Should I Build It Should I Build It
20 Jul 2025
Tech

An app that allows to scan QR codes that I received as FOTOS. If I ...

...have the QR code ON MY PHONE as a screenshot I can’t scan. So I want to build an app that can do that

Confidence
Engagement
Net use signal
Net buy signal

Idea type: Swamp

The market has seen several mediocre solutions that nobody loves. Unless you can offer something fundamentally different, you’ll likely struggle to stand out or make money.

Should You Build It?

Don't build it.

Your are here

Your idea for an app that scans QR codes from photos or screenshots puts you in a crowded space. We've identified six similar products, indicating a high level of competition. The idea of scanning QR codes from images isn't new, and many existing apps offer this functionality. Considering this is classified as a 'Swamp' category, where many mediocre solutions already exist, standing out will be tough. The average engagement for similar products is low, suggesting that even existing solutions struggle to capture user interest. Given the competition and the unpromising category, you need to seriously consider the potential difficulties in gaining traction.

Recommendations

  1. Thoroughly investigate why the existing QR code scanning apps, particularly those handling images, haven't become essential tools for users. Look beyond their feature sets and consider their marketing, user experience, and overall value proposition to identify gaps you could potentially fill. Focus your energy on identifying what these other apps are lacking and how you can deliver a superior user experience.
  2. If you choose to proceed, identify a niche group of users with specific needs that are not currently being met by existing solutions. Perhaps focus on users with accessibility needs, or those who require advanced features like batch scanning or automated data extraction. Serving a niche market will increase your chances of adoption.
  3. Instead of creating a direct competitor, consider developing tools or integrations that enhance the capabilities of existing QR code scanning apps. This could involve creating a plugin that adds advanced image processing features or a service that automates data extraction from scanned QR codes. This approach lets you leverage existing user bases and potentially partner with established players.
  4. Think about adjacent problems in the realm of image processing or data extraction that might present a more promising opportunity. For example, could you develop a tool that automatically identifies and extracts information from various types of images, not just QR codes? This broadens your potential market and reduces your reliance on a single use case.
  5. Given the competitive landscape and the 'Swamp' classification, seriously consider re-evaluating your idea and exploring alternative opportunities that align better with your skills and interests. Your time and energy might be better spent on a venture with a higher potential for success. Think about other problem domains you are familiar with, and where you can create more value.

Questions

  1. What specific pain points do users currently experience when trying to scan QR codes from images or screenshots, and how does your app address these issues in a fundamentally better way than existing solutions?
  2. Beyond simply scanning QR codes from images, what unique features or value-added services could your app offer to justify its existence in a crowded market and attract a dedicated user base?
  3. How will you effectively market your app to reach your target audience and differentiate it from the numerous other QR code scanning apps already available, especially considering the low engagement observed in similar products?

Your are here

Your idea for an app that scans QR codes from photos or screenshots puts you in a crowded space. We've identified six similar products, indicating a high level of competition. The idea of scanning QR codes from images isn't new, and many existing apps offer this functionality. Considering this is classified as a 'Swamp' category, where many mediocre solutions already exist, standing out will be tough. The average engagement for similar products is low, suggesting that even existing solutions struggle to capture user interest. Given the competition and the unpromising category, you need to seriously consider the potential difficulties in gaining traction.

Recommendations

  1. Thoroughly investigate why the existing QR code scanning apps, particularly those handling images, haven't become essential tools for users. Look beyond their feature sets and consider their marketing, user experience, and overall value proposition to identify gaps you could potentially fill. Focus your energy on identifying what these other apps are lacking and how you can deliver a superior user experience.
  2. If you choose to proceed, identify a niche group of users with specific needs that are not currently being met by existing solutions. Perhaps focus on users with accessibility needs, or those who require advanced features like batch scanning or automated data extraction. Serving a niche market will increase your chances of adoption.
  3. Instead of creating a direct competitor, consider developing tools or integrations that enhance the capabilities of existing QR code scanning apps. This could involve creating a plugin that adds advanced image processing features or a service that automates data extraction from scanned QR codes. This approach lets you leverage existing user bases and potentially partner with established players.
  4. Think about adjacent problems in the realm of image processing or data extraction that might present a more promising opportunity. For example, could you develop a tool that automatically identifies and extracts information from various types of images, not just QR codes? This broadens your potential market and reduces your reliance on a single use case.
  5. Given the competitive landscape and the 'Swamp' classification, seriously consider re-evaluating your idea and exploring alternative opportunities that align better with your skills and interests. Your time and energy might be better spent on a venture with a higher potential for success. Think about other problem domains you are familiar with, and where you can create more value.

Questions

  1. What specific pain points do users currently experience when trying to scan QR codes from images or screenshots, and how does your app address these issues in a fundamentally better way than existing solutions?
  2. Beyond simply scanning QR codes from images, what unique features or value-added services could your app offer to justify its existence in a crowded market and attract a dedicated user base?
  3. How will you effectively market your app to reach your target audience and differentiate it from the numerous other QR code scanning apps already available, especially considering the low engagement observed in similar products?

  • Confidence: High
    • Number of similar products: 6
  • Engagement: Low
    • Average number of comments: 0
  • Net use signal: 80.0%
    • Positive use signal: 80.0%
    • Negative use signal: 0.0%
  • Net buy signal: 80.0%
    • Positive buy signal: 80.0%
    • Negative buy signal: 0.0%

This chart summarizes all the similar products we found for your idea in a single plot.

The x-axis represents the overall feedback each product received. This is calculated from the net use and buy signals that were expressed in the comments. The maximum is +1, which means all comments (across all similar products) were positive, expressed a willingness to use & buy said product. The minimum is -1 and it means the exact opposite.

The y-axis captures the strength of the signal, i.e. how many people commented and how does this rank against other products in this category. The maximum is +1, which means these products were the most liked, upvoted and talked about launches recently. The minimum is 0, meaning zero engagement or feedback was received.

The sizes of the product dots are determined by the relevance to your idea, where 10 is the maximum.

Your idea is the big blueish dot, which should lie somewhere in the polygon defined by these products. It can be off-center because we use custom weighting to summarize these metrics.

Similar products

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