Comparison

ID Scan vs Cactus

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

Head to head
About

ID Scan

This app is a comprehensive toolkit for creating and scanning barcodes, including advanced features for decoding various identification documents. It offers on-device processing for enhanced privacy and supports batch operations for efficient data management. Ideal for businesses needing secure and compliant document verification.

Highlights
  • Universal ID decoder with AI parsing
  • AAMVA driver's license decoder
  • Boarding pass reader
  • Generate PDF417 barcodes
  • Scan and decode multiple barcode types
  • Batch processing for generation and scanning
  • Export in various formats (PNG, JPG, PDF, SVG, JSON)
Features
Read full description

Scan any ID. Know their age in one second. Point your camera at the barcode on the back of a driver's license or ID card. ID Scan shows the name, date of birth, age and expiry date right away, with a big green or red result for your 18+, 19+ or 21+ rule. The check runs on your phone. No account, no cloud, no tracking. NEW: EVENT PASSES AND DOOR CHECK-IN Running a party, a launch or a private night? Your guest list and your door, in one app. • Create an event and pick one of 6 pass designs, vertical or horizontal, with your color and logo • Add guests by hand, from Contacts, or from a CSV or Excel file • Send each guest their pass from your own Mail or Messages, or print them on Letter or A4 • See who confirmed, who declined and who hasn't replied • At the door, scan the pass or the guest's ID. ID Scan finds them on the list, applies the event's age rule, counts +1s and tells you if they're already inside • Each pass is signed for your event: an edited pass, an old one or one from another event is refused BUILT FOR PLACES THAT CHECK IDs • Bars, clubs and restaurants: fast 21+ checks with Door mode • Cannabis, liquor and tobacco stores: age checks at the counter • Hotels and rentals: guest check-in in seconds • Events and venues: guest lists, passes and the door • Security and HR: badges and access cards WHAT IT READS • US and Canadian driver's licenses and ID cards (AAMVA) • Airline boarding passes (IATA) • Any barcode or QR code: QR, PDF417, Data Matrix, Aztec, Code 128, Code 39, Code 93, EAN, UPC, ITF, Codabar, GS1 DataBar and more • It knows what it scanned: products and books, SIM cards, IMEI numbers, UPS, FedEx, USPS and postal tracking, car VINs, and GS1 labels with lot and expiry date • QR codes turn into actions: call, email, text, map, add to calendar, save a contact, copy a Wi-Fi password PRIVATE BY DESIGN • ID checks run 100% on your phone • No sign-up, nothing sent to our servers • Names are shortened in the log, and the log clears itself after 30 days (you choose) • Lock the app with Face ID FOR DEVELOPERS AND POWER USERS • Generate PDF417, QR, Aztec and Code 128 codes with custom size and error correction • Inspect, validate, compare and re-generate barcodes • Batch generation, templates and saved profiles • Export to PNG, JPG, PDF, SVG or JSON, and print Available in 15 languages. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Cactus

An AI-powered assistant designed to help you manage your day, capture ideas, and organize tasks. It offers natural language interaction, voice input, and secure cloud synchronization for seamless productivity.

Highlights
  • AI-powered assistant
  • Natural language interaction
  • Voice capture for ideas
  • Task organization
  • Schedule management
  • Secure cloud sync
Features
Read full description

Cactus is an AI memory sidekick for the tasks, dates, promises, and personal details you do not want to forget. Press the microphone and speak naturally. Cactus can save a reminder, organize a task, remember an important detail, and help you prepare before something is due. SPEAK IT. CACTUS SAVES IT. • Save reminders and important details by voice • Turn plans and deadlines into organized tasks • Find tasks by today, tomorrow, next week, next month, or later • Ask Cactus about information you previously saved • Type instead whenever speaking is not convenient PREPARE BEFORE IT BECOMES URGENT Cactus can suggest a useful next step when preparation would genuinely help. Mention an upcoming birthday, for example, and Cactus may offer to create a task for choosing a gift. Routine reminders stay simple. YOUR DAY, ORGANIZED Review tasks, calendar plans, and saved memories in one place. Cactus helps you see what is due now and what is coming next. PRIVATE ICLOUD SYNC Your Cactus archive is stored on your devices and mirrored through your private iCloud account so it can stay in sync across your Apple devices. Cactus does not use a public or shared memory database. Voice and message content is sent securely to the AI service when needed to transcribe speech or provide a response. Cactus Premium includes a 7-day free trial, followed by a recurring subscription. Your exact local price and renewal terms are shown before purchase. Terms of Use: https://cactus-site.vercel.app/terms Privacy Policy: https://cactus-site.vercel.app/privacy

Screenshots

ID Scan4 screens
Cactus4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Cactus at 100% against ID Scan's 42%. Cactus also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.4) and update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months). ID Scan's advantage is ratings volume (30 vs 2). On price, 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

Both are free to download. ID Scan sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Cactus sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Cactus holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ID Scan has 30 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 42% of ID Scan's written reviews are positive against 100% of Cactus's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ID Scan ships an update every 2 months, Cactus weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
ID Scan versus Cactus: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterID ScanCactus
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (30 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews42.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings30 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationPaidFreemium — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperiCubemedia Inc.Feidong Song

Customer experience

ID Scan

All ratings30 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral3.3%
Negative13.3%
Written reviews69 reviews
Positive42.0%
Neutral2.9%
Negative55.1%

Cactus

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

4 purchases

ID Scan

Subscriptions3
  • Monthly Plan7 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Monthly Plan$4.991 Month
  • Yearly Plan$49.991 Year
One-time1
  • Full PDF417 Pro$199.99
1 purchases

Cactus

Subscriptions1
  • Premium plan.$4.991 Month

Questions

Is ID Scan free?
ID Scan is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Cactus free?
Cactus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, ID Scan or Cactus?
Cactus is rated higher. ID Scan averages 4.4 out of 5 from 30 ratings, while Cactus averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do ID Scan or Cactus have ads?
Neither ID Scan nor Cactus shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ID Scan or Cactus?
ID Scan ships an update every 2 months, and Cactus weekly. Most recently, ID Scan was updated on October 17, 2026 and Cactus on October 5, 2026.

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