# Barcode Scanners vs QR

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Barcode Scanners | QR |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (810 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barcode-scanners/id504201315/reviews)** | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-code-creator/id1197340445/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **810** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | **87.8% of reviews** | 33.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 35 MB | 23 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 12.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Cognex Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/977274716) | [Roberto Sonzogni](https://appshunter.io/developer/402429427) |

## What reviewers say

### Barcode Scanners

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barcode-scanners/id504201315)

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.

**Highlights:** Scan over 30 barcode types, QR code scanning, UPC scanning, Data Matrix scanning, GS1 code parsing, Driver's license data parsing

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and accurate scanning
- 👍 Reliable and easy to use
- 🔒 No data collection
- 💡 Supports wide range of barcode types
- 👍 Excellent parsing and decoding capabilities

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or freezing issues
- 🐛 Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions
- 🐛 Duplicate delay feature not working as expected
- 🐛 Export to CSV not functioning properly

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- Option to disable tips/tooltips on startup
- Batch export/logging of scan history
- Ability to display non-readable characters
- Deeper Shortcuts integration


### QR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-code-creator/id1197340445)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

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


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Barcode Scanners free?

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

### Is QR free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Barcode Scanners or QR?

Barcode Scanners is rated higher. Barcode Scanners averages 4.6 out of 5 from 810 ratings, while QR averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Barcode Scanners or QR have ads?

Neither Barcode Scanners nor QR shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Barcode Scanners or QR?

Barcode Scanners ships an update every 5 months, and QR every 3 weeks. Most recently, Barcode Scanners was updated on September 22, 2026 and QR on June 1, 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.*