone. Simple and easy to use: open the app, point your camera at a code and it reads instantly, with no buttons to press and no photos to take. The scanned content is recognized automatically, so URLs and text are ready to open, copy or share in seconds. Barcode scanning is supported too. ■ Scan QR codes in seconds The camera starts as soon as you open the app. Aim it at a QR code and it is detected automatically, so you can scan the moment you need to. The app recognizes what the code contains: open the link, copy the text or share it, without typing web addresses by hand. ■ Scan QR codes from images Got a QR code in a screenshot or a photo? The app reads QR codes directly from images in your photo library. When a code appears on your own iPhone screen, you don't need a second device: take a screenshot and read it right away. It also works for QR code images sent by email or chat. ■ Scan history always at hand Every scan is saved to your history automatically, so you can reopen links, websites and text anytime. You can also share the whole history list at once: scan many QR codes or barcodes in a row, then send them all together. Your history is stored locally on your device. ■ Scan barcodes to look up products Point the camera at a product barcode and jump straight to a product search: compare prices and check details while shopping. ■ Main features - Automatic scanning — point the camera at a code and scanning starts on its own - QR code & barcode scanner — reads both QR codes and barcodes - Scan from image — detect codes in photos and screenshots - Scan history — reopen any past scan with one tap - Share in bulk — send your scan history list in one go - Flashlight — scan even in the dark or in low light - Copy, open or share — open results in Safari or Chrome, copy them or send them to friends - Private — scan history stays on your device - No account — no sign-up, no registration - Free — all features are free to use ■ One scanner for many codes - QR codes — open websites, read text, view details - Restaurant menus — scan the code on the table to see the menu - Coupons & promos — scan discount codes from your favorite brands - Food packages — open product pages from QR codes on the label - Posters, flyers & ads — jump to campaigns and event pages - Product barcodes — scan an item and jump to a product search to compare prices ■ Simple, fast and easy to use QR codes are everywhere these days: menus, ads, posters, packages and tickets. With a simple QR scanner on your iPhone, you can check any code the moment you see it. The design is clean, there are no complicated settings, and the app is made for everyday use. If you are new to the iPhone, or you simply want a scanner that just works, this app is for you. ■ Good to know This app is a scanner only: it does not create or generate QR codes. Your scan history is stored locally on your device, and no account is needed at any point. ■ Pricing All features are free to use. The app shows ads, and there are no subscriptions, no in-app purchases and no paid plans. ■ Download QR Code Reader today Scan, save and share QR codes and barcodes with one simple app. Download now and read your first code just seconds after opening the app!

Screenshots

Now MusicAlarm4 screens
QR Code Reader4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: QR Code Reader at none against Now MusicAlarm's 6. Now MusicAlarm's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 months). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Now MusicAlarm sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. QR Code Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Now MusicAlarm ships an update every 4 days, QR Code Reader every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Now MusicAlarm versus QR Code Reader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNow MusicAlarmQR Code Reader
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.7 (163K ratings) — better
Positive reviews77.8% of reviews85.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings—163K — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterEvery 2 months
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesAd-supported — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS16.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size16 MB49 MB
Age rating4+4+
DevelopernowApp Inc.Komorebi Inc.

Customer experience

Now MusicAlarm

Written reviews203 reviews
Positive77.8%
Neutral7.9%
Negative14.3%

QR Code Reader

All ratings162,488 ratings
Positive92.0%
Neutral3.1%
Negative4.9%
Written reviews916 reviews
Positive85.5%
Neutral2.3%
Negative12.2%

User reviews

Now MusicAlarm

From App Store reviews

What we love

  • 💡 Ability to record custom alarm sounds
  • 🎶 Use personal music as alarm
  • 👍 Free to use
  • ✅ Reliable alarm function
  • ⏰ "Every other day" alarm feature

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Blank screen when setting time
  • 🐛 Alarm requires sliding notification bar
  • ❓ Confusing "multitasking" instructions
  • 🎧 Alarm doesn't ring through speakers with headphones
  • 🔋 High battery consumption

QR Code Reader

From 163K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Friendly and helpful staff
  • 🚀 Fast and efficient service
  • 💡 Convenient features
  • 🤖 Reliable and accurate scanning
  • 🌟 Excellent overall experience

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional scanning issues
  • 💰 Concerns about hidden costs
  • 📋 Unclear instructions or information

Bugs and requests

Now MusicAlarm

Reported bugs

6 issues
  • Blank screen when trying to set time
  • Alarm requires sliding notification bar to start
  • App crashes when accessing multitasking settings
  • Holiday dates are off by a day
  • Alarm does not notify with sound on iPad 2
Show 1 more
  • Hourly voice does not work unless app is on screen (iPad 2)

Requested features

7 requests
  • Improve UI graphics
  • Provide better English guides for features like "multitasking"
  • Allow alarms to ring through speakers even with headphones plugged in
  • Option to use iTunes for alarm sound
  • Ability to exclude specific holidays from alarms
Show 2 more
  • iPad version of the app
  • Ability to purchase additional alarm features

QR Code Reader

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • App crashes or freezes
  • Scanning not working as expected

Requested features

3 requests
  • Ability to save and organize scanned data
  • Integration with other apps or services
  • More customization options

In-app purchases

6 purchases

Now MusicAlarm

One-time6
  • [Remove advertising]$0.99
  • [Increase alarm list]$0.99
  • [Music playlist with 10 songs]$0.99
Show 3 more
  • [Unlimited voice file record]$0.99
  • Upgrade$0.99
  • [50% Discounted full features package]$1.99
None

QR Code Reader

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Now MusicAlarm free?
Now MusicAlarm is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is QR Code Reader free?
QR Code Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Now MusicAlarm or QR Code Reader have ads?
Both Now MusicAlarm and QR Code Reader show ads.
Which is updated more often, Now MusicAlarm or QR Code Reader?
Now MusicAlarm ships an update every 4 days, and QR Code Reader every 2 months. Most recently, Now MusicAlarm was updated on October 29, 2026 and QR Code Reader on November 1, 2026.

Other comparisons