# QRCode Barcode vs QR Reader

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: QRCode Barcode at none against QR Reader's 2. QRCode Barcode also leads on ratings volume (796 vs 3) and device support (4 vs 2). QR Reader's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 4 months) and rating (5.0 vs 4.6). On price, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. QR Reader sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. QRCode Barcode asks for nothing beyond the download.

QR Reader holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: QRCode Barcode has 796 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 69% of QRCode Barcode's written reviews are positive against 71% of QR Reader's.

QRCode Barcode ships an update every 4 months, QR Reader weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | QRCode Barcode | QR Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (796 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qrcode-barcode/id811899990/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-reader-scanner-and-generator/id6448917043/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **796** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 69.2% of reviews | **71.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 17 MB | 31 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Climb App](https://appshunter.io/developer/404048459) | [SAN MOBILE](https://appshunter.io/developer/1678140821) |

## What reviewers say

### QRCode Barcode

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qrcode-barcode/id811899990)

Easily read and create QR Codes and barcodes of various types. Scan quickly with autofocus, open links, send emails, or save text. Generate codes from contacts or custom text, and even display them on Apple Watch.

**Highlights:** Scan QR Codes and barcodes, Create QR Codes from contacts, Create QR Codes from text, Open links and send emails from scans, Save scanned text or created codes, Display QR Codes on Apple Watch

**Features:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💰 Completely free with no hidden paywalls
- 📱 Supports multiple barcode/QR/Data Matrix formats
- 💾 Ample storage for scanning history
- 📤 Export scan history to CSV
- 🎯 Simple and easy to use interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Watch app shows error code WCErrorDomain 7004
- 🐛 Inconsistent scanning performance for some users
- 🐛 Watch app fails to display created codes
- ❌ Misleading free claims (according to some users)
- 🔧 Limited code management organization

**Reported bugs**

- Watch app crashes with error WCErrorDomain code=7004 on launch
- Watch app does not display codes created on iPhone
- Unable to delete accidentally created codes
- Three-scan limit before requiring payment (disputed claim)
- App malfunction on certain QR/barcode types

**Requested features**

- Folder/organization system for managing scan history
- Create codes from photos
- Create codes from notes app
- Better watch app integration


### QR Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-reader-scanner-and-generator/id6448917043)

Effortlessly scan and generate QR codes and barcodes with this fast, intuitive iOS app. It also includes a PDF scanner and document signing features to manage your documents on the go.

**Highlights:** Fast QR code and barcode scanning, Generate custom QR codes and barcodes, Portable PDF document scanner, Document signing functionality, Supports various QR code formats, User-friendly interface

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| QR Scanner & Reader Weekly | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| QR Scanner & Reader Monthly | $24.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is QRCode Barcode free?

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

### Is QR Reader free?

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

### Which has better reviews, QRCode Barcode or QR Reader?

QR Reader is rated higher. QRCode Barcode averages 4.6 out of 5 from 796 ratings, while QR Reader averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do QRCode Barcode or QR Reader have ads?

Both QRCode Barcode and QR Reader show ads.

### Which is updated more often, QRCode Barcode or QR Reader?

QRCode Barcode ships an update every 4 months, and QR Reader weekly. Most recently, QRCode Barcode was updated on September 21, 2026 and QR Reader on September 9, 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.*