Comparison

QR Code Scanner vs QRowl

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

Head to head
About

QR Code Scanner

Features
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Scan QR codes and barcodes with your camera or from saved photos. Create codes for links, Wi-Fi, contacts, events, social profiles and more, then keep them ready to share in your Library. SCAN, CREATE AND CUSTOMIZE - Scan QR codes and popular barcode formats, or enter a code manually. - Collect multiple codes with batch scanning. - Create Static QR codes for everyday sharing, including Threads and other social profiles. - Personalize QR codes with colors, patterns and logos. - Save and share code images, organize favorites, and add codes to Home Screen widgets. DYNAMIC QR AND INSIGHTS โ€” PREMIUM Change a link's destination while keeping the same QR code. See recorded link opens over time, activity by weekday and hour, QR rankings and comparisons between placements. Filter recognized bots and link previews, and see useful observations when there is enough data. Dates follow your device's time zone. Opens can include repeat visits; they are not a count of unique people. SEARCH IMAGES AND CAPTURE TEXT Take a photo or choose an image to open an image search with Google Lens. Recognize text from images and copy it for use elsewhere. YOUR CODE LIBRARY Find scanned and created codes with search, filters and favorites. Manage Dynamic QR codes, share saved results, and use backup and restore from Settings. Light and Dark appearances and 11 interface languages are available. Dynamic QR, Insights and other advanced features require a Premium subscription. Any available trial, its duration, and the renewal price are shown before purchase. Manage or cancel subscriptions in your App Store account settings. Privacy Policy: https://sites.google.com/view/qrcodescannerscanbarcodes/privacy-policy Terms of Use: https://sites.google.com/view/qrcodescannerscanbarcodes/terms-conditions

About

QRowl

Features
Read full description

Put the QR codes you use in widgets. QRowl lets you create or import QR codes, keep them in a private personal library, and place them in widgets on the Home Screen, in Today View, or in StandBy, where a code stays scannable while the iPhone charges on its side, even in the red Night Mode. Create codes for text, websites, Wi-Fi networks, phone numbers, email, messages, contact cards, and calendar events. You can also scan with the camera or import QR codes from photos and PDF documents. Add an optional center logo from a photo or SF Symbol, choose foreground and background colors, and search your library when you need a code. Share a code as what it is, a link, a contact card, or a calendar event, together with its image, or print it large on a single page with its name as the title, big enough to scan from across the room. Attach an optional circular location and QRowl can notify you when you arrive, carrying the code in the notification so you can pull it down and scan it without unlocking, or tap it to open the preview. A File code carries a whole file of up to 1 MB, such as a PDF, an image, or a document. It plays as an animated sequence of QR codes in the preview, another iPhone or iPad running QRowl scans it back with the camera and saves the file, and you can share the file itself or export the animation as a movie. Your library stays private. Codes and saved locations are stored on your device and can sync between your devices through your private iCloud account. Whether a device sends location reminders is a local setting. Widgets use locally generated previews and never access CloudKit directly. No separate account. No ads. No tracking. No analytics.

Screenshots

QR Code Scanner4 screens
QRowl4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: QRowl at none against QR Code Scanner's shown. On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. QR Code Scanner sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days and QRowl sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

QR Code Scanner ships an update every 4 days, QRowl weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference ยท 5 level
QR Code Scanner versus QRowl: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterQR Code ScannerQRowl
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 4 days โ€” betterWeekly
AdsYesNo โ€” better
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.0 โ€” better17.0
Further details โ€” not scored
Size19 MB19 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHuong Dangwerk01

In-app purchases

2 purchases

QR Code Scanner

Subscriptions2
  • Weekly Premium3 Days trial$6.997 Days
  • Yearly Premium$39.991 Year
1 purchases

QRowl

One-time1
  • QRowl Pro$4.99

Questions

Is QR Code Scanner free?
QR Code Scanner is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is QRowl free?
QRowl is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do QR Code Scanner or QRowl have ads?
QR Code Scanner shows ads; QRowl does not.
Which is updated more often, QR Code Scanner or QRowl?
QR Code Scanner ships an update every 4 days, and QRowl weekly. Most recently, QR Code Scanner was updated on October 25, 2026 and QRowl on November 1, 2026.

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