How the trap actually works

One "free" QR app's pricing page, line by line.

This is one app's published pricing, checked October 3, 2026. It is one receipt, not a survey, and we won't print the company's name. Step one is free and fast. What step two costs is on the receipt.

The receipt

A REAL, CURRENTLY-OPERATING "FREE" QR APP. PRICING AS PUBLISHED, CHECKED OCTOBER 3, 2026

Create a QR code, choose from 12 types (menu, WiFi, vCard, social media, PDF, and more) $0.00

7-day access, just to edit or activate the code you already made $1.95

Then it renews automatically, every 4 weeks $49.00

Pay for a full year upfront instead and the rate "drops" to $19.00 /mo

HelmQR: one code, all 12 types, no scan cap $19.00

Every change, as often as you like, while we operate the service $0.00

Our total for the $19 code $19.00

What it adds up to

A page arguing that this industry hides costs does not get to hide its own, so here is the whole number: $19, once, for one code. Change it whenever you like. No extra charge while HelmQR operates the service. A code and a hosted page is $99, once, with no monthly fee.

Now price the other column honestly. $49 every four weeks is thirteen charges a year: $637. Prepaying a full year to get the "discount" is $228, and then $228 again the year after that, and again. Our $19 is one month of the cheapest plan on that receipt. That isn't a rounded-up worst case either. It's one real pricing page, live when we checked it on October 3, 2026.

Pay, and we email you a setup link. Nothing is live until you've previewed it and pressed confirm.