# FreeScanner vs QR Code Reader

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: FreeScanner at none against QR Code Reader's 9. FreeScanner also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.0). QR Code Reader's advantage is chart position (#186 vs unranked). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. QR Code Reader sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. FreeScanner asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for FreeScanner against 4.6 for QR Code Reader. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 904 and 1.2K respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 87% and 87% positive.

FreeScanner ships an update fortnightly, QR Code Reader every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | FreeScanner | QR Code Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (904 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/freescanner/id560068210/reviews) | [4.6 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-code-reader-qr-ace-scanner/id6751625696/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 904 | **1.2K** |
| Positive reviews | 86.8% of reviews | **87.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | — | **#186** |
| Size | 17 MB | 41 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [n3rds](https://appshunter.io/developer/510673312) | [NEO PIXEL LABS PTE. LTD.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1788472183) |

## What reviewers say

### FreeScanner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/freescanner/id560068210)

This utility app quickly scans and decodes a wide variety of barcode and QR code formats. It provides instant lookup of useful information after each scan, making it a convenient tool for accessing data from product codes.

**Highlights:** Scans all major barcode and QR code types, Provides quick information lookup, Supports QR-Code, EAN, UPC, Code 128, and more, Handles various code formats

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Fast and accurate scanning
- 💡 Useful features like URL linking
- 👍 Simple and straightforward interface
- 🚀 Works great for testing barcodes

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional scanning issues
- 🐛 Compatibility problems on some devices
- 🐛 Difficulty exporting/sharing scanned data

**Reported bugs**

- Scanning not working on some products
- App crashes or freezes on certain devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to organize/manage scanned items
- Option to export/share scanned data in batches
- More customization options (e.g., dark mode)


### QR Code Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-code-reader-qr-ace-scanner/id6751625696)

**Currently charting:** #186 Top Free · Utilities (US App Store)

This app quickly scans QR codes and barcodes to provide detailed product information, including price comparisons and authenticity verification. It also allows for the generation of custom QR codes for various data types.

**Highlights:** Instant price checks across major platforms, Detailed product information (nutrition, allergens), Barcode authenticity verification, Batch scanning and image import, Customizable QR code generator, Scan history and favorites, Export scan results to CSV/Excel

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

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium - Weekly | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium - Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium - Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium - Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium - Weekly | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium - Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Premium - Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Premium - Weekly | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium - Yearly | $19.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is FreeScanner free?

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

### Is QR Code Reader free?

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

### Which has better reviews, FreeScanner or QR Code Reader?

FreeScanner and QR Code Reader are both rated 4.6 out of 5 on the App Store, from 904 and 1.2K ratings respectively.

### Do FreeScanner or QR Code Reader have ads?

QR Code Reader shows ads; FreeScanner does not.

### Which is updated more often, FreeScanner or QR Code Reader?

FreeScanner ships an update fortnightly, and QR Code Reader every 10 days. Most recently, FreeScanner was updated on September 22, 2026 and QR Code Reader on September 23, 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.*