Featuring US and UK results from Google Product Search, it's unlikely you'll find a new product RedLaser can't identify. Using RedLaser is incredibly simple. Touch the lightning icon, and your iPhone camera will turn into a barcode scanner. You have to line up the barcode in a special area on the screen, although RedLaser is pretty forgiving and it needs a fraction of a second to read the image.

Once scanned, you are given results from both Google and eBay. You can even turn on GPS to get local results. All of your searches are saved for future reference and you can email your results from the app. Prices can be shown in dollars, pound sterling or euros.

If you only have the code and not the actual barcode, you can tap in the numbers too. RedLaser works very well, although results are less reliable outside of the US and UK.

RedLaser is as complete a barcode scanner as you will find for the iPhone. It's fast, effective and gives excellent results, which is exactly when you want when you're out shopping.

Download RedLaser 2.9.5 in Softonic

This is a really easy app to use. Simply open Barcode Reader, hit Scan Barcode, then point your iPhone at a barcode. After a second or too, it will have read and be searching for the code. Barcode Reader seems good at recognizing barcodes even in dim lighting, and even with a relatively unsteady hand which is impressive.

The product search is less impressive. Barcode Reader claims to search Ebay, Amazon and Google in its product search. That may be true, but the ratio of results to no results is really poor, meaning its too hit and miss using Barcode Reader. Despite these shortcomings, this is a promising app, that with more development could be a real help when shopping in the real world!

Barcode Reader scans remarkably well, so it's a shame so many products don't show up in its search results.

Download Barcode Reader 1.3.2 in Softonic

Barcodes have been around for a while and almost all products have them. i-nigma is designed to let you scan any item's barcode, then perform a search on Amazon or Google for the product to give you more info and display reviews.

With i-nigma running you just need to hover over the barcode with your phone's camera and once it comes into focus (which can take quite a while on the iPhone camera) the unique ID number will be recognized and the i-nigma Shopper service will be launched, displaying details garnered from Google or Amazon. Be warned that i-nigma isn't foolproof and the scanned code doesn't always display a result.

Scanning QR codes

i-nigma is also compatible with the more recently introduced QR codes. These are often used on websites to link to mobile software downloads or printed on business cards to give you instant access to someone's contact details.

Scanning business cards works well in i-nigma. You just point the camera at the QR code and, provided it's lined up within the box, it will automatically read the code. Once the contact information is displayed you will get the option to save it as a contact or dial the phone number. With application downloads, you hold the camera to the QR code on the website and after a few seconds you'll be prompted to install it on your phone.

i-nigma has a ton of features and settings to make it even more useful. It lets you manually type codes if the scanner hasn't worked properly. You can also view a history of scanned products, share codes with friends via SMS and favorite certain codes.

It might not always find the scanned item, but when i-nigma works, it is a very impressive little tool.

Download i-nigma 3.12.01 in Softonic