Free QR Reader alternative, no ads
SBU / 02 / scanner · App Store facts checked on October 17, 2026
QR Reader for iPhone, by TapMedia, is now called QR Code ϟ. It downloads free, shows ads and offers a paid PRO version. Sbu Scanner does the one thing you need: it reads any code and shows you where it goes before you open it, with no ads.
What Sbu Scanner does
Point at a code and it reads itself: QR, Data Matrix, Aztec, PDF417 and the barcodes EAN, UPC, Code 128, Code 39 and more. You get the torch, the front camera and pinch to zoom. It also reads a code from a photo, without asking for access to your library.
Before you open a link you see the site’s name in large type and the full address. The app warns you when the link uses http, a numeric address, letters that imitate other letters, or a link shortener. It’s the difference between opening a QR code on a parking meter and trusting one.
With a Wi-Fi QR code it joins the network or copies the password. Contacts, events, email, phone, SMS and locations open or get added with one tap.
The history has search, favourites and folders, and exports to CSV. You can also make QR codes and barcodes and export them as PNG or SVG.
What it doesn’t do
It doesn’t scan PDF documents: your iPhone’s Notes app does that. It doesn’t look up prices, deals or ingredients online: it gives you the barcode number and you choose where to search.
Why it’s free
Sbu takes simple jobs your iPhone can already do and makes a free app for each one. Every app keeps six promises: no subscription, no in-app purchases, no account, no ads, no tracking, data only on your device. The code is public on GitHub.
| QR Reader for iPhone | Sbu Scanner QR Barcode | |
|---|---|---|
| Download | Free | Free |
| In-app purchases | PRO 5,99 € a month, PRO one-time 2,99 €, Database Scanner 0,99 € a month (Italian App Store) | None |
| Ads | Yes | No |
| Data used to track you | Identifiers | None |
| Reads QR codes and barcodes | Yes | Yes |
| Makes QR codes and barcodes | Yes | Yes, exports PNG or SVG |
| Shows where a link goes before opening it | — | Yes, with warnings on short links and look-alike letters |
| PDF document scanner | Yes | No |
| Source code | Closed | Public on GitHub |
Go to Sbu Scanner QR Barcode · Free alternatives
Questions
Is Sbu Scanner really free?
Yes. No in-app purchases, no PRO version, no ads. Every feature is there for everyone.
Do I need an app for QR codes? The camera already reads them.
The camera just opens the link. Sbu Scanner first shows you the site's name in large type and the full address, warns you if the link is shortened or imitates another site, keeps a history, and also reads barcodes and codes from a photo.
What does QR Reader do that Sbu Scanner doesn't?
QR Reader scans PDF documents and looks up product prices and ingredients online. Sbu Scanner gives you the barcode number to search on the web, but connects to no service.
Do the codes I scan go anywhere?
No. The history stays on your iPhone. The app has no server, no account, no tracking.
What's the catch?
There isn't one. Sbu makes free apps that do one thing, and the code is public so you can check.