# QR & Barcode vs Code Reader

The clearest difference is ads: Code Reader at none against QR & Barcode's shown. Code Reader also leads on rating (4.6 vs 4.4) and review sentiment (64% vs 56%). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. QR & Barcode sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Code Reader sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Code Reader holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 57 and 243 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 56% of QR & Barcode's written reviews are positive against 64% of Code Reader's.

QR & Barcode ships an update every 3 weeks, Code Reader every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | QR & Barcode | Code Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (57 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-and-barcode-scan-plus-create/id450476176/reviews) | **[4.6 (243 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/code-reader-qr-scanner/id1225393668/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 57 | **243** |
| Positive reviews | 55.9% of reviews | **64.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 13 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [JB STEVENARD](https://appshunter.io/developer/361601772) | [Daniel ILLESCAS ROMERO](https://appshunter.io/developer/1225393667) |

## What reviewers say

### QR & Barcode

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-and-barcode-scan-plus-create/id450476176)

Easily scan and read QR codes and barcodes with a pro scanner. Generate your own custom QR codes and keep a history of all scanned items. Share your codes via email, SMS, or copy them to your clipboard.

**Highlights:** QR code scanning, Barcode reading, QR code generation, Scan history, Sharing options, Flashlight support

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| stevenardjb.qrcode.premium1 | $1.99 | per month |
| Go Premium | $12.99 | per year |
| Developer Tip | $0.99 | one-time |


### Code Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/code-reader-qr-scanner/id1225393668)

Easily scan, generate, and share QR codes and barcodes. Quickly read various code types, including links, contacts, and product information. Generate new codes from text, emails, or Wi-Fi details, and utilize convenient extensions for seamless integration.

**Highlights:** Scan QR codes and barcodes, Generate QR codes and barcodes, Read codes from images via extension, Generate codes from text, email, Wi-Fi, Save and share scanned/generated codes, Automatic web page opening for product barcodes, Scanner preview with zoom and stabilization

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Code Reader Pro Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Code Reader Pro Yearly | $9.99 | per year |
| Donation 1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Donation 2 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Code Reader Pro Lifetime | $2.99 | one-time |
| Donation 5 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Donation 10 | $8.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Works fast
- 🆓 Free to use
- 💡 Auto-copies to clipboard
- ✅ Scans QR codes effectively

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Doesn't work for some users
- 🚫 Camera focus issues on Mac
- ❌ Unable to save codes
- 🤷 No instructions provided
- ⚠️ Scams reported

**Reported bugs**

- App not working after MacOS update
- Cannot get permissions to save
- QR codes not readable by Mac camera
- App crashes QREncoder
- Sequence of letters then stops

**Requested features**

- Add date & time to QR history
- Option to select camera
- Ability to save QR codes
- Support for SVG files
- Add logos to QR codes


## Frequently asked questions

### Is QR & Barcode free?

QR & Barcode is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Code Reader free?

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

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

Code Reader is rated higher. QR & Barcode averages 4.4 out of 5 from 57 ratings, while Code Reader averages 4.6 from 243 ratings.

### Do QR & Barcode or Code Reader have ads?

QR & Barcode shows ads; Code Reader does not.

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

QR & Barcode ships an update every 3 weeks, and Code Reader every 6 weeks. Most recently, QR & Barcode was updated on October 11, 2026 and Code Reader on October 7, 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.*