# PetScanner

> Pet microchip registration and identification system for owners and professionals. (iPhone/iPad app by Petscanner.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/petscanner/id1447633547 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Petscanner](https://appshunter.io/developer/1447633546)
- Category: Lifestyle
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 1.20/5 from 51 App Store ratings · 57 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 18.0 · 6 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2019-05-31
- Data updated: 2026-09-05
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/petscanner/id1447633547/reviews.md

## What is PetScanner?

PetScanner is built to support both pet keepers and professionals, including vets, rescues and local authorities, we combine registration and scanning in one system. This helps reduce delays in identifying pets and increases the likelihood of a safe and quick reunion.
As a DEFRA-compliant microchip database, we allow keepers to securely register their pet’s microchip details for a small fee. Registration includes unlimited contact detail updates for life and optional subscription benefits giving you exclusive perks on top of your DEFRA registration.

Alongside registration, the PetScanner app pairs with the PetScanner smart microchip scanner to provide fast and effective identification of microchipped animals. The scanner reads FDX-B (15-digit) microchips in dogs, cats and other animals, instantly displaying the unique microchip number within the app. Please note, a PetScanner smart microchip scanner is required to scan your pet – you cannot scan the microchip with your smartphone alone.

When a pet is scanned, PetScanner guides you through the next steps based on the microchip’s registration status. If the microchip is registered with PetScanner, the keeper’s contact details will be displayed, making it easy to get in touch. If the microchip is registered with another database, PetScanner will identify the relevant database and provide the appropriate contact information. If no registration is found, the chip number is still shown, allowing the pet to be identified and registered if needed.

EULA: https://www.petscanner.com/index.php/end-user-license-agreement
 
Privacy Policy: https://www.petscanner.com/index.php/privacy-policy

## Key features

- Microchip registration
- Contact detail updates
- Smart microchip scanner pairing
- FDX-B microchip reading
- Lost pet reunification support
- Database identification

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Quarterly subscription 12 pets | $26.49 | per 3 months |
| Quarterly subscription 16 pets | $32.99 | per 3 months |
| Quarterly subscription 17 pets | $33.99 | per 3 months |
| Quarterly subscription 18 pets | $34.99 | per 3 months |
| Quarterly subscription, 1 pet | $2.99 | per 3 months |
| Quarterly subscription, 2 pets | $5.99 | per 3 months |
| Quarterly subscription, 3 pets | $8.49 | per 3 months |
| Quarterly subscription, 5 pets | $12.49 | per 3 months |
| Quarterly subscription, 6 pets | $14.49 | per 3 months |
| Quarterly subscription 19 pets | $35.99 | per 3 months |
| Quarterly subscription 20 pets | $36.99 | per 3 months |


## What do users think of PetScanner?

Overall sentiment: negative

**Pros**

- 👍 Massive improvement since update
- 👍 Scanners can be used multiple times
- 👍 Customer service from Kieran was helpful

**Cons**

- 🐛 App keeps stopping working
- 🐛 App keeps freezing
- 🐛 Barcode scanner does not work
- 🐛 Entering chip number manually closes app
- 🐛 Cannot log into account
- 🐛 Subscription is automatically added
- 🐛 App crashes when trying to register
- 🐛 App won't register pet details
- 🐛 Paid but cannot add pet
- 🐛 Requires purchase of a scanner
- 🐛 App keeps crashing
- 🐛 Login required after each crash
- 🐛 Links to EULA/privacy policy don't work
- 🐛 Pet not legally registered
- 🐛 Charged again on website
- 🐛 Details not showing on website
- 🐛 App is poorly designed
- 🐛 Unresponsive and clunky
- 🐛 Shows incorrect pet information
- 🐛 Cannot correct incorrect information
- 🐛 App crashes on launch
- 🐛 Crashes during account setup
- 🐛 Cannot update photos or share missing pet info
- 🐛 Requires Bluetooth scanner
- 🐛 Cannot change pet photo
- 🐛 Incorrect breed information displayed
- 🐛 Registration requires street address
- 🐛 App is misleading
- 🐛 Requires personal info
- 🐛 App is garbage
- 🐛 Not a pet scanner
- 🐛 Phishes for private info
- 🐛 No option to delete private details
- 🐛 False representation
- 🐛 Requires additional hardware
- 🐛 Payment taken but pet not added
- 🐛 Charged again on website
- 🐛 Discount only via app
- 🐛 App may not work for all
- 🐛 Scam for your info
- 🐛 Bait and switch
- 🐛 Harvests personal data
- 🐛 No scanning functionality
- 🐛 Lame app
- 🐛 Tells you to buy scanner after registration
- 🐛 Scam to get personal information
- 🐛 Not a scanner
- 🐛 Wants too much info
- 🐛 Garbage
- 🐛 Bad app
- 🐛 Doesn't actually open
- 🐛 Not a microchip scanner app
- 🐛 Requires attachment to scan
- 🐛 External scanner needed
- 🐛 Doesn't use phone's hardware
- 🐛 App is awful
- 🐛 Pictures uploaded sideways
- 🐛 Cannot delete or upload photos
- 🐛 Constantly crashing
- 🐛 Needs serious update
- 🐛 App is not a scanner
- 🐛 Requires separate Bluetooth device
- 🐛 Search radius measurement is off
- 🐛 App kept crashing when trying to search
- 🐛 Have to buy something
- 🐛 Not worth it
- 🐛 Couldn't get app to pair with scanner
- 🐛 Subscription not showing
- 🐛 Have to buy scanner to scan
- 🐛 False advertising
- 🐛 Deceptive description
- 🐛 Useless
- 🐛 Total junk
- 🐛 Force closes
- 🐛 Immediate crash
- 🐛 Only allows Google registration via Safari
- 🐛 App wouldn't open after registration
- 🐛 Terrible app and website
- 🐛 Incorrect pet details recorded
- 🐛 No colors for Tabby cats
- 🐛 Date of birth changes to 1970
- 🐛 Pay individually for each microchip
- 🐛 Poor performance
- 🐛 Misleading name
- 🐛 Waste of time
- 🐛 Requires you to buy their gear
- 🐛 Garbage app
- 🐛 Too much personal info required
- 🐛 Worthless
- 🐛 Not a scanner app at all
- 🐛 Stealing from legit microchip companies
- 🐛 Wannabe company with no purpose
- 🐛 Total fraud
- 🐛 Absolute garbage
- 🐛 Doesn't do anything
- 🐛 Doesn't allow free scanning
- 🐛 Terrible app
- 🐛 Barely functional
- 🐛 Security risk?
- 🐛 Dodgy
- 🐛 So bad
- 🐛 Not a scanner
- 🐛 Requires 9.99 scanner
- 🐛 Junk
- 🐛 Bs app
- 🐛 Needs your address
- 🐛 Misleading name

**Commonly reported bugs**

- App keeps stopping/freezing
- Barcode scanner not working
- App closes when entering chip number manually
- Login issues
- Subscription automatically added
- App crashes during registration/launch/setup
- Pet details not registering/adding
- Spinning wheel when adding pet
- Links to EULA/privacy policy broken
- Pet not legally registered
- Incorrect pet information displayed
- Cannot correct incorrect information
- App requires Bluetooth scanner
- Cannot change pet photos
- Incorrect breed information displayed
- Registration requires street address
- App requires additional hardware (scanner)
- Payment taken but pet not added
- Discount only via app
- App may not work for all users
- App harvests personal data
- No scanning functionality
- App tells you to buy scanner after registration
- App requires too much personal info
- App is not a scanner
- App requires attachment/external scanner
- App doesn't use phone's hardware for scanning
- Pictures uploaded sideways
- Cannot delete or upload photos
- Constantly crashing
- Needs serious update
- App is not a scanner
- Requires separate Bluetooth device
- Search radius measurement is off
- App kept crashing when trying to search
- Have to buy something
- Not worth it
- Couldn't get app to pair with scanner
- Subscription not showing
- Have to buy scanner to scan
- False advertising
- Deceptive description
- Useless
- Total junk
- Force closes
- Immediate crash
- Only allows Google registration via Safari
- App wouldn't open after registration
- Terrible app and website
- Incorrect pet details recorded
- No colors for Tabby cats
- Date of birth changes to 1970
- Pay individually for each microchip
- Poor performance
- Misleading name
- Waste of time
- Requires you to buy their gear
- Garbage app
- Too much personal info required
- Worthless
- Not a scanner app at all
- Stealing from legit microchip companies
- Wannabe company with no purpose
- Total fraud
- Absolute garbage
- Doesn't do anything
- Doesn't allow free scanning
- Terrible app
- Barely functional
- Security risk?
- Dodgy
- So bad
- Not a scanner
- Requires 9.99 scanner
- Junk
- Bs app
- Needs your address
- Misleading name

**Most requested features**

- Add dark mode option
- Improve scanning functionality
- Allow manual entry of chip number without crashing
- Fix website login issues
- Provide clear information about scanner requirement upfront
- Allow deletion of personal details
- Add more pet colors and breed options
- Allow registration of multiple microchips in one payment
- Improve search radius accuracy
- Allow users to correct incorrect pet information
- Make subscription removal easier
- Fix issues with address validation for rural areas
- Allow users to update photos and share missing pet information
- Enable direct phone hardware scanning
- Offer a discount for multiple pets when paying via app
- Provide a warning on the app if it may not work for all users

## Recent user reviews (10 of 57)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/petscanner/id1447633547/reviews.md

### 1/5 — The app keeps stopping working

*2026-05-02, version 2.0.3*

The app keeps freezing and it’s not possible to get working when you want to scan it

### 5/5 — Massive improvement

*2026-04-02, version 2.0.3*

The app has massively improved since an update, no longer crashes all of the time and the style has got better. The scanners can also be used multiple times now without having to reconnect.

### 1/5 — Worst ever app for money

*2025-12-29, version 1.1.22*

Your really need to get some competent devs and QA engineers, this is the single worst app, your barcode scanner does not work, entering the chip number manually makes the app close. It’s a joke, your company is a joke hope you go broke

### 1/5 — Doesn’t work.

*2025-09-23, version 1.1.22*

I can’t even log into my account to see anything. Keeps saying there’s an issue. How can I find out where my cat was scanned if I can’t see the history? It doesn’t come up on the website!! So please get this sorted!!!

### 1/5 — Sub is a scam

*2025-08-07, version 1.1.22*

You pay £2.99 to register your pet (fair enough) - but the £2.99 quarterly sub payment service is ‘optional’ but is actually automatically added to your account with no way to remove prior via the website (per their faq) - you have to go into Paypal > payments > pre-approved > find the payment and cancel it re-occurring or they’ll have you for £2.99 per quarter. Scummy.

### 1/5 — crashed

*2025-07-22, version 1.1.22*

just crashes when trying to register

### 1/5 — Rubbish App

*2025-06-22, version 1.1.22*

Bought my puppy and the previous owner had a chip installed and the paperwork was for this rubbish app.  My Apple Pay has set up the subscription but the app won’t “protect” my puppy and register her details.  I don’t recommend this app and wish that the seller had not used their chip.

### 1/5 — Took money but can’t add my pet

*2025-01-14, version 1.1.22*

Paid the 2.99 to register my pet but every time I put my code in it’s just a spinning wheel.

### 1/5 — Does not scan

*2024-12-09, version 1.1.22*

You still need to buy a scanner

### 1/5 — Keep crashing

*2024-09-25, version 1.1.22*

I wanted to scan a pet to see how it works but it keeps crashing.
Every time it crashes and I open it again I have to login. Then I click scan a pet and crashes.
Had to remove as the idea of being able to scan lost pets is great but the app just doesn’t work at all for me.

## Frequently asked questions about PetScanner

### What does the PetScanner app do?

The PetScanner app combines pet microchip registration and scanning into a single system. It helps pet keepers and professionals quickly identify microchipped animals and facilitates their safe return if lost. The app guides users through the process of contacting owners or relevant databases based on the microchip's registration status.

### How does the PetScanner app help reunite lost pets?

When a microchipped pet is scanned using the PetScanner smart microchip scanner, the app displays the microchip number. If the pet is registered with PetScanner, the owner's contact details are provided for easy communication. If registered elsewhere, the app identifies the correct database and offers contact information.

### Is the PetScanner app free to use?

The app itself is free to download and use for scanning and identifying microchips. However, registering a pet's microchip details with the DEFRA-compliant database incurs a small fee. Optional subscription benefits are also available for additional perks.

### Can I scan my pet's microchip with my smartphone camera?

No, you cannot scan a microchip with your smartphone alone. The PetScanner app requires pairing with a dedicated PetScanner smart microchip scanner to read FDX-B (15-digit) microchips from pets like dogs and cats.

### Who is the PetScanner app designed for?

The app is designed for a wide range of users including pet keepers who want to ensure their pet can be identified, veterinarians who need to quickly access pet information, animal rescue organizations, and local authorities involved in animal welfare and identification.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2.0.3 — 2026-03-25

This is a bug fix release, which fixes the shop page on the main menu.

### 2.0.1 — 2026-03-23

This release contains a new interface for PetScanner, which is designed to be easier to use, as well as more consistent across all our platforms.
General app stability has also been improved in this release.

### 1.1.22 — 2020-08-05

- Fixing issue where crash can occur during pet registration under certain conditions

### 1.1.21 — 2020-08-01

- Adding in extra crash reporting capabilities for better user support.

### 1.1.20 — 2020-07-29

- Fixed display issues with images

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## Related topics

[pet microchip scanner](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/pet-microchip-scanner) · [dog scan chip](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/dog-scan-chip) · [chip reader dog](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/chip-reader-dog) · [pet scanner](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/pet-scanner)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-05.*