Barcode Scanners vs QR
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Barcode Scanners
This app offers robust barcode scanning capabilities, supporting over 30 different types including QR, UPC, and Data Matrix. It provides powerful parsing for industry-standard formats like driver's licenses and GS1 codes, simplifying data extraction.
- Scan over 30 barcode types
- QR code scanning
- UPC scanning
- Data Matrix scanning
- GS1 code parsing
- Driver's license data parsing
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Barcode scanning made simple! Use this powerful app to easily scan over 30 different types of barcodes, including QR, UPC, GS1, Data Matrix, PDF417, DotCode, and many others. The Cognex Barcode Scanners application reads all major barcode symbologies, including Aztec Code, Codabar, Code 11, Code 25 (Interleaved, Industrial, COOP, Matrix and ITF-14), Code 39, Code 93, Code 128, Data Matrix, DotCode, EAN, ISBN, GS1 DataBar, MaxiCode, MSI Plessey, PDF417, Micro PDF417, Postal Codes, QR Code (Micro and Standard), TELEPEN and UPC barcode types, as well as GS1 sub-types like GS1 QR Code, GS1 Data Matrix and GS1-128. The app also provides powerful parsers to examine industry standard formatted barcodes more easily such as AAMVA (US and Canadian Driver’s Licenses), GS1, IUID, Structured Carrier Messages (MaxiCode), and more! To learn more about Cognex's high-speed barcode scanning and computer vision solutions, visit https://www.cognex.com.
QR
Easily create nine different types of QR codes with a guided wizard. Share codes for websites, contacts, Wi-Fi, and more. Customize image size, format, quality, and error correction.
- Nine QR-code types
- Wizard function for quick creation
- Create codes for URLs, contacts, Wi-Fi, SMS, email, text
- Share via Dropbox, iCloud, email, and other apps
- Customizable image size, format, quality, and error correction
- Offline QR-code creation
- Archive of previously created codes
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Build QR-Codes is super-easy with this app ! Nine different QR-code types can now be easily created ! With new WIZARD function, you will create amazing QR-Codes quickly. Samples of different types are included. Create and share website urls, contacts, calendar events, geographical positions, phone numbers, pre-compiled sms, pre-compiled e-mails, wifi connections parameters, or just text messages. You can build any type of QR-Code and also share it with Dropbox, iCloud, email, print, and any other apps that support sharing (WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Telegram....) With Settings screen, you can choose image size, format, quality, and error correction level ! Does not need an internet connection to create QR-codes. All previously created codes are also available in the archive. Created QR-Codes are fully compatible with our professional barcode reader app "Barcode Professional" https://itunes.apple.com/app/barcode-professional/id1075096265?l=it&ls=1&mt=8 and our free "Bar-Code" app https://itunes.apple.com/app/bar-code/id422314523?l=it&ls=1&mt=8 May contain ads
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Barcode Scanners at 88% against QR's 33%. Barcode Scanners also leads on rating (4.6 vs 3.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). QR's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 5 months). On price, ads, monetization model 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
Both are free to download. QR sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Barcode Scanners asks for nothing beyond the download.
Barcode Scanners holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Barcode Scanners has 810 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 88% of Barcode Scanners's written reviews are positive against 33% of QR's.
Barcode Scanners ships an update every 5 months, QR every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and June 1, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Barcode Scanners | QR |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (810 ratings) — better | 3.0 (2 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 87.8% of reviews — better | 33.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 810 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 — better | 12.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 35 MB | 23 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Cognex Corporation | Roberto Sonzogni |
Customer experience
Barcode Scanners
QR
Bugs and requests
Barcode Scanners
Reported bugs
3 issues- App crashing after iOS 12.3.1 update
- Unable to scan certain barcode types (e.g. GS1 DataMatrix)
- Frozen camera view after initial scan
Requested features
4 requests- Option to disable tips/tooltips on startup
- Batch export/logging of scan history
- Ability to display non-readable characters
- Deeper Shortcuts integration
QR
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Barcode Scanners
No in-app purchases
QR
- Remove ads$0.99
Questions
Is Barcode Scanners free?
Is QR free?
Which has better reviews, Barcode Scanners or QR?
Do Barcode Scanners or QR have ads?
Which is updated more often, Barcode Scanners or QR?
Other comparisons
