You’re in a store, looking at a $40 product, and you want to know if it’s cheaper online. Or you’re cleaning out your house and want to know what your old books are worth. In both cases, the barcode on the product is the fastest path to a price — every product has one, and every barcode is a globally unique ID.
Here is how to scan a barcode and check its price in under 30 seconds, on any device, without installing an app.
The Fastest Method: ScanApp + Google Shopping
- Open scanapp.org/barcode in any browser.
- Grant camera permission and hold the barcode in front of your camera. The decoded number — usually a 12- or 13-digit UPC or EAN — appears instantly.
- Copy the number.
- Paste it into Google Shopping (
shopping.google.com) or just a Google search. Google maps most UPC/EAN codes directly to product results with current prices across retailers.
This works on iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and Chromebook with zero installs.
Pasting into the Right Place
Depending on what you want, paste the UPC/EAN into:
- Google Shopping — broad price comparison across hundreds of retailers.
- Amazon search — fastest for matching the exact product Amazon stocks. Many UPCs match a specific ASIN.
- Walmart.com — sometimes the cheapest, especially for groceries and household items.
- eBay — for used or older inventory.
- CamelCamelCamel — for Amazon price history (was it cheaper last month?).
- Barcode Lookup — community database mapping UPCs to product info.
For books, use the ISBN scanner at scanapp.org/isbn instead — it links directly to Amazon, AbeBooks, and ThriftBooks for new, used, and rental copies.
Why You Can’t Always Get a Price from the Barcode Alone
A barcode is just an identifier — it has no price information encoded inside. The price comes from looking up the identifier in a retailer’s catalog. So:
- If the product is stocked at major retailers, you’ll get prices.
- If it’s a niche or local product, the UPC might not appear in any online catalog.
- Generic or store-brand items often share UPCs across regions and can return ambiguous matches.
For products sold only in specific regions (e.g., European groceries with EAN-13 codes), use a region-specific lookup like idealo.de (Germany) or PriceRunner (UK).
On iPhone or Android: One-Tap Workflow
You don’t need a separate barcode app for this. On iPhone:
- Open the Camera app and frame the barcode.
- The camera surfaces a search action — tap it to search the web for the code directly.
On Android:
- Open Google Lens (or the Camera with Lens integration).
- Frame the barcode.
- Lens returns product matches and price comparisons in one card.
If you want a clean decoded number without Google’s UI rewrapping the results, use scanapp.org/barcode in the browser — you get the raw UPC/EAN and can paste it into whatever search engine you prefer.
Common Barcode Formats and What They’re Used For
| Format | Used for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| UPC-A | US/Canada retail | 12 digits — Coca-Cola can: 049000050103 |
| UPC-E | Compressed UPC for small packages | 8 digits |
| EAN-13 | International retail | 13 digits — most European products |
| EAN-8 | Small EAN | 8 digits |
| ISBN-13 | Books | Starts with 978 or 979 |
| Code 128 | Shipping & logistics | Variable length, used on couriers and warehouse labels |
| Code 39 | Industrial, automotive | Variable length |
ScanApp’s barcode scanner reads all of these, plus QR, Data Matrix, PDF417, and more.
Real Example Walkthroughs
Scenario 1: Comparing a tech product price. You’re holding a Bluetooth speaker at a store, marked $79.
- Scan UPC at scanapp.org/barcode. Result:
885909950805. - Paste into Amazon search. Same speaker listed at $54 with Prime shipping.
- Decision: buy online, save $25.
Scenario 2: Pricing a used textbook. You’re trying to sell an old college textbook.
- Scan the ISBN at scanapp.org/isbn. Result:
9780134685991. - The page links you to BookScouter and Amazon Trade-In.
- BookScouter offers $18; Amazon Trade-In offers $12. Sell via BookScouter.
Scenario 3: Verifying authenticity of a luxury item. You’re buying a designer bag secondhand.
- Scan the UPC inside the lining at scanapp.org/barcode.
- Search the UPC on the brand’s official site — if no match, it’s likely a fake.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I scan a barcode to check the price?
Yes. Scan the barcode at scanapp.org/barcode to get the UPC or EAN, then paste it into Google Shopping, Amazon, or Walmart to see current prices.
Is there a free app that scans barcodes for prices?
ScanApp.org/barcode is free, web-based, and works on every modern device. No app install needed. The decoded UPC works in any search engine or shopping site.
What is the difference between a UPC and an EAN?
UPC is the North American 12-digit standard. EAN is the international 13-digit standard. EAN-13 codes starting with 0 are functionally identical to a UPC-A.
Can I scan a barcode from a photo?
Yes. Upload a photo of the barcode at scanapp.org/barcode and it will decode the image in your browser.
How do I check if a price online is a good deal?
After scanning the barcode and finding the current price on Amazon, paste the same product name into CamelCamelCamel to see the price history. If today’s price is near the all-time low, it’s a good deal.
Can I scan a book barcode for the cheapest copy?
Yes. Use the dedicated ISBN scanner at scanapp.org/isbn — it links directly to Amazon, AbeBooks, and ThriftBooks for new, used, and rental copies.