# Barcode Lookup vs Smarty Shopping

The clearest difference is rating: Barcode Lookup at 4.6 against Smarty Shopping's 3.4. Barcode Lookup also leads on monetization model (ad-supported vs free with in-app purchases). Smarty Shopping's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 months). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Barcode Lookup holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 613 and 1.4K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 48% of Barcode Lookup's written reviews are positive against 40% of Smarty Shopping's.

Barcode Lookup ships an update every 5 months, Smarty Shopping fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Barcode Lookup | Smarty Shopping |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (613 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/barcode-lookup/id953488535/reviews)** | [3.4 (1.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smarty-shopping/id1534950412/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 613 | **1.4K** |
| Positive reviews | **47.6% of reviews** | 39.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 70 MB | 93 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Huge Impact Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/953488534) | [Smarty LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1534950414) |

## 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

**In-app purchases:** none

**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


### Smarty Shopping

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smarty-shopping/id1534950412)

Discover the best coupons and earn cash back at thousands of online retailers. Compare prices across the web, track item pricing history, and find top deals with a barcode scanner for in-store shopping.

**Highlights:** Coupon searching, Cash back rewards, Price comparison, Item pricing history, Barcode scanner, Top deals by merchant

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Convenient shopping experience
- 💰 Helpful cash back and rebates
- 🛒 Easy to find deals and coupons
- 📈 Saves money on purchases

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤑 Unauthorized charges and subscription fees
- 🔒 Lack of transparency around terms and conditions
- 🔁 Difficult to cancel or manage subscription
- 🕰️ Delayed or non-existent cash back payouts

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes or freezes during use
- Inconsistent or unreliable coupon application
- Difficulty logging in or accessing account information

**Requested features**

- Improved customer support and communication
- Clear disclosure of fees and subscription details
- Streamlined process for cancelling subscriptions
- Faster and more reliable cash back processing


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Barcode Lookup free?

Barcode Lookup is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Smarty Shopping free?

Smarty Shopping is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Barcode Lookup or Smarty Shopping?

Barcode Lookup is rated higher. Barcode Lookup averages 4.6 out of 5 from 613 ratings, while Smarty Shopping averages 3.4 from 1.4K ratings.

### Do Barcode Lookup or Smarty Shopping have ads?

Both Barcode Lookup and Smarty Shopping show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Barcode Lookup or Smarty Shopping?

Barcode Lookup ships an update every 5 months, and Smarty Shopping fortnightly. Most recently, Barcode Lookup was updated on September 21, 2026 and Smarty Shopping on September 22, 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.*