Comparison

Glink vs UniversalQReader

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

Head to head
About

Glink

Features
Read full description

Glink for iOS is a terminal emulator application that runs on iPad, iPhone and Mac's with M1/M2 chip. It is a port of our immensely successful and popular Glink for Windows product that has been chosen by more than 600,000 people world wide for connection to legacy host applications. Glink is used to access applications running on Bull, IBM, DEC, UNIX and Linux host systems. Glink has emulations for the IBM 3270 and 5250 terminals, Bull Questar DKU7102, DKU7107 and DKU7211 terminals, Bull VIP7800, VIP7760 and VIP7700 terminals, and DEC VT420, VT320/340, VT220 and VT102 terminals. ANSI 3.64 is supported for general communications work. Glink brings you a high quality and proven emulator for your iPad, iPhone devices and Mac computers with M1/M2 chip. Glink supports GlinkProxy, a server application designed to provide persistent host connections for Glink clients where the connection from the client device is unreliable. This may be because the device enters sleep mode or goes out of Wi-Fi range. FEATURES - IBM3270, IBM5250, Bull DKU7107, Bull VIP7800, Bull VIP7700, Bull DKU7102, VT420, VT320/340, VT220, VT100/VT102, ANSI 3.64 terminal emulation, all screen sizes - TN3270, TN5250, TNVIP, Telnet and Ggate communication to host - IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6) support - SSL/TLS support for secure communication - SSH for direct communication with the SSH Daemon. - SSH tunneling for Telnet protocol - Username/password or private key for SSH authentication - Multiple concurrent host sessions - Configurable multi line toolbar with function keys and macros - Configurable hot spots for function keys, numbers, characters and URLs - Macro recording for auto-login and for assignment to toolbar - Pop-up standard keyboard with support of international characters - Tab/shift-Tab and arrow-keys supported on external Bluetooth keyboard - All major function keys available as keyboard shortcuts - Press and hold Command-key on external keyboard to see list of built-in keyboard shortcuts - Colors can be customized - Supports GlinkProxy Session Persistence Server - Multiple host configurations supported - Export and import of configurations - Supports Managed App Configuration, which allows users to configure Glink remotely through Mobile Device Management (MDM) - Optional password to access configurations - Optional auto-connect and auto-login at startup - Optional use of double-tap as Enter/Transmit - IBM5250 emulation supports Double Byte Character Sets (DBCS) like Chinese, Japanese and Korean - Configurable scroll-back buffer contains history of your host session - Print or e-mail host print data - Print or e-mail terminal emulation content or scroll-back buffer content - Zoom and scroll as the Safari browser - Dynamic zoom to cursor position - Blinking attribute supported - Blinking cursor supported - Two finger swipe gesture to move cursor - Tap and hold to open Mail with e-mail address on screen - Supports external Bluetooth keyboards and barcode scanners

About

UniversalQReader

This app reads Digital Seal SQCodes, which are digitally signed and unfalsifiable QR codes used to protect documents. It verifies data signatures, presents them in a mobile-friendly layout, and allows reconstruction and sharing of original documents in PDF format.

Highlights
  • Reads Digital Seal SQCodes
  • Verifies digital signatures
  • Presents data in mobile layout
  • Reconstructs documents to PDF
  • Shares documents as PDF
  • Supports encrypted data
Features
Read full description

Universal QReader™ is a completely free smartphone/tablet App that allows you to read a Digital Seal SQCode®, a Digital Stamp dedicated to protecting documents that are typically used and controlled (even off-line) on the go. The Digital Seal SQCode®, is a QrCode code containing digitally signed data and therefore unfalsifiable. The data structure in the SQCode® Digital Seal is designed specifically for this kind of two-dimensional code and is ready to adapt to different contexts and applications. Data can also be encrypted, when it is necessary to ensure their confidentiality; they are also always signed, with the same philosophy, the same encryption algorithms and the same secure signature equipment used in a qualified signature. This architecture allows -only when it is necessary- the application of a qualified signature in the format CAdES/PAdES: in this case, the certificate of signature must be assigned to a natural person.
 In more general cases of use, instead, unqualified certificates will be used, typically assigned to a legal entity; this approach allows to define "Digital Seal SQCode®" an Electronic Seal, oriented to what is indicated in Europe's Digital Agenda. The Universal QReader™ App checks the data signature and presents it in a layout suitable for viewing on a mobile device. From the Universal QReader™ App you can then reconstruct the original document in PDF format so you can eventually share it in this form.

Screenshots

Glink4 screens
UniversalQReader2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: UniversalQReader at Free against Glink's $37.99. UniversalQReader also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 5 months). Glink's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 16.0). On ads, in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

UniversalQReader is free to download; Glink costs $37.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Glink ships an update every 5 months, UniversalQReader every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 17, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
Glink versus UniversalQReader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGlinkUniversalQReader
Price$37.99Free — better
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size47 MB19 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGallagher & Robertson ASGT50 SRL

In-app purchases

None

Glink

No in-app purchases

None

UniversalQReader

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Glink free?
Glink costs $37.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is UniversalQReader free?
UniversalQReader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Glink or UniversalQReader have ads?
Neither Glink nor UniversalQReader shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Glink or UniversalQReader?
Glink ships an update every 5 months, and UniversalQReader every 2 months. Most recently, Glink was updated on September 17, 2026 and UniversalQReader on September 24, 2026.

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