# QR Code Scanner vs URL Reader

The clearest difference is update cadence: URL Reader at every 2 days against QR Code Scanner's every 3 months. URL Reader also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). QR Code Scanner's advantage is rating (4.3 vs 4.0) and ratings volume (788 vs 19). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: QR Code Scanner has 788 ratings behind it against 19, 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 54% of URL Reader's.

QR Code Scanner ships an update every 3 months, URL Reader every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | QR Code Scanner | URL Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.3 (788 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-code-scanner-fast-scan/id911060973/reviews)** | [4.0 (19 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/url-reader-with-qr-reading/id1581713062/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **788** | 19 |
| Positive reviews | **62.5% of reviews** | 53.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | Ad-supported |
| Size | 13 MB | 7 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Sabrina Holzer](https://appshunter.io/developer/1450658703) | [yu sakamoto](https://appshunter.io/developer/1351332433) |

## 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


### URL Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/url-reader-with-qr-reading/id1581713062)

Instantly scan and read URLs from physical sources like paper or business cards in real time. It also features a QR code scanner for quick access to information. Simply point your device to capture.

**Highlights:** Real-time URL scanning, QR code reading, Scan from paper and business cards, Simple operation, Instant information access

**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 URL Reader free?

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

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

QR Code Scanner is rated higher. QR Code Scanner averages 4.3 out of 5 from 788 ratings, while URL Reader averages 4.0 from 19 ratings.

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

Both QR Code Scanner and URL Reader show ads.

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

QR Code Scanner ships an update every 3 months, and URL Reader every 2 days. Most recently, QR Code Scanner was updated on October 17, 2026 and URL 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.*