# Barcode Lookup vs Barcode Scanner

The clearest difference is monetization model: Barcode Lookup at ad-supported against Barcode Scanner's subscription. Barcode Lookup also leads on update cadence (every 5 months vs every 72 months) and review sentiment (51% vs 43%). Barcode Scanner's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (42K vs 659). On price, rating, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Barcode Lookup sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $99.00 per month and Barcode Scanner sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Barcode Lookup against 4.5 for Barcode Scanner. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Barcode Scanner has 42K ratings behind it against 659, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 51% of Barcode Lookup's written reviews are positive against 43% of Barcode Scanner's.

Barcode Lookup ships an update every 5 months, Barcode Scanner every 72 months. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Barcode Lookup | Barcode Scanner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (659 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barcode-lookup/id953488535/reviews)** | [4.5 (42K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barcode-scanner-qr-scanner/id1210662415/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 659 | **42K** |
| Positive reviews | **51.1% of reviews** | 42.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 months** | Every 72 months |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | — | **#49** |
| Size | 73 MB | 27 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.5 | **9.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Huge Impact Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/953488534) | [MD Mokammal Hossain](https://appshunter.io/developer/1164424968) |

## What reviewers say

### Barcode Lookup

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barcode-lookup/id953488535)

Instantly search over a billion products by scanning barcodes or by name. Get detailed information including pricing, images, reviews, and descriptions to compare prices and find the best deals online. Save favorite items and share product details easily.

**Highlights:** Scan UPC, EAN, ISBN, GTIN barcodes, Search products by name, View pricing, images, and reviews, Compare prices from online retailers, Save favorite products, Share product details

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Starter | $99.00 | per month |
| Advanced | $249.00 | per month |
| Professional | $499.00 | per month |
| Enterprise | $949.00 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and efficient barcode scanning
- 👍 Intuitive and easy-to-use interface
- 💾 Comprehensive product database with 525 million items
- 🛍️ Shows pricing and store availability information
- 📍 Store locator feature helps find items in stock

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and freezes
- ❌ Fails to scan many common barcodes
- 🔍 Poor barcode recognition accuracy
- 📷 Camera zoom is excessively magnified
- 🤔 Inconsistent and inaccurate product matching

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when attempting to scan barcode
- Barcode scanner hangs and never completes scan
- App fails to load or immediately closes on launch
- Stuck on splash screen unable to proceed
- Update notification loop prevents app usage

**Requested features**

- CSV export functionality for product data
- Ad-free premium version
- Map integration showing nearby store locations
- Improved camera zoom controls
- Better data input and manual entry system


### Barcode Scanner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barcode-scanner-qr-scanner/id1210662415)

**Currently charting:** #49 Top Grossing · Shopping (US App Store)

Easily scan QR codes and product barcodes to access web links, product information, and prices. Save your scan history and share codes via various platforms. Includes a QR code generator for creating your own codes.

**Highlights:** Scan QR codes and product barcodes, Save scan history, Share codes via SMS, email, social media, Jump directly to web addresses, Flashlight support for low-light scanning, QR code generator

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| premium monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Upgrade To PRO | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and accurate barcode scanning
- 👍 Easy to use
- 💡 Useful for various purposes (shopping, homework, etc.)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Requires paid subscription after limited free usage
- 🐛 Inconsistent scanning performance
- 💰 Expensive subscription fees

**Reported bugs**

- Scans not working after initial free usage
- Repeated prompts to upgrade despite being on free trial

**Requested features**

- Option to export scan history
- Ability to cancel subscription within the app


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Barcode Lookup free?

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

### Is Barcode Scanner free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Barcode Lookup or Barcode Scanner?

Barcode Lookup is rated higher. Barcode Lookup averages 4.6 out of 5 from 659 ratings, while Barcode Scanner averages 4.5 from 42K ratings.

### Do Barcode Lookup or Barcode Scanner have ads?

Barcode Lookup shows ads; Barcode Scanner does not.

### Which is updated more often, Barcode Lookup or Barcode Scanner?

Barcode Lookup ships an update every 5 months, and Barcode Scanner every 72 months. Most recently, Barcode Lookup was updated on October 17, 2026 and Barcode Scanner on October 19, 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.*