Guides
Static vs dynamic QR codes
A static QR code stores your content, such as a link or Wi-Fi details, directly in the pattern. It works forever and needs no account. A dynamic QR code stores a short link owned by a QR company, which redirects each scan to your content. That lets you change the destination and count scans, but the code only works while the company keeps the link active.
Free, no signup. Made in your browser and never expires.
Side by side
| Static | Dynamic | |
|---|---|---|
| What's in the code | Your content | The QR company's short link |
| Expires | Never | When the plan or company ends |
| Change destination after printing | No | Yes |
| Scan counts | No (use your website analytics) | Yes |
| Who sees each scan | Only your destination | The QR company, then your destination |
| Typical cost | Free | Monthly or yearly subscription |
| Works offline (Wi-Fi, contact, text) | Yes | No |
When dynamic makes sense
If you need scan statistics by location and device, or you'll reuse the same printed code for different campaigns, a dynamic code is worth paying for. Budget for the subscription for as long as the code is in circulation.
The best of both
Point a static code at a page on a website you control, like yoursite.com/menu. Update that page whenever you like. The printed code never changes, never expires, and doesn't depend on a QR company. To measure visits, add campaign tags such as ?utm_source=flyer to the link and read them in your website analytics.
Questions
- Do static QR codes expire?
- No. A static code keeps working as long as its destination exists, because the content is in the code itself.
- Why did my free QR code stop working?
- Many free trials create dynamic codes that redirect through the company's server. When the trial ends, the redirect stops.
- How can I tell if a code is static or dynamic?
- Scan it with a checker. If the link points to a QR or short link company's domain rather than your own, it's dynamic.
Updated by Media City Design LLC