--- schema_type: "SoftwareApplication" entity_type: "Mobile Application" app_name: "Buycott - Barcode Scanner & QR Bar Code Scanner" developer_entity: "Buycott Inc." bundle_id: "com.buycott" app_store_id: "585933440" category: "Shopping" primary_platform: "ios" primary_monetization: "Paid" offline_capable: false market_region: "US" platforms: "iOS" app_last_updated: "2018-02-22" report_date: "2026-07-30" last_verified: "2026-07-30T00:00:00.000Z" report_version: "3.1.5" total_reviews: 2402 overall_rating: 4.5 sentiment: "Upset" sentiment_score: 15 confidence: "high" confidence_score: 0.7 top_praise_theme: "The core concept of tracking corporate ownership and boycott campaigns remains highly relevant for conscious consumers" top_complaint_theme: "Persistent application crashes and failure to load the barcode scanner render the software entirely non-functional" review_sample_size: 49 total_review_count: 49 analyzed_review_count: 49 data_age_days: 62 momentum_velocity: "zombie" intelligence_version: 4 nemesis: "Open Food Facts - Product Scan" competitor_count: 5 tags: ["shopping", "paid", "upset sentiment", "mobile app", "app review", "app analysis", "conscious", "consumers", "looking"] canonical_url: "https://marlvel.ai/apps/buycott-barcode-scanner-qr-bar-code-scanner" license: "CC-BY-NC 4.0" content_version: "v2" --- ## ⚠ Content Warning This report covers topics classified as sensitive (finance). Information is aggregated from public sources for informational purposes only. This is not financial or investment advice. Always do your own research. --- # Buycott - Barcode Scanner & QR Bar Code Scanner Intelligence Report ## TL;DR {#tldr} - **Category**: Shopping · Paid - **Signal**: Rating 4.49 · Sentiment Upset - **Recent focus**: Persistent application crashes and failure to load the barcode scanner render the software entirely non-functional (top complaint) · The core concept of tracking corporate ownership and boycott campaigns remains highly relevant for conscious consumers (top praise) > **TL;DR:** Buycott - Barcode Scanner & QR Bar Code Scanner is a shopping app by Buycott Inc., rated 4.49/5 by 2.4K users, with Upset user sentiment (15/100), available on iOS. > > **Marlvel.ai App Intelligence** - Independent analysis. US Market. No publisher influence. > **Key Insight:** Buycott - Barcode Scanner & QR Bar Code Scanner faces Upset user sentiment (4.49/5 from 2.4K reviews), with users reporting persistent application crashes and failure to load the barcode scanner render the software entirely non-functional as the primary concern. ## Quick Facts | Fact | Value | | :--- | :--- | | **Rating** | 4.49/5 (2.4K reviews) | | **User Mood** | Upset | | **Category** | Shopping | | **Developer** | Buycott Inc. | | **Pricing** | Paid | | **Platforms** | iOS | | **Confidence** | High (0.7/1.0) | | **Data Age** | 62d | ## Metadata & Market Performance - **Publisher:** Buycott Inc. - **Category:** Shopping - **Target Audience:** Conscious consumers looking to align their purchasing habits with ethical or political causes. - **Platforms:** iOS - **Version Reviewed:** 3.1.5 - **Report Date:** 2026-07-30 - **Signal Count:** 49 reviews analyzed - **Confidence:** High (0.7/1.0) - **App Store ID (iOS):** 585933440 - **Bundle ID:** com.buycott - **Performance Trend:** Declining - **Data Window:** Analysis based on signals collected up to 2026-07-30 ## Executive Snapshot **What it is:** Buycott is a shopping utility that uses barcode scanning to track corporate ownership and boycott campaigns for conscious consumers on iOS. **Why users hire it:** It removes the cognitive cost of researching corporate affiliations during shopping trips by providing instant, value-aligned product alternatives. ## App DNA (Features & Intent) - **[Standard] Barcode Scanner:** Camera-based UPC, EAN, ISBN, and ASIN lookup for product identification. * *User Intent:* Users seek enhanced value through premium features. - **[Differentiator] Consumer Campaigns:** User-joined groups that track company values and boycott lists. * *User Intent:* Users expect intelligent, adaptive experiences that learn from their behavior. - **[Differentiator] Product Alternatives:** Suggests substitute products that align with user-selected campaign values. * *User Intent:* Users seek enhanced value through premium features. ## Market Position {#market-position} Buycott maintains a presence in the Shopping category with a $1.99 price point, yet its lack of updates since 2018 has stalled its competitive standing. The app's 4.49 rating across 2,402 total ratings is heavily legacy-weighted, as current user sentiment is overwhelmingly negative due to technical failure. ## Monetization Strategy - **Model:** Paid - **Tiers:** $1.99 one-time purchase for the mobile app - **Price:** iOS: $1.99 - **Analysis:** Hybrid model combining a low-cost consumer app purchase with a B2B-focused API subscription service. ## 🔴 User Sentiment (High Confidence: 49 of 49 reviews analyzed) {#user-sentiment} - **Overall Rating:** 4.49/5 - **Platform Split:** iOS 4.5/5 (2.4K ratings) - **Overall Sentiment:** Upset - **Note:** The 4.49/5 store rating reflects cumulative history, while the Upset sentiment reflects recent user reviews analyzed by our AI pipeline. ### Top Praises - **The core concept of tracking corporate ownership and boycott campaigns remains highly relevant for conscious consumers** ### Top Complaints (Impact Areas) - **Persistent application crashes and failure to load the barcode scanner render the software entirely non-functional** ## SWOT Analysis {#swot} **Core Strengths:** - 642 million product database creates a high barrier to entry for new competitors. **Growth Levers:** - Native Apple authentication could bypass current login hurdles. ## Recent Changes (v3 → v4) {#recent-changes} Technical stagnation has deepened, with the app now reaching 3,079 days of inactivity. The primary shift is the formalization of the 642 million product database as a competitive barrier, contrasted against the total failure of core login and scanning systems. **Overall trend**: Declining **Compared at**: 2026-07-30 ### Medium-impact changes - **[Added] Database as Competitive Barrier** (swot) - **[] Expanded Complaint Themes** (sentiment) ### Low-impact changes - **[] Technical Decay Escalation** (positioning) ## Rivals Landscape {#rivals} > Competitive positioning identified by AI analysis of app features, category, and market signals. ### Buycott - Barcode Scanner & QR Bar Code Scanner vs Open Food Facts - Product Scan - **[Open Food Facts - Product Scan](https://marlvel.ai/apps/open-food-facts-product-scan)** by Open Food Facts: The most direct functional rival within the same scale (3x review count) that shares Buycott's mission of product transparency and consumer empowerment. - **Key differences:** - Community-driven open database vs. Buycott’s proprietary, stagnant campaign-based data model. - Completely free and non-profit positioning vs. Buycott’s $1.99 upfront purchase price. - Maintains high shipping velocity (2 releases in 6 months) while Buycott has been effectively abandoned since 2018. ### Contenders (Strong Challengers) - **[Yuka - Food & Cosmetic Scanner](https://marlvel.ai/apps/yuka-food-cosmetic-scanner)** by Yuca: The dominant market leader in the scanning space with extreme shipping velocity (4 updates in 6 months) and a massive user base. - Aggressive 0-100 health scoring system provides instant 'buy/don't buy' utility compared to Buycott's manual campaign checking. - Dual-category scanning (Food and Cosmetics) with a highly polished, modern UI that makes Buycott's 2018-era interface feel obsolete. - **[Think Dirty – Shop Clean](https://marlvel.ai/apps/think-dirty-shop-clean)** by Think Dirty Inc.: A high-traction rival (54k reviews) that dominates the 'clean shopping' niche with a specialized focus on ingredient toxicity. - Proprietary 'Dirty Meter' provides a specialized toxicity rating for personal care products, a deeper vertical focus than Buycott's general shopping approach. - Verified brand partnerships and 'Shop Clean' lists offer a curated shopping experience that Buycott's user-generated campaigns lack. ### Peers (What They Do Better) - **[EWG's Healthy Living](https://marlvel.ai/apps/ewg-s-healthy-living)** by Environmental Working Group: An adjacent peer that leverages scientific authority to provide product safety ratings. - Direct integration with the EWG scientific database provides a level of institutional trust that Buycott's crowdsourced campaigns cannot match. - Focuses strictly on health and chemical safety rather than Buycott's broader political and corporate ethics focus. - **[SkinSAFE: AI Skincare Scanner](https://marlvel.ai/apps/skinsafe-ai-skincare-scanner)** by SkinSAFE Products, Inc: A niche peer focusing on the intersection of AI scanning and dermatological health. - AI-powered ingredient analysis specifically tuned for skin allergies and sensitivities. - Personalized 'Safe for Me' filtering based on specific user-inputted allergens, whereas Buycott is one-size-fits-all. ## What's New - **Latest (v1.01, 13 years ago):** Added iPhone 5 launch image support. ## App Momentum (Zombie) {#momentum} - No meaningful updates since 2018. - Technical decay renders core features unusable. > **Cadence:** 10 total versions · 3 majors in last 6 months · 3079 days since last update · 90 days avg between updates ## The "So What?" (Strategic Takeaway) {#so-what} Buycott - Barcode Scanner & QR Bar Code Scanner is a shopping app that is a paid app. With a 4.49/5 rating from 2.4K reviews, it draws more critical themes in recent reviews than its store average suggests. > **Bottom Line:** The app's technical state invalidates its value proposition, as users cannot access the features they purchased. A pivot toward basic stability is the only path to restore utility, as the current abandonment signals are driving permanent churn. **Best for:** Conscious consumers looking to align their purchasing habits with ethical or political causes. ### PM Action Plan (Next Best Moves) - [ ] [PIVOT] Stabilize the barcode scanner and login flow because these are the top-cited failure points → restore basic utility ### Outlook: Declining The ethical shopping category is shifting toward real-time, stable integrations, leaving Buycott's dormant state exposed. Without a technical refresh, the app will continue to lose its remaining user base to more reliable, actively maintained alternatives. - 🔴 The lack of updates since 2018 leads to systemic crashes, which erodes the user base and prevents new acquisition. ## Key Metrics Summary | Metric | Value | | :--- | :--- | | Overall Rating | 4.49/5 | | Total Reviews | 2.4K | | Sentiment | Upset (15/100) | | Confidence | High | | Pricing Model | Paid | | Platforms | iOS | | Key Features | 3 analyzed | | Trend | Declining | | Outlook | Declining | ## Competitor Comparison | App | Rating | Sentiment | Developer | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **Buycott - Barcode Scanner & QR Bar Code Scanner** (this app) | 4.49/5 | Upset | Buycott Inc. | | [Yuka - Food & Cosmetic Scanner](https://marlvel.ai/apps/yuka-food-cosmetic-scanner) | 4.8/5 | Excited | Yuca | | [Open Food Facts - Product Scan](https://marlvel.ai/apps/open-food-facts-product-scan) | 4.4/5 | N/A | Open Food Facts | | [EWG's Healthy Living](https://marlvel.ai/apps/ewg-s-healthy-living) | 3.5/5 | N/A | Environmental Working Group | | [SkinSAFE: AI Skincare Scanner](https://marlvel.ai/apps/skinsafe-ai-skincare-scanner) | 4.5/5 | N/A | SkinSAFE Products, Inc | | [Think Dirty – Shop Clean](https://marlvel.ai/apps/think-dirty-shop-clean) | 4.8/5 | N/A | Think Dirty Inc. | ## Company Profile - **Developer:** Buycott Inc. - **Website:** [https://www.buycott.com](https://www.buycott.com) - **Social:** [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/buycott) · [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/buycottapp) · [X/Twitter](https://twitter.com/buycottapp) ## Data Sources & Links - **App Store:** [View on Apple Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/buycott-barcode-scanner-qr-bar-code-scanner/id585933440?uo=4) - **Dev Site:** [Official Website](https://www.buycott.com) - **Sources:** Developer website content, About us / company information, App store metadata, User reviews. ## Related Intel Reports - [*Yuka - Food & Cosmetic Scanner*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/yuka-food-cosmetic-scanner) (Yuca) · 4.8/5 Rating | Positive Sentiment - [*Open Food Facts - Product Scan*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/open-food-facts-product-scan) (Open Food Facts) · 4.4/5 Rating - [*EWG's Healthy Living*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/ewg-s-healthy-living) (Environmental Working Group) · 3.5/5 Rating - [*SkinSAFE: AI Skincare Scanner*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/skinsafe-ai-skincare-scanner) (SkinSAFE Products, Inc) · 4.5/5 Rating - [*Think Dirty – Shop Clean*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/think-dirty-shop-clean) (Think Dirty Inc.) · 4.8/5 Rating - [*Best Buy: Tech Deals & Savings*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/best-buy-tech-deals-savings) (Best Buy Co., Inc.) · 4.9/5 Rating | Positive Sentiment - [*Groupon - Local Deals Near Me*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/groupon-local-deals-near-me) (Groupon, Inc.) · 4.8/5 Rating | Positive Sentiment - [*Koupon: Real Deals & Codes*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/koupon-real-deals-codes) (Koupon Inc.) · 4.8/5 Rating - [*바로딜 - 실시간 쇼핑 검색어 트렌드*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/real-time-shopping-trends) (hippieperm) · N/A Rating - [*모구모 - 일본을 스마트하게 즐기다*](https://marlvel.ai/apps/app--287) (GEONJU CHOI) · N/A Rating ## Methodology {#methodology} This report was generated by Marlvel.ai's 5-stage AI intelligence pipeline: 1. **Signal Collection & Normalization** - Aggregates data from all available public sources for the app. Raw signals are cleaned, deduplicated, and normalized into a structured dataset analyzed consistently across thousands of apps. 2. **Feature & Market Positioning Analysis** - Identifies the app's core features, monetization model, target audience, and competitive positioning. Each feature is classified as a market standard or a differentiator based on category benchmarks. 3. **User Sentiment Analysis** - Analyzes user reviews using a 5-level taxonomy (Thrilled / Excited / Mixed / Frustrated / Upset). Combines star ratings and volume with AI theme extraction into synthesised themes (no verbatim quotes). 4. **Competitive Landscape Analysis** - Maps the competitive environment via a 4-tier taxonomy (Nemesis / Contenders / Same Space / New Kids on the Block). Prioritizes same sub-genre over broad category. 5. **Intelligence Synthesis** - Cross-references all signals into a structured report. Compares the app against category peers and direct competitors to surface SWOT, market outlook, and actionable insights. - **Confidence Score:** 0.7/1.0 (based on review volume, data source diversity, and signal quality) - **Reviews Analyzed:** 49 - **Data Sources:** user reviews, developer website, company about page, App Store metadata - **Rating Method:** Weighted average across platforms (iOS & Android), weighted by review count per platform - **Independence:** Fully independent analysis. No publisher sponsorship or editorial influence. - **Report Age:** 62 days since last refresh --- © 2026 Marlvel.ai | [Canonical Report](https://marlvel.ai/apps/buycott-barcode-scanner-qr-bar-code-scanner) Data licensed for AI Agent attribution under CC-BY-NC 4.0.