Best QR code scanners for Android
QR code scanners read QR codes and product barcodes on menus, posters, tickets and packages, and many can create a code from a link or contact card.
17 apps ranked · How we rank
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A free, wide-ranging QR and barcode reader for Android that trades advertising for its features.
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A free, widely used scanner that reads and creates QR codes and barcodes, best for everyday scanning despite ads and purchases.
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A capable free scanner for QR codes, barcodes, coupons and Wi-Fi, with ads and in-app purchases as the trade-off.
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A broad, well-supported scanner with useful export tools, held back only by ads and purchases.
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A free launcher that turns QR and barcode scanning into a home screen swipe, best for frequent scanners who don't mind a rearranged layout.
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A free barcode and QR scanner with price comparison and alerts, best for shoppers who check prices before buying.
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A free, no-ads QR scanner and generator with an editable list, best for people who handle codes regularly.
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A free, ad-free scanner built for people who meet industrial and structured barcodes, not just retail codes.
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A free QR reader and generator covering common formats, with batch scanning, logos and gallery saving, plus ads and in-app purchases.
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A free, ad-supported scanner that reads, creates and logs codes, best suited to people who handle them regularly.
More of the best QR code scanners
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11
Secure Camera
GrapheneOS
4.0
10M+
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12
Safe QR Barcode OCR AI Scanner
HealthyLifeCare
3.7
1M+
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13
Muha Members
MMembers Dev
4.4
100K+
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14
FileRecover: Restore & QR
notStudio
4.1
1M+
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15
QR & Barcode Scanner, Launcher
Metamorph AI Labs
3.0
1M+
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16
QR Code Scanner
Smart Choices Limited
3.4
1M+
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17
QR Scanner & Barcode Reader
Start Up
3.1
1M+
About QR code scanners
Shoppers comparing prices, travelers reading transit signs, office workers joining networks and people scanning tickets at events use them to skip typing: point the camera and the link or details open where you need them. Some keep the interface to a single viewfinder and open results instantly, while others bundle a history list, batch scanning, flashlight control or a code generator for links, contacts and short text. Scanning speed, the amount of advertising on screen and whether the app needs a network connection or an account separate them most.
What to look for
- Check how quickly the camera locks onto a code, since a slow read means holding the phone steady while other people wait.
- Look at whether the app can scan codes shown on another screen or in low light, which matters for tickets and dimly lit venues.
- Consider whether you need code creation as well as reading, because some apps only decode and leave you without a way to share a link as a code.
- Review the permission list and privacy policy, as camera access is required but contacts, location and storage access often are not.
- Note how the app earns its keep, whether through paid removal of ads, a subscription for extra tools, or sponsored links shown after a scan.
How we rank
Apps are ranked by their Google Play rating (weighted by how many people rated them), their number of installs, how recently they were updated and how closely they fit the category. Only apps we've reviewed are included.