# The Badge Scanner vs SmartScan

The clearest difference is update cadence: SmartScan at weekly against The Badge Scanner's every 2 months. The Badge Scanner's advantage is review sentiment (67% vs 50%) and iOS requirement (9.1 vs 16.0). 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.

The Badge Scanner ships an update every 2 months, SmartScan weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Badge Scanner | SmartScan |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-badge-scanner/id956220269/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **2** | — |
| Positive reviews | **66.7% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 84 MB | 44 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.1** | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Conference Badges Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1769221254) | [LiveBuzz Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1079312905) |

## What reviewers say

### The Badge Scanner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-badge-scanner/id956220269)

Transform your smartphone into a professional lead retrieval device for trade shows. Easily scan badges to capture attendee information and manage your leads efficiently.

**Highlights:** Smartphone to lead retrieval device conversion, Scans almost any modern camera-enabled smartphone, Powerful and flexible lead retrieval, Easy to deploy and use, Worldwide trade show support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### SmartScan

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartscan/id1079312906)

Capture qualified leads efficiently at exhibitions by scanning badges. Access visitor details instantly, sync data in real-time to a hub, and customize qualification questions. The app works seamlessly online and offline.

**Highlights:** Badge scanning for lead capture, Instant visitor details access, Real-time data synchronization, Customizable lead qualification, Offline functionality

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Badge Scanner free?

The Badge Scanner is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is SmartScan free?

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

### Do The Badge Scanner or SmartScan have ads?

Neither The Badge Scanner nor SmartScan shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, The Badge Scanner or SmartScan?

The Badge Scanner ships an update every 2 months, and SmartScan weekly. Most recently, The Badge Scanner was updated on October 18, 2026 and SmartScan on October 23, 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.*