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. After that, full functionality is one Premium subscription, billed by the App Store or Google Play in your local currency. There is no permanently free tier, and you can cancel anytime from your store account.
Does SCADO work offline?
Yes, fully. Adding products, sorting by urgency, and expiry reminders all work without an internet connection. The only optional online feature is looking up a product name from a scanned barcode.
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. Only your subscription status (handled by RevenueCat) and, if you turn on product look-up, the scanned barcode (sent to Open Food Facts). No analytics, no ads, no tracking.
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?
Nothing is deleted. If you do not subscribe, active features lock, but your inventory is preserved and you can still export it. Subscribing 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 billing period.
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.