Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
User consensusAlternativesIs it worth it?
The verdict on

QR, Barcode Scanner for iPhone

20
User verdict / 100 High confidence In trouble

The QR, Barcode Scanner app is widely criticized for its deceptive pricing, aggressive upsells, and difficulty in canceling subscriptions, despite some users finding it easy to use for basic scanning R9R12R18.

⚠ Not updated in 13 months, this app may be abandoned
4.6★ lifetime (49,565) Free + in-app purchases since 2017 by Smart Tool Studio recent negative 79% 120 reviews across 4 regions
Subscription Issues Functionality & Performance User Experience & Interface
5★96
4★12
3★10
2★15
1★436
recent reviews across 4 regions, vs the 4.6★ lifetime average

This QR and Barcode Scanner app, while occasionally praised for its ease of use and quick scanning, faces significant backlash due to its misleading 'free' offering that quickly transitions into paid subscriptions. Many users report unauthorized charges, difficulty canceling, and an overwhelming number of ads, leading to a highly negative recent sentiment despite a high lifetime rating. The app's last update was over a year ago, and recent reviews suggest that claimed bug fixes and performance improvements have not addressed core user complaints about functionality and billing.

What users like

  • Easy and quick to use for basic QR code scanningR5R18R25R40
  • Effectively reads QR codes and provides necessary informationR37R70R112R123
  • Some users appreciate the creator featureR75

What users complain about

  • Deceptive pricing and hidden subscription fees, often charging users after a 'free trial'R9R11R12R15
  • Extremely difficult or impossible to cancel subscriptions, leading to unauthorized recurring chargesR9R16R27R48
  • Frequent and intrusive ads, even pushing users to upgrade to paid versionsR62R110R295
  • App often fails to scan or does not work on some devicesR1R67R16R20
  • Poor user interface, lack of dark mode, and missing features like zoom or trash spaceR3R10
  • False advertising regarding advanced QR code creation featuresR45R46
  • Lack of developer contact information or customer supportR3R64

Latest update · v2.1.3

What the developer says changed (the verdict above weighs this against what reviewers report):

Bug fixes and performance improvements.

Recurring themes

Subscription Issues negative
A prevalent theme is the app's deceptive 'free' model, which quickly leads to paid subscriptions. Users report being charged weekly or annually without clear consent, often after a short 'free trial' period. Many struggle to cancel these subscriptions, leading to unauthorized and recurring charges, with no clear path to contact support or obtain refunds.R9R11R12R15
Functionality & Performance mixed
While some users find the app to be quick, easy, and effective for scanning QR codes, a significant number report that the app simply 'doesn't work' or fails to scan codes reliably. The developer's notes mention 'bug fixes and performance improvements,' but recent reviews contradict this, with users still experiencing scanning failures.R1R5R16R18
User Experience & Interface negative
Users complain about an overwhelming number of ads and constant prompts to purchase products or upgrade. The interface is described as difficult to see due to poor color choices (yellow on white) and lacks essential features like a dark mode or zoom. There are also requests for basic file management features like a 'trash space' or better organization for scanned files.R3R10R21R33

Who it's for

This app might be for someone who needs a very basic QR code scanner and is willing to navigate aggressive upsells and potential billing issues R5R18. It is NOT for users who expect a truly free app, clear pricing, easy subscription management, or advanced features like graphic QR code creation R9R12R45.

Evidence note: The recent reviews overwhelmingly focus on negative experiences related to billing, cancellation, and app functionality, making it challenging to find strong positive points beyond basic scanning ease. The high lifetime rating appears to be at odds with the current user sentiment, suggesting a significant negative trajectory.

Frequently asked

Is the QR, Barcode Scanner app truly free?
No, despite being advertised as free, many users report that the app quickly transitions to a paid subscription model, with charges ranging from $3.99 a week to $54 a year, often without clear consent R9R11R12R15.
How do I cancel my subscription for this app?
Many users report extreme difficulty or inability to cancel subscriptions through the app or their device settings, leading to continued unauthorized charges R9R16R27R48.
Does the app create graphic or image-based QR codes?
No, despite advertisements suggesting this feature, users report that the app only creates basic, two-tone QR codes and does not support AI-generated or image-based designs R45R46.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R5] 5/5 · US Retired person: I am in my late 70’s and I was hesitant to get and use the QR scanner but I was pleasantly surprised by how easily it is to use and how quickly I can take care of things!! I recommend my fellow retired persons to get and use it!!!
  2. [R18] 5/5 · US QR Scanner is Tops for me: So easy to use and it actually simplifies tasks! What’s not to like… nothing, just opposite!
  3. [R25] 5/5 · US Capt. Yowell: Was really fast
  4. [R40] 5/5 · US Easy: Quick and easy
  5. [R37] 5/5 · US QR code reader: It’s good because it read’s all the QR code’s and shows all nesseeryinformation
  6. [R70] 1/5 · US It Works but Ugh!: I needed to know the number that a particular barcode represented and this free app works well but that’s it. Just a number & it’s TERRIBLY deceptive trying to lead you to all sorts of charges, ads and downloads. I’ll delete it as soon as I use it. I don’t trust this company.
  7. [R112] 5/5 · US El mejor: De todos los que baje este fue el mejor por lejos y si son falso los codigos te sale que no lo puede escanear en los viejos que tenia te bajaban cualquier cosa
  8. [R123] 5/5 · US Ariel little 😍: It’s help you know what you’re looking up so you don’t have to text is it😍🥰🤪
  9. [R75] 5/5 · US The best app: I love the creator feature
  10. [R9] 1/5 · US Worthless: Doesn’t work. Can’t cancel “free membership”. Beware
  11. [R11] 1/5 · US A Scam to make everyone pay for something that should be free always.: Every where you go and ad you see has a QR code on it, so if they want us to use or see whatever they are selling, we have to pay for a service in order it to get the code so we can see what it means. The provider of this QR code should pay for it, not the consumer. This makes no sense.
  12. [R12] 1/5 · US Scammer. Don’t waste your time: Will charge your Apple account and not refund. Don’t waste your time.
  13. [R15] 2/5 · US One week free trial then cancel: Not worth the weekly price or the monthlyprice
  14. [R16] 1/5 · US Doesn’t work: I want cancel this crappy app.
  15. [R27] 1/5 · US Awful billing: Cancelled service but still getting notice of attempted drafts of my bank account
  16. [R48] 1/5 · US Never refunded but continued to charge: Submit for a refund after the app charged me multiple time. with no response. Then they continued to charge my card without permission.
  17. [R62] 1/5 · US Annoying: A headache that anytime I open the App, I have to get rid a few pushed ads, including yours asking to upgrade.
  18. [R110] 3/5 · US Constant interruptions of service: When trying to use the reader the site constantly pops up prompts to purchase its products
  19. [R295] 3/5 · GB It could be better: The app could be better it helps me a lot but there are just so many adds pls fix it I know that there is a no adds but what I mean is make it so there’s less adds!!!
  20. [R1] 1/5 · US This sucks!: Can’t get the damn thing to work!!!!
  21. [R67] 3/5 · US QR scan: It took me 4 Times to work.
  22. [R20] 2/5 · US HELP: This app didn’t work on my iPhone. If it can’t be fixed, please cancel my purchase. Thank you.
  23. [R3] 1/5 · US Difficult interface and No ability to contact: Cannot contact developer from the app or from their link in this App Store description Also, they need to develop a dark mode interface to make everything easier to see The app icon/lettering yellow on white background or light gray on white etc is difficult to see It would be helpful also if they had a zoom feature with the software to make the text
  24. [R10] 2/5 · US Trash section: Where is the trash space? I deleted a qr code and i want it back i got not back up whatsoever and desperately need this what’s the solution????
  25. [R45] 1/5 · US Not even remotely close to what it promised in the ad: On Facebook, they had an ad of beautiful QR codes with AI generated art, they stated that this app can create those images. It clearly does not. It’s just a QR code app nothing more FALSE advertisement.
  26. [R46] 1/5 · US Does not Create Graphic or Image Based QR Code 😞: I really hate that what drew me in to download this app is was what appeared to be the ability to create image based QR codes I was really impressed and excited . But after downloading I realized this is not the case it creates basic run of the mill plain Jane QR codes (Black and White or a picked Foreground color and Background color meaning two t
  27. [R64] 1/5 · US How do I cancel: Of course I kept trying to contact the developer but the link did not work. I tried to cancel the subscription before the trial ended. i could not do it on my iPad, on my iPhone. I do not want this so please cancel it.
  28. [R21] 1/5 · US Cumbersome: I will give up any platform if I need to type the alphabet with number configuration each time I need access
  29. [R33] 1/5 · US Mina: These apps make no sense very difficult

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store