# QR Code Scanner vs QR Code Reader

The clearest difference is rating: QR Code Scanner at 4.3 against QR Code Reader's 2.6. QR Code Scanner also leads on ratings volume (788 vs 8) and review sentiment (63% vs 50%). QR Code Reader's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

QR Code Scanner holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 2.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: QR Code Scanner has 788 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 63% of QR Code Scanner's written reviews are positive against 50% of QR Code Reader's.

QR Code Scanner ships an update every 3 months, QR Code Reader every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | QR Code Scanner | QR Code Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.3 (788 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-code-scanner-fast-scan/id911060973/reviews)** | [2.6 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-code-reader-qr-scanner/id1107903948/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **788** | 8 |
| Positive reviews | **62.5% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 months** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | **Free** |
| Size | 13 MB | 9 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **7.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Sabrina Holzer](https://appshunter.io/developer/1450658703) | [颖 陈](https://appshunter.io/developer/467887541) |

## What reviewers say

### QR Code Scanner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-code-scanner-fast-scan/id911060973)

Quickly scan QR codes with your device's camera. Open web links, copy text, or save contact information directly from scanned codes. Features a built-in flashlight for low-light scanning.

**Highlights:** Fast QR code scanning, Open URLs in browser, Copy text content, Save VCards to contacts, Built-in flashlight

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Lightning-fast scanning speed
- 👍 Simple and intuitive user interface
- ✅ Reliable and consistent performance
- 💾 Lightweight app with minimal storage
- 🎯 Accurate QR code recognition

**What reviewers complain about**

- 📢 Intrusive and deceptive advertising
- 🐛 Inconsistent functionality across devices
- ❌ Fails to scan certain barcode types
- 🔍 No zoom feature available
- 📱 Compatibility issues with iOS updates

**Reported bugs**

- App fails to recognize scanned QR codes despite camera detection
- App crashes or freezes after opening camera
- Installation failures on some devices
- Non-functional on specific iOS versions
- Intermittent scanning failures

**Requested features**

- Zoom functionality for better scanning
- Scan history/saved results feature
- Barcode scanning capability
- Better compatibility with technical barcodes


### QR Code Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-code-reader-qr-scanner/id1107903948)

Easily scan QR codes and barcodes with your device's camera. This app automatically detects and decodes various data types, including URLs, contact information, and text. You can also generate your own QR codes and manage your scan history.

**Highlights:** Fast QR code and barcode scanning, Automatic detection and decoding, Generate custom QR codes, Scan from photos, Directly open web links and map locations, Unlimited scan history storage, Share codes via mail and text

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is QR Code Scanner free?

QR Code Scanner is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is QR Code Reader free?

QR Code Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

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

QR Code Scanner is rated higher. QR Code Scanner averages 4.3 out of 5 from 788 ratings, while QR Code Reader averages 2.6 from 8 ratings.

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

QR Code Scanner shows ads; QR Code Reader does not.

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

QR Code Scanner ships an update every 3 months, and QR Code Reader every 6 months. Most recently, QR Code Scanner was updated on October 11, 2026 and QR Code Reader on October 4, 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.*