# QR Code Scanner vs Barcode Scanner

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: QR Code Scanner at none against Barcode Scanner's 1. QR Code Scanner also leads on ratings volume (788 vs 64). Barcode Scanner's advantage is review sentiment (81% vs 63%) and update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 3 months). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Barcode Scanner sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. QR Code Scanner asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.3 for QR Code Scanner against 4.3 for Barcode Scanner. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: QR Code Scanner has 788 ratings behind it against 64, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 63% of QR Code Scanner's written reviews are positive against 81% of Barcode Scanner's.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | QR Code Scanner | Barcode Scanner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (788 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-code-scanner-fast-scan/id911060973/reviews) | [4.3 (64 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barcode-scanner-qr-reader/id1375818756/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **788** | 64 |
| Positive reviews | 62.5% of reviews | **81.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 13 MB | 56 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Sabrina Holzer](https://appshunter.io/developer/1450658703) | [TMEDILAB SOFTWARE JOINT STOCK COMPANY](https://appshunter.io/developer/1888549944) |

## 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


### Barcode Scanner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barcode-scanner-qr-reader/id1375818756)

This app functions as a versatile scanner and generator for QR codes and various barcode types. It allows users to quickly scan codes from their camera or photos, create new codes for different data formats, and manage their scan history.

**Highlights:** Scan QR codes and barcodes from camera or photos, Generate QR codes for URLs, text, contacts, and more, Supports front camera and flash for low-light scanning, Automatic scan history and favorites management, Encrypts various information formats into QR codes, Offline functionality and multilingual support

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is QR Code Scanner free?

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

### Is Barcode Scanner free?

Barcode Scanner is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

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

QR Code Scanner and Barcode Scanner are both rated 4.3 out of 5 on the App Store, from 788 and 64 ratings respectively.

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

Both QR Code Scanner and Barcode Scanner show ads.

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

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