# Barcode Essentials vs AirScan

The clearest difference is update cadence: AirScan at every 2 months against Barcode Essentials's every 6 months. Barcode Essentials's advantage is iOS requirement (10.0 vs 13.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Barcode Essentials ships an update every 6 months, AirScan every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Barcode Essentials | AirScan |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.4 (455 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/airscan-docs-scanner-to-pdf/id803059426/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **455** |
| Positive reviews | — | 73.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Size | 12 MB | 15 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [BARCODE ESSENTIALS PTY LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1452014319) | [airSlate, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/565493707) |

## What reviewers say

### Barcode Essentials

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barcode-essentials/id518202117)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### AirScan

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/airscan-docs-scanner-to-pdf/id803059426)

Easily digitize paper documents into high-quality PDFs using your mobile device. Recognize text in multiple languages, edit scans, and convert them to various file formats. Securely store important documents like IDs and licenses within the app.

**Highlights:** Scan documents to PDF, Text recognition (OCR) in 8 languages, Convert to DOCS, XLS, PPT, Edit and enhance scans, Add digital signatures, Email and print scans, Securely store IDs and licenses

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use and intuitive interface
- 🚀 Quick document scanning and sharing
- 📧 Seamless email integration
- 💼 Great for business professionals on-the-go
- 🆓 No excessive in-app purchase prompts

**What reviewers complain about**

- 📏 Limited document size compatibility
- 🖼️ Results similar to basic camera photos
- 🐛 Photos disappear after editing
- 📤 Unreliable email sending
- 🔧 Limited editing features

**Reported bugs**

- Email validation errors preventing app access
- Cursor placement issues when entering information
- App freezing on iPhone 6s Plus
- Incompatibility between app and PDF Filler after updates
- Email sending failures

**Requested features**

- Support for multiple document sizes
- Android version availability
- Advanced PDF editing features
- Built-in printing capability
- Improved photo persistence during editing


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Barcode Essentials free?

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

### Is AirScan free?

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

### Do Barcode Essentials or AirScan have ads?

Neither Barcode Essentials nor AirScan shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Barcode Essentials or AirScan?

Barcode Essentials ships an update every 6 months, and AirScan every 2 months. Most recently, Barcode Essentials was updated on October 3, 2026 and AirScan on October 13, 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.*