USThing vs HKUST QR Code
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
USThing
This campus app consolidates various Hong Kong University of Science and Technology IT services into a single platform. It offers features like facility booking, grade viewing, timetable access, and event information, all accessible with encrypted local storage of credentials.
- Facility booking (Library, FBS)
- View grades and timetables
- Course waitlist positions
- Next lesson notifications
- TimeMatch for finding free time
- Campus info and directory
- News and events
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USThing is a student-developed campus app for the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. With USThing, you can access multiple HKUST IT services in one single app. Features include: - Facility Booking (supports both Library rooms and FBS facilities) - View Grades, Time Tables and Course Waitlist positions - Next Lesson Notification - TimeMatch (Find common free time among friends) - Campus Info and Directory - News and Events around campus and more are on their way... USThing requires your ITSC username and password in order to help you access services conveniently. Your credentials are only saved locally with encryption and never stored on remote servers. If you have any enquiry regarding privacy, feel free to contact us. USThing is not affiliated with student societies and contains no paid ads or promotions. All contents are freely uploaded by our users.
HKUST QR Code
This tool allows HKUST members to create secure, dynamic, and personalized QR codes. These codes can be used for access control, such as opening doors with compatible panels.
- Generate secure QR codes
- Dynamic and personalized codes
- Access control for HKUST members
- Smartdoor Panel integration
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The HKUST QR Code is a tool designed for HKUST members (such as students and staff) to generate their own secure, dynamic and personalized QR codes that can be used for access purposes, such as opening doors with a Smartdoor Panel.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: USThing at 44% against HKUST QR Code's 0%. USThing also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
USThing ships an update every 3 weeks, HKUST QR Code every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 13, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | USThing | HKUST QR Code |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.0 (4 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 44.4% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 4 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | 15.6 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 62 MB | 18 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Zachary Lo | The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology |
Customer experience
USThing
HKUST QR Code
In-app purchases
USThing
No in-app purchases
HKUST QR Code
No in-app purchases
