SCADOFrequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about SCADO, the offline food expiry tracker.
How much does SCADO cost? Is there a free version?
SCADO starts with a 14-day free trial, which begins when you subscribe to Premium from the App Store or Google Play: you pay nothing during the trial. Unless you cancel before the trial ends, the subscription becomes paid and renews automatically, at the price shown in the app in your local currency. There is no permanently free tier.
Does SCADO work offline?
Yes, fully. Adding products, sorting by urgency, and expiry reminders all work without an internet connection. The only online feature is looking up a product name from a scanned barcode, which happens automatically when you are online.
Do I need an account to use SCADO?
No. SCADO works with no account and no sign-up. Your inventory lives on your device, not on our servers.
What data ever leaves my device?
Almost nothing. Your subscription status (handled by RevenueCat) and, when you scan a barcode while online, the barcode itself, sent to Open Food Facts to find the product name. No analytics, no ads, no tracking. The details are in the Privacy Policy.
How do I add a product - barcode, photo of the date, or by hand?
All three. Scan the barcode, point the camera at the printed expiry date and let SCADO read it, or type it in. Anything missing is optional, so you can add an item in seconds.
Can SCADO read the printed expiry date with the camera?
Yes. SCADO uses on-device recognition (OCR) to read the printed date from a photo - nothing is uploaded - and you always confirm the date before it is saved.
What happens to my inventory when the trial ends?
If you do not cancel, the subscription continues as paid and nothing changes. If you cancel before the trial ends you pay nothing: active features lock, but your inventory is preserved and you can still export it. Resubscribing or restoring purchases unlocks everything with your data intact.
Can I cancel anytime?
Yes. Manage or cancel from your App Store or Google Play account settings; cancellation takes effect at the end of the current period. To pay nothing, cancel before the free trial ends.
Is SCADO available on iPhone and Android?
Yes. SCADO is built for both iOS and Android.
Can I export or back up my data?
Yes. You can export your data at any time from Settings, even while the app is locked, so your information is never trapped.
Does SCADO decide whether food is safe to eat?
No. SCADO is an organizational aid that tracks the dates you enter; it is not food-safety advice. Always rely on the product label, your own judgment, and the manufacturer guidance - when in doubt, throw it out.
What is the difference between "use by" and "best before"?
"Use by" is about safety: do not eat the food after that date. "Best before" is about quality: it is usually still fine afterwards, just less good. In SCADO you can mark which type each date is.