The Four Scams You'll Run Into
Disclosure: Published by EZQR.
The watermark trap: you create 20 codes, design materials, send to print. Then you notice every code has someone else's logo. Reprinting costs $200+. The watermark also reduces scan reliability.
The auto-renewal bait-and-switch: "free trial" asks for your credit card. Two weeks later, $12/mo hits your card. No cancel button. Email support takes five days. QR Code Generator has 9,220+ Trustpilot reviews at 1.5 stars. QR.io has active BBB complaints from users charged for months after attempting cancellation.
The feature lock: free codes that can't be edited, exported in SVG, or analyzed. That's a demo, not a free tier.
The hidden annual lock-in: "$4.99/mo" turns out to be billed annually at $59.88.
How to Protect Yourself in 5 Steps
Check Trustpilot first. Read 10 to 15 reviews. If more than 20% mention billing issues, avoid.
Test without payment info. If they force registration for "free" codes, that's a red flag.
Read the cancellation policy. If it requires emailing support instead of clicking a button, move on.
Export and inspect. Download your test code. Check for watermarks. Verify 300 DPI.
Compare transparent providers. EZQR: unlimited free static codes, no watermarks, $5/mo dynamic, no auto-renewal, one-click cancel.
Paid Tools Are Not the Problem
Here's something most "scam alert" articles won't tell you: paid QR code generators aren't scams. Paying for software is normal. The scam isn't the price. It's the dishonesty.
A provider charging $15/mo for advanced features is fine if they're upfront about it. A provider advertising "free forever" while hiding watermarks and auto-charging credit cards is not fine.
Don't avoid paid plans because you're afraid of scams. Avoid dishonest providers because they've shown you who they are.
