# Barcode Lookup vs QR Reader

Barcode Lookup and QR Reader both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 78% of QR Reader's written reviews are positive against 51% of Barcode Lookup's. QR Reader also leads on update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 5 months) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.5). Barcode Lookup's advantage is ratings volume (664 vs 54) and monetization model (ad-supported vs free with in-app purchases). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Barcode Lookup sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $99.00 per month and QR Reader sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $26.99 per year. 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 4.7 for QR Reader. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Barcode Lookup has 664 ratings behind it against 54, 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 78% of QR Reader's.

Barcode Lookup ships an update every 5 months, QR Reader every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Barcode Lookup | QR Reader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (664 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barcode-lookup/id953488535/reviews) | **[4.7 (54 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-reader-scan-and-keep-history/id1505362553/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **664** | 54 |
| Positive reviews | 51.1% of reviews | **77.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 73 MB | 26 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.5 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Huge Impact Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/953488534) | [Otrofy Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/532323150) |

## 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


### QR Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/qr-reader-scan-and-keep-history/id1505362553)

Scan various types of QR codes and barcodes with a clean interface. Access scan history, save favorites, and even create your own codes. Offers batch scanning and private mode for enhanced functionality.

**Highlights:** Scan 10+ code types, Scan history with save/copy/share, Favorites for quick access, Batch scanning, Create and share own codes, Private mode, CSV/TXT export

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| QR Code Reader Barcode Scanner | $26.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Barcode Lookup free?

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

### Is QR Reader free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Barcode Lookup or QR Reader?

QR Reader is rated higher. Barcode Lookup averages 4.6 out of 5 from 664 ratings, while QR Reader averages 4.7 from 54 ratings.

### Do Barcode Lookup or QR Reader have ads?

Both Barcode Lookup and QR Reader show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Barcode Lookup or QR Reader?

Barcode Lookup ships an update every 5 months, and QR Reader every 5 weeks. Most recently, Barcode Lookup was updated on November 6, 2026 and QR Reader on November 7, 2026.

---

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