Can I scan a barcode with my phone?

What is the best barcode scanner for my phone?

When I first started using my Android phone a few years ago, there was no way to search for things online unless you could access a barcode scanner.

While the concept seems simple, having to physically scan something before doing searches on your smartphone is a very annoying process. Some phones have inbuilt barcode scanners but they generally don't do it well (or at all). So over time, I've tried my hand at building my own barcode scanner. But while searching for Best Barcode Scanner turns up tons of results, it seems no one has been working on a better alternative since 2024. But with the rise of digital wallets like Apple Pay, barcode scanners are back on top of my mind. Which means that I'm going to start writing again. And this time, I'm going to answer the question, .

1) Scanning Barcode Scanner for Android phones. I got my first good Android phone in 2024 with the introduction of the HTC Incredible. To my surprise, this device didn't come with a barcode scanner, but it did come with Google Voice Search. If you didn't have headphones (or even worse, in-ear monitors), then all your phone would be able to do was hear its own voice. You'd then have to talk to it in some fashion which wasn't exactly easy to do. To take away the problem of talking to your phone, I'd recommend purchasing a Bluetooth headset to pair with it.

To get all the other functionality that most phones had then, like being able to make calls and so on, you need a barcode scanner. I bought a third-party (actually it was the exact same model) barcode scanner before buying a phone with a built-in barcode scanner. Since the time you were required to buy a third-party barcode scanner, I was still young and not fully mature so I used to think of them as overpriced gadgets (which they're still).

After I've purchased all the relevant parts that I need (barcode scanners, earbuds etc.), and after using them every day for a couple of months, I can easily say that barcode scanning is a more accurate way to interact with your phone.

Is there a free app to scan barcodes?

I just found an app, and it claims to be able to read barcodes.

Is it free? Does it have the scanner that goes with it?

I saw on Reddit a link to a free app where you upload pictures of your barcodes and have the barcode printed (the app reads the barcode off the picture, then prints it). Can someone tell me if this is correct or what? If you can't afford to pay for it, is there answer besides photobucket? I was thinking about photobucket but I don't think there are enough free slots at photobucket. I'm only using it for the barcodes and pictures right now. Not really worried about sharing personal stuff like photos of myself though.

1 Answer.
There are at least 4-5 free barcode apps out there. Some people just use iBooks and Safari and go directly to their browser and the website for their desired product in safari so they can view the barcode in order to checkout from the website. This is a pretty easy way to scan items into a system.

Alternatively you can use the "Free barcode recognition application" by scanning a barcode of the type (UPC, EAN, ISBN. The best source would be to research for barcode scanners apps, websites, books etc to learn and know everything about using barcodes. There is also a chapter in "BarCode Secrets" book () that is a good read also. It gives you tips on how to choose barcode readers and uses them effectively. It's like the author gave you the answers before asking the questions.

Photobucket is free only for first account and for 100MB per day. For more than this and without an alternate provider of images in case Photobucket becomes congested, there is a charge.

Can Google scan barcodes?

I'm considering writing some apps to read barcodes.

I've read that Google can see barcodes? Does anyone know how this works or have experience with it? How much of a barcode do you need to be able to read? Thanks. In the new Android API - yes, your Google Nexus 4 should be able to read them for use with an app. Barcodes are actually more useful if not just from code for identifying a product, but to check the product name (which is a piece of code on most products) and even the expiry date on some of the less well regulated products. Here's a page from the android dev site which should explain it well (in english).