Name: Scanworthy Smart QR
Brand: Scanworthy

Question 1

What's the catch?

Accepted Answer

There isn't one. Static QR codes are free because they cost us nothing to generate — your phone reads the URL straight from the dots, our server is never involved. We make money from the Smart QR subscription, which is a different product (editable destinations + scan tracking). If you only need a static QR, you should use the free version and never pay us a cent.

Question 2

What's the difference between free and Smart QR?

Accepted Answer

**Free static QR**: the QR code encodes your destination URL directly. Once you print it, the URL is permanent — you can't change where it points. It works forever, no account, no email, no dependency on us. **Smart QR ($9/month)**: the QR code encodes a Scanworthy redirect URL that points to your destination. You can change the destination anytime without reprinting. We also log every scan so you can see when, where, and how people are using your code. Most people start with a free static code. Restaurants, real estate agents, anyone who might need to change where their QR points later — those people pay for Smart QR.

Question 3

Do you offer a free trial?

Accepted Answer

No. We charge $9/month from day one — no trial period, no card held in advance, no surprise charges. We don't offer trials because every other QR generator does, and they use the trial as bait to lock you in. We'd rather be upfront: $9 the day you sign up, $9 every month after, cancel anytime. If you want to try our product first, the free static QR generator is completely free with no signup. Use it as long as you want. When you need editable destinations or scan tracking, that's when Smart QR makes sense.

Question 4

What formats can I download?

Accepted Answer

PNG, SVG, and PDF. Free downloads come at 1000×1000 pixels (PNG), Smart QR downloads at 2000×2000 pixels — both more than enough for any standard print size up to about 12 inches. SVG and PDF (vector formats) are available on both free and Smart QR tiers. File format is not where we put a paywall.

Question 5

What happens to my Smart QR codes if I cancel?

Accepted Answer

The redirect keeps working forever. Scanning your QR will continue to send people to whatever destination you last set while you were subscribed. Important: that destination is *frozen* the moment you cancel. If you cancel today with your QR pointing at davidsrestaurant.com/menu, that's where every scan goes from now on. We keep the redirect alive at no cost to you — that's our promise — but you can't change where it points until you resubscribe. If your destination URL ever changes or goes dead, you'd need to resubscribe to update where the QR points. Resubscription is $9/month, and everything picks up exactly where you left off. You can resubscribe for just one month, make your edits, and cancel again. If your destination URL is stable and you just want the QR to keep working at its current target, cancellation is fine — your printed materials will keep functioning as long as the destination exists.

Question 6

What if my destination URL changes and I'm cancelled?

Accepted Answer

Two options: 1. **Resubscribe for one month** ($9), update the destination, cancel again. The new destination becomes the new frozen state. Most cancelled customers who need to update use this option — $9 once, 60 seconds, done. 2. **Reprint with a free static QR** pointing at your new destination. This costs printing money but gives you a permanent, independent QR with no future dependency on Scanworthy.

Question 7

Why $9/month and not annual billing?

Accepted Answer

Because annual billing is how most QR platforms trap customers — by the time they realize they're locked in, they're 6 months into a contract they can't easily cancel. Monthly billing means you can leave any time. We have to earn your $9 every month.

Question 8

Can I really design a QR code without giving you my email?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Open the designer, build your code, click download. We don't ask for anything. The file is yours. We have no way to identify you and no record that you ever visited.

Question 9

Do you track me on the free tier?

Accepted Answer

We use basic anonymous analytics to see what people use (which presets are popular, what design choices get made, etc.), but we don't capture or store anything that identifies you personally. No emails, no accounts, no tracking pixels following you around the web. Free users are anonymous to us.

Question 10

Can I switch a free static QR to a Smart QR later?

Accepted Answer

Not the same physical code, no. The QR you printed encodes your URL directly — once it's printed, it can't be changed. That's how static QR codes work everywhere, not just on Scanworthy. If you decide later that you want editing or tracking, you'd need to create a new Smart QR, print new materials with that code, and use the new version going forward. Old free static QRs you printed will keep working at their original destinations forever — they don't go away. This is why we offer the Smart QR option *before* you print, in the upsell screen. The right time to decide is before the QR is on physical materials.

Question 11

Will my QR code scan correctly?

Accepted Answer

We check every QR code before letting you download it. We validate contrast between your dot colors and background, enforce logo size limits, and automatically increase error correction when you add custom shapes, gradients, or center images. If a combination won't produce a scannable code, we block the download and tell you what to fix. **The catch we can't control: printing.** If your QR scans cleanly in our preview but fails when printed, the issue is almost always how it was printed. Common print-related causes: • Printed too small (anything under 2cm × 2cm is risky) • Low DPI (under 300 DPI, dots blur together) • Faded ink, low toner, or compressed image • Glossy paper or laminate causing scanner glare • Insufficient quiet zone (less than 4 dots of empty space around the QR) • Color shift in cheap printing (e.g., your dark blue prints as light blue) **Always test your printed QR before going to full print run.** Scan it with two or three phones. If it works there, it'll work on customers' phones too.

Question 12

What are your print recommendations?

Accepted Answer

For best scanning results: • **Size**: minimum 2cm × 2cm (about 3/4 inch) for handheld scanning at 1-2 feet. Larger for distance scanning — at least 30cm × 30cm for billboards and signs. • **Resolution**: print at 300 DPI or higher. • **Background**: white or very light. Avoid printing QRs on top of busy patterns or photographs. • **Quiet zone**: keep at least 4 dots of empty white space around the QR. Don't crop close. • **Contrast**: dark QR on light background scans best. Avoid pastel-on-white or any combination where the QR doesn't visually "pop." • **Material**: matte paper or matte laminate scans more reliably than glossy. • **Logo size**: if you add a logo, our designer caps it at a safe size that maintains scannability. **Test before mass-printing**: print one copy, scan it with your phone in normal lighting from a normal distance. If it works easily, you're set.

Question 13

Are gradients and custom designs safe?

Accepted Answer

Yes, within the limits we enforce. We restrict color combinations to ones with enough contrast to scan reliably. We don't allow design choices that look interesting but fail in the real world (inverted colors, very low contrast, overly large logos). Our designer blocks combinations that won't scan, so you can't accidentally download something that doesn't work as a digital file. Printing those designs is on you — see the print recommendations above for getting reliable scans from a printed gradient.

Question 14

Can I use a photo or emoji instead of a logo?

Accepted Answer

Yes to both. **Photos** work, but we apply a white background behind them to keep your QR scannable. Best results come from square headshots, product shots with clean backgrounds, or images that are visually simple. **Emojis** work too — pick from the emoji grid in the designer. We render emojis using Twemoji (Twitter's open-source emoji set) so your QR looks the same in print as it does on screen, regardless of whether your customer scans it on iPhone, Android, or anywhere else. Either way, our scannability checks run before download. If your specific photo or emoji combination won't scan, we'll let you know and suggest an adjustment.

Question 15

What happens if Scanworthy goes out of business?

Accepted Answer

We've thought about this carefully. Here's what we promise: • **Minimum 90 days notice** to every paying customer (current and former) by email • **Migration tools** — we'll help you generate static replacement QRs for new print runs, or migrate to a competitor • **Open-source redirect code** — we'll publish the underlying redirect logic so technical users can self-host • **No surprise shutdowns** — we won't quietly disappear or sell to someone who breaks our promises Honest limitation: your already-printed Smart QRs will eventually need to be replaced because they encode scanworthy.com. We can't change what's printed on paper. The 90 days is for you to plan a clean migration.

Question 16

What if I cancel and want to come back later?

Accepted Answer

Welcome back. Resubscribe at $9/month and all your existing codes, destinations, and history pick up exactly where you left them. Your scan data from the gap (when you were cancelled) won't be there — we don't log scans for cancelled subscriptions. But everything from before you cancelled is intact.

Question 17

Can I track scans on my free static QR codes?

Accepted Answer

No. Free static QR codes encode your URL directly, so scans go straight to your site without passing through us. We have no way to count or log them. If you want scan tracking, that's what Smart QR is for. Create a Smart QR and every scan gets logged with device, location, and time.

Question 18

Is there a limit on scans?

Accepted Answer

No. Unlimited scans on every Smart QR. We don't have hidden scan caps, deactivation thresholds, or "upgrade for more scans" tiers. That's a tactic competitors use to force upgrades — we don't do it.

Question 19

How do I cancel?

Accepted Answer

One click from your dashboard. Account & Billing → Cancel subscription. We don't show retention forms, ask why you're leaving, or make you call us. The button cancels your subscription immediately and your QR codes keep redirecting forever per our promise.

Question 20

Can I get a refund?

Accepted Answer

If you cancel in the first 30 days and want a refund, use the support form in your dashboard and we'll refund your most recent payment — no questions asked. After 30 days, we don't do refunds on past months — but you can cancel anytime to stop future charges, and your QR codes still work forever.

Question 21

Do you use my data for advertising or sell it to anyone?

Accepted Answer

No. We never sell customer data. We don't run ads on our site. We don't share your scan data, destinations, or anything else with third parties beyond the services we use to run the business (Stripe for billing, Supabase for the database, Resend for email — all standard SaaS infrastructure). If you delete your account, we anonymize your personal information. Your QR codes keep working (we keep the redirect mappings forever) but they're no longer associated with you in any identifiable way.

Question 22

Why does the dashboard show "Untitled" QR codes?

Accepted Answer

You can name your QR codes anything you want from the dashboard. We default to "Untitled" so we don't auto-generate names that might confuse you. Click the name field on any QR code to give it a real name ("Restaurant menu," "Business card 2026," etc.) — makes finding things easier when you have a lot of codes.

Question 23

Do you support custom domains?

Accepted Answer

Not yet — it's on our roadmap. Custom domain support means your Smart QR encodes a URL on a domain *you* own (like qr.yourbrand.com) instead of scanworthy.com. This lets you survive scenarios like Scanworthy shutting down, because you control the redirect endpoint via your own DNS. Right now, all Smart QRs use scanworthy.com. When custom domains launch, they'll be available as part of a higher-tier subscription.

Question 24

Who runs Scanworthy?

Accepted Answer

A small team that got tired of the QR code subscription-trap industry and built this as a response. Support inquiries are handled personally — no support tickets disappearing into a queue. You can reach us through the support form in your dashboard.

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