A Comparison between IronBarcode and Spire Barcode

1 Using IronBarcode

The IronBarcode Library can be downloaded and installed in four ways:

• Using Visual Studio
• Using the Visual Studio Command-Line
• Direct download from the NuGet website
• Direct download from the IronBarcode website

1.1 Using Visual Studio

The Visual Studio software provides a NuGet Package Manager option to install the package directly to the solution. The screenshot below shows how to open the NuGet Package Manager.

It provides a search box to show the list of packages from the NuGet website. In the package manager, we need to search for the keyword "Barcode," as in the screenshot below:

From the above image, we will get the list of related search results. We need to select the required option to install the package to the solution.

1.2 Using the Visual Studio Command-Line

In Visual Studio tools, go to Tools -> NuGet Package Manager -> Package Manager Console.

Enter the following line in the console tab:

Install-Package BarCode

Now the package will download/install to the current project and be ready to use.

1.3 Direct Download from the NuGet Website

The third way is to download the package directly from the website.

• Navigate to the Link.
• Select the download package option from the right-hand side menu.
• Double-click the downloaded package. It will be installed automatically.
• Now reload the solution and start using it in the project.

1.4 Direct Download from the IronBarcode Website

Click the link to download the latest package from the website. After the download, follow the steps below to add the package to the project.

1. Right-click the project from the solution window.
2. Select the "Add" -> "Reference" option and browse to the location of the downloaded reference.
3. Click OK to add the reference.

After installing the Iron Barcode library, you can add barcode functionality to your .NET framework by using it through the NuGet package or downloading the .NET Barcode DLL.

Install-Package BarCode

Reading a Barcode

Reading a barcode or QR code in .NET is incredibly easy using the IronBarcode class library with .NET Barcode Reader. In our first example, we can see how to read this barcode with one line of code.

Barcode Image to be Scanned with C#

We can extract its value, its image, its encoding type, its binary data (if any), and then output that to the console.

using IronBarCode;
using System;

BarcodeResult Result = BarcodeReader.QuicklyReadOneBarcode("GetStarted.png");
if (Result != null && Result.Text == "https://ironsoftware.com/csharp/barcode/")
{
    Console.WriteLine("GetStarted was a success. Read Value: " + Result.Text);
}

using IronBarCode;
using System;

BarcodeResult Result = BarcodeReader.QuicklyReadOneBarcode("GetStarted.png");
if (Result != null && Result.Text == "https://ironsoftware.com/csharp/barcode/")
{
    Console.WriteLine("GetStarted was a success. Read Value: " + Result.Text);
}

Imports IronBarCode
Imports System

Private Result As BarcodeResult = BarcodeReader.QuicklyReadOneBarcode("GetStarted.png")
If Result IsNot Nothing AndAlso Result.Text = "https://ironsoftware.com/csharp/barcode/" Then
	Console.WriteLine("GetStarted was a success. Read Value: " & Result.Text)
End If

We can add the TryHarder variable to the QuicklyReadOneBarcode method. This makes it try harder, literally taking more time but scanning deeper for a QR code that might be obscured, corrupted, or at a skewed angle.

BarcodeResult Result = BarcodeReader.QuicklyReadOneBarcode("TryHarderQR.png", BarcodeEncoding.QRCode | BarcodeEncoding.Code128, true);

BarcodeResult Result = BarcodeReader.QuicklyReadOneBarcode("TryHarderQR.png", BarcodeEncoding.QRCode | BarcodeEncoding.Code128, true);

Dim Result As BarcodeResult = BarcodeReader.QuicklyReadOneBarcode("TryHarderQR.png", BarcodeEncoding.QRCode Or BarcodeEncoding.Code128, True)

It can now read this skewed QR Code:

Scanning a QR code rotated through 45 degrees with C#

You will see that we can specify the barcode encoding(s) that we are looking for or specify multiple formats. Doing so greatly improves barcode reading performance and accuracy. The pipe character (|) or 'Bitwise OR' is used to specify multiple formats simultaneously. The same can be achieved, but with a higher degree of specificity, by using the visual method or the BarcodeReader.ReadASingleBarcode method component mode.

Reading Barcodes from Imperfect Images

In real-world use cases, we may wish to read barcodes that are not perfect screenshots. They may be imperfect images, scans, or photographs, and contain digital noise or be skewed. With most conventional open-source .NET barcode generators and reader libraries, this would be impossible. However, this Barcode Reader in C# makes it incredibly straightforward. We will look at the TryHarder method of QuicklyReadOneBarcode. This single parameter causes Iron Barcode to try to de-skew and read barcodes from imperfect digital samples.

We will set the specific barcode rotation correction and barcode image correction to correct for the digital noise and the skew, perspective, and rotation that we might reasonably expect from a cellphone camera.

Reading a barcode from a phone camera in C#

using IronBarCode;
using System;
using System.Drawing;

var PhotoResult = BarcodeReader.ReadASingleBarcode("Photo.png", BarcodeEncoding.Code128, BarcodeReader.BarcodeRotationCorrection.Medium, BarcodeReader.BarcodeImageCorrection.DeepCleanPixels);
string Value = PhotoResult.Value;
Bitmap Img = PhotoResult.BarcodeImage;
BarcodeEncoding BarcodeType = PhotoResult.BarcodeType;
byte[] Binary = PhotoResult.BinaryValue;
Console.WriteLine(PhotoResult.Value);

using IronBarCode;
using System;
using System.Drawing;

var PhotoResult = BarcodeReader.ReadASingleBarcode("Photo.png", BarcodeEncoding.Code128, BarcodeReader.BarcodeRotationCorrection.Medium, BarcodeReader.BarcodeImageCorrection.DeepCleanPixels);
string Value = PhotoResult.Value;
Bitmap Img = PhotoResult.BarcodeImage;
BarcodeEncoding BarcodeType = PhotoResult.BarcodeType;
byte[] Binary = PhotoResult.BinaryValue;
Console.WriteLine(PhotoResult.Value);

Imports IronBarCode
Imports System
Imports System.Drawing

Private PhotoResult = BarcodeReader.ReadASingleBarcode("Photo.png", BarcodeEncoding.Code128, BarcodeReader.BarcodeRotationCorrection.Medium, BarcodeReader.BarcodeImageCorrection.DeepCleanPixels)
Private Value As String = PhotoResult.Value
Private Img As Bitmap = PhotoResult.BarcodeImage
Private BarcodeType As BarcodeEncoding = PhotoResult.BarcodeType
Private Binary() As Byte = PhotoResult.BinaryValue
Console.WriteLine(PhotoResult.Value)

Writing Barcode Developers

The library provides methods to create barcode images. It is an overloaded method. Here we list the definitions of the methods that will be used in the code to test the library's performance.

using Spire.Barcode;
using System.Drawing;

namespace QRCode
{
    class Program
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            BarcodeSettings settings = new BarcodeSettings
            {
                Type = BarCodeType.QRCode,
                Data = "Hello world",
                Data2D = "Hello 123456789",
                QRCodeDataMode = QRCodeDataMode.AlphaNumber,
                X = 1.0f,
                QRCodeECL = QRCodeECL.H
            };

            BarCodeGenerator generator = new BarCodeGenerator(settings);
            Image image = generator.GenerateImage();
            image.Save("QRCode.png");
        }
    }
}

using Spire.Barcode;
using System.Drawing;

namespace QRCode
{
    class Program
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            BarcodeSettings settings = new BarcodeSettings
            {
                Type = BarCodeType.QRCode,
                Data = "Hello world",
                Data2D = "Hello 123456789",
                QRCodeDataMode = QRCodeDataMode.AlphaNumber,
                X = 1.0f,
                QRCodeECL = QRCodeECL.H
            };

            BarCodeGenerator generator = new BarCodeGenerator(settings);
            Image image = generator.GenerateImage();
            image.Save("QRCode.png");
        }
    }
}

Imports Spire.Barcode
Imports System.Drawing

Namespace QRCode
	Friend Class Program
		Shared Sub Main(ByVal args() As String)
			Dim settings As New BarcodeSettings With {
				.Type = BarCodeType.QRCode,
				.Data = "Hello world",
				.Data2D = "Hello 123456789",
				.QRCodeDataMode = QRCodeDataMode.AlphaNumber,
				.X = 1.0F,
				.QRCodeECL = QRCodeECL.H
			}

			Dim generator As New BarCodeGenerator(settings)
			Dim image As Image = generator.GenerateImage()
			image.Save("QRCode.png")
		End Sub
	End Class
End Namespace

The produced QR barcode image looks as follows.

Create a QR Code in C#

// Generate the barcode based on the barcode control settings
BarCodeGenerator generator = new BarCodeGenerator(this.barCodeControl1);
Image barcode = generator.GenerateImage();

// Save the barcode as an image
barcode.Save("barcode.png");

// Generate the barcode based on the barcode control settings
BarCodeGenerator generator = new BarCodeGenerator(this.barCodeControl1);
Image barcode = generator.GenerateImage();

// Save the barcode as an image
barcode.Save("barcode.png");

' Generate the barcode based on the barcode control settings
Dim generator As New BarCodeGenerator(Me.barCodeControl1)
Dim barcode As Image = generator.GenerateImage()

' Save the barcode as an image
barcode.Save("barcode.png")

There are two important classes — BarCodeControl and BarCodeGenerator in this method. BarCodeControl stores information about barcodes. BarCodeGenerator is the class to generate barcode images. Its constructor takes one parameter — a BarCodeControl instance. It has a method called GenerateImage() whose return value is the Image object to generate an image.

Reading Barcode Images

The barcode scanner is the class to scan barcode images. Call its method Scan with the Bitmap object containing the barcode image; it returns a string[] value where the scanning result is stored. The class BarcodeScanner is used to scan barcode images in this code. It can store and add enterprise-level barcodes in VB.NET and C#.

Here is the code:

private void btnScan_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    // Scan the barcode
    string[] datas = Spire.Barcode.BarcodeScanner.Scan("barcode.png");

    // Show the scan result
    this.TextB_ScanResult.Text = datas[0];
}

private void btnScan_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    // Scan the barcode
    string[] datas = Spire.Barcode.BarcodeScanner.Scan("barcode.png");

    // Show the scan result
    this.TextB_ScanResult.Text = datas[0];
}

Private Sub btnScan_Click(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs)
	' Scan the barcode
	Dim datas() As String = Spire.Barcode.BarcodeScanner.Scan("barcode.png")

	' Show the scan result
	Me.TextB_ScanResult.Text = datas(0)
End Sub

IronBarcode License Model and Price

The 30-day money-back guarantee: Upon purchase, if the license does not work, you can get your money back within 30 days.

Easy integration: The integration of IronPDF with your project and environment is straightforward and can be achieved with a single line of code when using the NuGet Package. Integration can also be done via direct download.

Perpetual licensing: Each license is purchased once and does not require renewal.

Free support & product updates: Every license comes with a year of free product updates and support from the team behind the product, with the possibility to purchase extensions at any time.

Immediate licenses: Registered license keys are sent as soon as payment is received.

All licenses are perpetual and apply to development, staging, and production.

The Lite Package:

• 1 developer
• 1 location
• 1 project
• Perpetual license

This package allows a single software developer to utilize Iron Software at a single location. It can be used in a single web application, intranet application, or desktop software program. Licenses are non-transferable and cannot be shared outside of an organization or an agency/client relationship. Distribution rights do not extend to OEM redistribution and SaaS unless additional coverage is purchased.

Pricing: Starts from $liteLicense per year.

Professional License:

• 10 developers
• 10 locations
• 10 projects
• Perpetual license

This package allows up to ten software developers to utilize Iron Software in single locations, up to a maximum of ten. It can be used in as many websites, intranet applications, or desktop software applications as desired. Licenses are non-transferable and cannot be shared outside of an organization or an agency/client relationship. Distribution rights do not extend to OEM redistribution and SaaS unless additional coverage is purchased.

Pricing: Starts from $999 per year.

Unlimited License:

• Unlimited developers
• Unlimited locations
• Unlimited projects
• Perpetual license

This allows unlimited software developers in an organization to utilize Iron Software in unlimited locations. It can be used in as many websites, intranet applications, or desktop software applications as desired. Licenses are non-transferable and cannot be shared outside of an organization or an agency/client relationship. Distribution rights do not extend to OEM redistribution and SaaS unless additional coverage is purchased.

Pricing: Starts from $2,999 per year.

Royalty-Free Redistribution: Allows distribution of Iron Software as part of various commercial products (without royalties), based on the number of projects covered by the base license. It also allows deployment within SaaS software services, based on the projects covered by the base license.

Pricing: Starts from $1,599 per year.

Uninterrupted product support and updates: Provides access to product updates, security feature upgrades, and engineering team support.

Pricing: Starts from $399 per year.

Create a QR Code in C#

Spire Barcode License Model and Price:

Support is paid, and subscriptions are one-time payments. Only the OEM subscription works for public-facing websites and cloud-based applications.

Developer Subscription:

• One Developer
• One Deployment Location

This package authorizes one developer to use the product to create unlimited applications that can be deployed at one geographic location within an organization (internal use only). It does not allow distribution to third parties or the deployment of custom applications on public-facing websites or for SaaS/PaaS/IaaS projects.

Pricing: Starts from $898 per year.

Developer OEM Subscription:

• One Developer
• Unlimited Deployment Locations

This package authorizes one developer to create an unlimited number of custom applications using the product, and these applications are allowed to be distributed in any form to any number of geographic locations.

Pricing: Starts from $3395 per year.

Site Enterprise Subscription:

• Up to 10 Developers
• Up to 10 Deployment Locations

This authorizes up to 10 developers to create unlimited applications, which can be deployed at up to 10 geographic locations. It does not allow the distribution of custom applications to public-facing websites, or SaaS/PaaS/IaaS projects.

Pricing: Starts from $5301 per year.

Site OEM Subscription:

• Up to 50 Developers
• Unlimited Deployment Locations

This authorizes up to 50 developers to create an unlimited number of custom applications using the product, and these applications are allowed to be distributed in any form to any number of geographic locations.

Pricing: Starts from $10187 per year.

The IronBarcode Lite package includes one developer package with one year of support and costs around $liteLicense, whereas the Spire Developer OEM Subscription, which includes one developer package, costs $3,395, with all updates, major releases, and technical support for one year; without releases and technical support, it costs $1,695. The IronBarcode Professional package, which includes 10 developer packages and one year of support, costs $999, while the Spire Site OEM Subscription, including 10 developer packages, costs $10,187 per year with all updates, major releases, and technical support for one year, and without releases and updates, it costs $6,558.

Both the IronBarcode Lite and Professional packages have SaaS service or OEM, as well as a five-year support option. The Lite version includes one developer package with five-year support and with SaaS and OEM service at a cost of $2,897, whereas Spire has SaaS service or OEM and a one-year support option. The IronBarcode Professional version, including a 10-developer package with five years of support and SaaS and OEM service, costs $3,397, whereas the Spire package for 10 developers with one year of support and with SaaS and OEM service costs $10,187.