Everybody loves RedLaser. I do too. However, there is one thing that RedLaser relies on that's the UPC barcode. So as long as you're holding the item in your hand or know the barcode number you can look up the price of the item. However, if you don't have the barcode info you're pretty much out of luck.
Save Benjis+ does both!
I've been a long time user of Save Benjis.. Save Benjis allows you to do a keyword search to look up the price of an item and compare that price at different locations. Now they have a new version called Save Benjis+ and as you might have guessed, the "+" is Barcode Scanning. Now you get one app that can check the price of an item if you have access to the barcode or if you just key in the name of the item.
More searching options
You can either do a Scan (ala RedLaser), Basic Search (keywords or barcode) or advanced search (by category, product name, manufacturer, part number, exclude results containing)
What's it missing?
For most people this will be the only app you need. However, RedLaser still has one thing that this doesn't and that is "Local Results." RedLaser will show you both the online prices AND the local (based on your current location) prices from vendors around you. Save Benjs+ only has online results.
Which one has the best results?
That's a tough one. I''ve used both apps the scan the same products and in some cases Save Benjis+ results are better (cheaper prices) and in some cases they aren't . Also as other reviewers have pointed out sometimes Save Benjis+ doesn't come up with a result at all. However, I haven't had that happen too often and I think it has to do with the kinds of items people may be scanning. For example, it's probably not going to be good for grocery/food type items.
If you only can buy one of these price checking apps, then I would have to give the nod to Save Benjis+ as being the most versatile.. I'm glad I have both 
Save Benjis+
Save Benjis+ allows you to either scan a barcode or enter keywords to find a product and compare prices.
- Save Benjis+
- Sol Robots LLC
- Get on App Store
- $1.99
All info was collected on 27th January, 2010 when the app was reviewed.
About Terry White
Terry is the co-author of The Best Selling "The iPhone Book" 1st, 2nd and 3rd editions. He has been active in the industry for over 25 years and is the founder and president of MacGroup-Detroit, Inc., Michigan's largest Macintosh Users Group, host of the Adobe Creative Suite Podcast and a technology writer - Terry White Tech Blog.
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