QR Code Scanners:
For your mobile/smartphone to be able to read QR Codes you will need to have a QR Code scanning app or QR Code scanning software installed on it.
While QR codes themselves conform to an ISO standard, not all app developers are as diligent with standards compliance as they should or could be, so, sadly, there are a lot of QR code scanning apps out there that aren’t all they could be and tend to become challenged by QR codes containing anything more complex than a simple website URL.
Browse through the user reviews for QR code scanning apps in the iTunes App Store, Android Market, Blackberry App World or Windows Mobile App Store will highlight which ones which other users reckon are worth having, and which have known issues.
One of the consistently best scanner apps for iPhone and iPad, that I have researched and found are Qrafter and Qrafter Pro – being fast, reliable and having a broad range of user features. Both of these are available on the App Store. While Qrafter is free (scanning is free and you can unlock Pro generation features via an in app purchase) Qrafter Pro costs about $2.99.
Scan For iPhone – is another recommended iPhone app. It is designed on the K I S S principle of just getting on with the job of scanning QR codes in a no-nonsense no-fuss sort of way. User-friendly scan history (with a really cool map) and a neat feature which really caught our attention is their support for scanning reverse image/inverted colour QR codes. They also have an Android version and have recently released a Windows Mobile version as well.
Optiscan – We have found that is a useful iPhone app that understands all the trickier encoding types and has definitely kept up with recent developments in QR code technology.
For Android, the best options seems to be the Barcode Scanner app from ZXing or . QR Droid coming a close second. QR Pal is also a solid performers that is well put together by people that clearly understand QR codes at a technical level.
For BlackBerry, QR Code Scanner Pro is a good choice.
Blackberry Messenger – Comes standard with most Blackberry’s these days. Check out Blackberry App World for more QR codes scanning apps for Blackberries.
For Nokia, you can use Mbarcode or Nokia Barcode Reader – Most Nokia’s now come standard with the Nokia’s own scanning software, but this is good for the ones that don’t – N78, N80, N82, N93, N93i, N95, N96, E66, E71, E90, 6210 Navigator and 6220 Classic.
I-Nigma – is a popular and reliable QR code scanning app that’s been around for a long time and comes in all the popular flavours – iPhone, Android, Blackberry and Windows Mobile.
Quickmark – Here is another name that’s been synomous with QR code scanning for years. It has the mandatory iPhone, Andriod and Windows Mobile version, but Quickmark is also available for a wide-range of other phones including Nokia, Motorola, Samsung, Sony-Ericsson, Kyocera, Fujitsu-Siemens, LG, Vodafone and Huawei. It’s even got a version for the Palm Treo!
Kaywa Reader – Supports an extensive list of Nokia, Motorola, Samsung and Sony-Ericsson Java and Symbian phones, as well as having a Windows Mobile version.
While QR codes themselves conform to an ISO standard, not all app developers are as diligent with standards compliance as they should be, so, sadly, there are a lot of QR code scanning apps out there that aren’t all they could be and tend to become challenged by QR codes containing anything more complex than a simple website URL.
You can also check out https://QRmediaGuide.com for a list of other scanners.
QR Code is registered trademark of DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED.
FAQ:
Here is an list of frequently asked questions.
Q: Why do I get unwanted characters like a backslash () or semicolon (;) in the result when I scan a QR Code?
A: You are using a QR Code reader that cannot parse the contents of QR Codes correctly. Many readers are especially weak at parsing vCards. Use a proper app from the QR Code Scanners list on this page.
Q: What is the minimum size for a QR Code so that it can be scanned with all devices?
A: The answer to this question cannot be given with exact proportions. New devices with autofocus cameras can scan very small QR Codes, but old devices that don’t have autofocus cameras will have problems with scanning codes smaller than one or two inches. Also it depends on the size of the information that you put into the QR Code. You need to test your QR Code with many devices, old and new to find the best compromise.