QR codes are links that can be scanned using smartphone apps. Often used for commercial purposes, they usually send you to a website, where you can perhaps purchase a particular product or download something. Given that links usually involve long URLs that can’t be easily typed into a phone’s browser, QR codes are a quick and painless shortcut to send someone to a particular web location on their mobile. They can also be used to encode and send other kinds of information, such as contact details and even plain text.
Numerous apps are available for scanning QR codes. Some apps are better than others, and while you can scan QR codes using your phone’s Camera app, various third-party apps dedicated to scanning QR codes offer additional functionality.
This article rounds up the best QR code scanning apps for Android or iOS. It explains what each app does, and it provides links to download them through the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. So let’s get scanning.
Camera
Regardless of whether you have an iPhone or an Android phone, the simplest and easiest app to use to scan QR codes is often your Camera app. This will already be on your phone, so all you have to do is open the app and point it at a QR code.
It’s that simple. Once you’ve pointed your phone’s camera at the QR code, you should see a notification asking if you want to go to the website where the QR code is pointing. Tap on it to open the link and go where the QR code wants to send you.
If the function doesn’t work on your phone, then you can read on to find some good QR code scanning apps. As simple as the Camera app is, it also doesn’t come with the bells and whistles of certain third-party apps for scanning QR codes. As such, you may want to check out some of the apps below — assuming that you want additional features, such as security checks and the ability to save codes or scan barcodes.
Kaspersky QR Scanner
One of the best third-party scanning apps for iOS and Android is Kaspersky QR Scanner. Developed by the cybersecurity experts at Kaspersky, it does what you’d expect their QR scanning app to do: scan for unsafe and malicious QR codes.
It’s basically as easy to use as your smartphone’s native Camera app. It will quickly check the security of every QR code you scan with it, providing a warning whenever it encounters a dodgy link. It also brings the added benefit of a History tab, so you can quickly return to the websites associated with past QR codes.
Kaspersky QR scanner is completely free to use and has solid ratings in both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store of more than 4 out of 5.
Android iOS
NeoReader QR & Barcode Scanner
Unlike the Camera app, NeoReader QR & Barcode Scanner comes with the ability to scan barcodes as well as QR codes. So in addition to scanning a QR code and bringing up a link, you can also use it to scan a product’s barcode and search for the product on the web. This is very handy when, shopping out in the real world, you find an item you’d prefer to order online.
NeoReader QR & Barcode Scanner is available for both Android and iOS. Once again, it’s easy to use, and it lets you go back through your history of scanned QR codes and barcodes. It’s free to download but comes with an option to pay a small fee to remove pop-up ads. It has strong customer ratings above 4 out of 5 from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Android iOS
QR Code Reader ϟ/QR Reader for Android
Developed by the UK-based TapMedia, this QR scanning app can scan QR codes quickly and effortlessly. However, what sets it apart from the crowd is that it can also be used to scan other things besides QR codes. For instance, it can be used to scan Sudoku puzzles and store them on your smartphone, so you can play them on the go. It can also be used to share QR codes via email or social media.
It’s free to download but comes with paid options to switch off ads, as well as a Database Scanner subscription option that lets you save QR codes to a server. The iPhone version of this app currently has an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 on the App Store. However, the Android version isn’t as highly rated, since it doesn’t have the full range of features.
Android iOS
QR Code Reader & QR Scanner
Developed by MixerBox, QR Code Reader & QR Scanner is available only for iPhone. However, despite its limited availability, it’s one of the best QR code scanning apps around.
It can scan a wide variety of 1D and 2D code types, including QR codes, barcodes, EAN-13 codes, and more. It scans very quickly and also saves a history of your scans, so you can go back to a QR code very quickly. One nice touch is that it supports flashlight use while the app is working, so you can scan QR codes in the dark.
QR Code Reader & QR Scanner is free to download, although you can remove the ads for $4.99. It’s currently number 47 in Utilities in the Apple App Store, where it has a 4.6 out of 5 rating.
iOS
QR & Barcode Scanner/QR Code Reader & Barcode Scanner Free
Rounding out this list of the best apps for scanning QR codes, Gamma Play has released the QR & Barcode Scanner for Android and the QR Code Reader & Barcode Scanner Free for iOS.
As the name suggests, this app scans QR codes as well as barcodes, which can be used to search the web for the best prices for certain products. What makes it particularly impressive is that if a QR code encodes contact details, the app can save a new contact to your phone. It can also do the same with Wi-Fi networks, calendar dates, product details, text messages, and so on.
It’s therefore a very handy QR scanning app to have. It has over 1 million reviews on the Google Play Store and an average rating of more than 4 out of 5. On the Apple App Store, it has an average rating of 4.7 out of 5.
Android iOS