QR code subscription traps cost small businesses millions in reprinted materials every year. A generator lets you create a QR code, encourages you to print it, then disables it unless you pay. By the time you discover the dependency, your printed materials are hostage.
If the free tier expires after 7, 14, or 30 days, the platform is structured around the trap. A genuinely free tier never expires.
Ask: "What happens to my QR codes if I cancel?" If the answer involves deactivation or a subscribe page, your printed materials are leverage.
Some platforms silently cap scans at 500 or 1,000. After the cap, your code stops working without warning until you upgrade.
If cancellation requires a phone call, a letter, or a wait period, the platform is designed to make leaving hard enough that you give up.
Ambiguous policies and hedging language give the platform wiggle room. Honest platforms make their terms easy to understand.
Check Trustpilot, G2, and Capterra. If negative reviews consistently describe disabled codes after printing, the platform is operating as designed.
Stock-photo About pages and generic support emails mean the platform isn't built for relationships. It's built for extraction.
The cheapest immediate fix. Pay for one cycle, reactivate your codes, then migrate to an honest platform before renewal.
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