# QR Code Scanner vs Code Reader

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: QR Code Scanner at none against Code Reader's 7. QR Code Scanner also leads on ratings volume (788 vs 243). Code Reader's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and rating (4.6 vs 4.3). On price, review sentiment, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Code Reader sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. QR Code Scanner asks for nothing beyond the download.

Code Reader holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 788 and 243 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 63% of QR Code Scanner's written reviews are positive against 64% of Code Reader's.

QR Code Scanner ships an update every 3 months, Code Reader every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | QR Code Scanner | Code Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (788 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-code-scanner-fast-scan/id911060973/reviews) | **[4.6 (243 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/code-reader-qr-scanner/id1225393668/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **788** | 243 |
| Positive reviews | 62.5% of reviews | **64.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 13 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Sabrina Holzer](https://appshunter.io/developer/1450658703) | [Daniel ILLESCAS ROMERO](https://appshunter.io/developer/1225393667) |

## 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


### Code Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/code-reader-qr-scanner/id1225393668)

Easily scan, generate, and share QR codes and barcodes. Quickly read various code types, including links, contacts, and product information. Generate new codes from text, emails, or Wi-Fi details, and utilize convenient extensions for seamless integration.

**Highlights:** Scan QR codes and barcodes, Generate QR codes and barcodes, Read codes from images via extension, Generate codes from text, email, Wi-Fi, Save and share scanned/generated codes, Automatic web page opening for product barcodes, Scanner preview with zoom and stabilization

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Code Reader Pro Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Code Reader Pro Yearly | $9.99 | per year |
| Donation 1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Donation 2 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Code Reader Pro Lifetime | $2.99 | one-time |
| Donation 5 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Donation 10 | $8.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Works fast
- 🆓 Free to use
- 💡 Auto-copies to clipboard
- ✅ Scans QR codes effectively

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Doesn't work for some users
- 🚫 Camera focus issues on Mac
- ❌ Unable to save codes
- 🤷 No instructions provided
- ⚠️ Scams reported

**Reported bugs**

- App not working after MacOS update
- Cannot get permissions to save
- QR codes not readable by Mac camera
- App crashes QREncoder
- Sequence of letters then stops

**Requested features**

- Add date & time to QR history
- Option to select camera
- Ability to save QR codes
- Support for SVG files
- Add logos to QR codes


## Frequently asked questions

### Is QR Code Scanner free?

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

### Is Code Reader free?

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

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

Code Reader is rated higher. QR Code Scanner averages 4.3 out of 5 from 788 ratings, while Code Reader averages 4.6 from 243 ratings.

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

QR Code Scanner shows ads; Code Reader does not.

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

QR Code Scanner ships an update every 3 months, and Code Reader every 6 weeks. Most recently, QR Code Scanner was updated on October 11, 2026 and Code Reader on October 7, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*