Comparison

Barcode Scanners vs TheSmartNotebook App

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Scan over 30 barcode types
  • QR code scanning
  • UPC scanning
  • Data Matrix scanning
  • GS1 code parsing
  • Driver's license data parsing
Features
Read full description

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.

About

TheSmartNotebook App

Scan handwritten notes to create digital, searchable documents. Organize and share your notes instantly to cloud storage with smart shortcuts. Enjoy the freedom of handwriting with digital efficiency.

Highlights
  • Scan handwritten notes
  • Digital note storage
  • OCR text search
  • Organize and share notes
  • Cloud storage integration
  • Quick sharing shortcuts
Features
Read full description

TheSmartNotebook App, comparte de manera ágil y en cuestiones de segundo sus anotaciones del SmartNotebook, además las almacena para acceder a ellas en cualquier momento desde su celular. Usando la poderosa aplicación de TheSmartNotebook y su celular inteligente va poder escanear sus notas escritas a mano para tenerlas digitales. Con nuestra integración de OCR va poder buscar dentro de sus notas a través del índice inteligente de buscador de palabras. TheSmartNotebook App permite organizar y compartir sus notas , en las diferentes nubes. la aplicación cuenta con cinco símbolos ( los hemos llamado “atajos” ), que junto a ellos va poder compartir en las nubes sus escaneos ya recortados limpios y transcritos de la manera mas ágil y precisa en segundos. Disfruta de poder seguir escribiendo a mano y la eficiencia de tenerlas y compartirlas de manera digital, sigue escribiendo de manera libre que TheSmartNotebook se encargara junto con sus atajos de compartirlas como imagen o texto en las diferentes nubes o plataformas digitales que decidas.

Screenshots

Barcode Scanners4 screens
TheSmartNotebook App4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Barcode Scanners at 4.6 against TheSmartNotebook App's 1.0. Barcode Scanners also leads on ratings volume (810 vs 2) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 14.0.0). TheSmartNotebook App's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 5 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Barcode Scanners holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 1.0. 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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Barcode Scanners ships an update every 5 months, TheSmartNotebook App every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Barcode Scanners versus TheSmartNotebook App: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBarcode ScannersTheSmartNotebook App
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (810 ratings) — better1.0 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews87.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings810 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS9.0 — better14.0.0
Further details — not scored
Size35 MB46 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCognex CorporationVirtual-Tec

Customer experience

Barcode Scanners

All ratings808 ratings
Positive91.1%
Neutral3.6%
Negative5.3%
Written reviews189 reviews
Positive87.8%
Neutral3.7%
Negative8.5%

TheSmartNotebook App

All ratings2 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

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

TheSmartNotebook App

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Barcode Scanners

No in-app purchases

None

TheSmartNotebook App

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Barcode Scanners free?
Barcode Scanners is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is TheSmartNotebook App free?
TheSmartNotebook App is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Barcode Scanners or TheSmartNotebook App?
Barcode Scanners is rated higher. Barcode Scanners averages 4.6 out of 5 from 810 ratings, while TheSmartNotebook App averages 1.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Barcode Scanners or TheSmartNotebook App have ads?
Neither Barcode Scanners nor TheSmartNotebook App shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Barcode Scanners or TheSmartNotebook App?
Barcode Scanners ships an update every 5 months, and TheSmartNotebook App every 2 weeks. Most recently, Barcode Scanners was updated on October 12, 2026 and TheSmartNotebook App on October 11, 2026.

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