# QR Code Scanner vs QR Code Reader

The clearest difference is ads: QR Code Reader at none against QR Code Scanner's shown. QR Code Reader also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 3 months) and review sentiment (91% vs 63%). QR Code Scanner's advantage is ratings volume (788 vs 6). On price, rating, 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.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.3 for QR Code Scanner against 4.3 for QR Code Reader. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: QR Code Scanner has 788 ratings behind it against 6, 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 91% of QR Code Reader's.

QR Code Scanner ships an update every 3 months, QR Code Reader every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 26, 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) | [4.3 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-code-reader-barcode-scan/id1541317915/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **788** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 62.5% of reviews | **90.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | **Free** |
| Size | 13 MB | 6 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Sabrina Holzer](https://appshunter.io/developer/1450658703) | [Veecells Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1184210156) |

## 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-barcode-scan/id1541317915)

This app quickly scans QR codes, barcodes, and various document types. It also functions as a generator for QR codes, URLs, and text from images. Enjoy a fast, all-in-one scanning and generation experience.

**Highlights:** Scan QR codes and barcodes, Generate QR codes and URLs, Scan business cards and documents, Support for multiple QR code types, Flashlight for dark scanning, Batch scanning and history reuse, Customizable QR code appearance

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Quick and accurate scanning
- ⚡️ Fast and efficient
- 🔍 Useful for everyday tasks
- 📱 Works well on iPhone
- 🤩 Great app overall

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤖 Excessive ads and pop-ups
- 🕰️ Slow performance and long loading times
- 🔓 Potential security/privacy concerns
- 💰 Deceptive about free trial period

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes frequently
- Fails to scan codes properly
- Causes device performance issues

**Requested features**

- Ability to disable ads
- More advanced scanning options
- Improved compatibility with older devices


## 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 and QR Code Reader are both rated 4.3 out of 5 on the App Store, from 788 and 6 ratings respectively.

### 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 2 days. Most recently, QR Code Scanner was updated on September 29, 2026 and QR Code Reader on September 26, 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.*