QR code generators compared 2026: prices

Key takeaways

Static QR codes never expire – no provider needs a subscription for them.
Dynamic codes depend on the provider. With several providers they stop working after a trial of 7 or 14 days.
Only some offer a permanent free plan with dynamic codes – with different limits, such as ads on scan or scan caps.
Choose by use case: a restaurant menu calls for different criteria than a corporate campaign with single sign-on.

Why the terms matter more than the design

In 2015, the QR code on Heinz ketchup bottles in Germany suddenly led to an adult website. The promotion behind it had ended, the domain hadn't been renewed – and someone else had registered it. By then the code had long been printed, millions of times.

It shows what matters with QR codes: if you don't control the address behind a code, you don't control the code. With dynamic codes, that address belongs to the generator's provider. That's why this page compares the terms first – and the features second.

Six criteria that matter

Dynamic on the free plan?

A dynamic code can be changed and analysed after printing. What matters is whether you get it without a subscription – and with which limits.

Trial and afterwards

How long does a free trial last, and does a printed code still scan when the trial or subscription ends?

Transparent prices

Is the price openly shown on the website? And does the advertised price only apply with annual billing?

Analytics

How many scans, when, on which device – and how long is the data kept?

Print formats

For print you need vector formats such as SVG or PDF. PNG and JPG are fine for the web.

Data protection and headquarters

Where is your contractual partner based, where is the scan data stored, and which law applies?

The terms at a glance

As of 01.10.2026. Based on the providers' public help and pricing pages.

Provider	Free plan	Trial period	Dynamic codes after the trial or subscription ends	Paid plans from	Headquarters
QRown	Yes, permanently – with static and dynamic codes, no ads on scan	None – the free plan doesn't expire	Codes within the free plan stay active; others are paused (not deleted). After 12 paid months in total, all stay scannable.	from $5.00 per month with annual billing	Switzerland, hosted in Geneva
QR Code Generator PRO	No information found	14 days	According to the help centre, dynamic codes are deactivated at the end of the trial; scans lead to a service page of the provider. Static codes keep working.	No information found	Berlin (Bitly Europe GmbH)
The QR Code Generator	2 dynamic codes without expiry, with an ad on scan	14 days	According to the documentation, up to 2 dynamic codes stay active after the trial, with a 3-second advertisement. If the account is inactive after cancellation, dynamic codes stop working.	from USD 5 per month with annual billing (according to the provider)	USA (part of Uniqode)
QR Code Monkey	Yes, static codes only – without expiry, according to the provider	None (static only)	Not applicable – according to the provider, dynamic codes are only available via QR Code Generator PRO.	Free	No information found
Uniqode	Static codes only	14 days	According to the pricing page, dynamic codes become inactive once the trial expires.	from USD 9 per month with annual billing	USA
QRFY	No information found	7 days	According to the help centre, dynamic codes stop working when the trial ends and lead to a service page.	No information found	Barcelona, Spain
QRCodeChimp	Yes, with up to 10 dynamic codes and 1,000 scans per month in total	No information found	According to the pricing page, the account moves to the free plan; dynamic codes other than the last 10 are paused.	from USD 6.99 per month with annual billing	No information found
Bitly	Yes: 2 QR codes and 5 short links per month	No information found	According to the help centre, links and QR codes keep working after a downgrade.	from USD 10 per month with annual billing	USA, with an EU company in Berlin

Not in the table: design tools such as Canva or Adobe Express. They create static codes – handy if you design there anyway, but without later changes or analytics.

Offers change. We check this information regularly; the providers' current information is authoritative. Is something out of date? Let us know.

Which generator suits you?

There is no single best generator – only the right one for your purpose. Even when that's sometimes not QRown.

Use case	Good choice	Why
One-off code with fixed content (Wi-Fi, business card, link)	Any reputable generator, e.g. QRown without sign-up or QR Code Monkey	Static codes never expire. No account or subscription needed.
Menu, poster, flyer – the destination should stay editable	QRown (free plan)	Dynamic codes on the free plan, with no trial period and no ads on scan.
Short links, QR codes and analytics in one place	QRown or Bitly	Both combine short links and QR codes with UTM parameters and statistics. Bitly focuses on link management.
Testing two poster versions with one code	QRown	An A/B test code splits scans across up to six destinations – the printed code stays the same.
Generating codes automatically from your own software	Bitly or Uniqode	Both offer a public API. QRown currently doesn't.
Corporation with single sign-on and certification requirements	Uniqode or Bitly Enterprise	Enterprise contracts, team permissions and certifications are part of their offering.
Unusual code shapes for a design campaign	QRCodeChimp	Lots of design options, including non-square shapes.
Data should stay in Switzerland	QRown	Hosted by Infomaniak in Geneva. Which service providers also process data is set out openly in the privacy policy.

The providers in brief

QR Code Generator PRO

Well-known generator from the Bitly group with static and dynamic codes. A fit if you're planning on a paid subscription anyway.

Website: qr-code-generator.com

The QR Code Generator

Specialised in QR codes, with many content types (PDF, vCard, multi-URL). A fit if two dynamic codes are enough and a short ad on scan doesn't bother you.

Website: the-qrcode-generator.com

QR Code Monkey

Free generator for static codes with many design options (colours, shapes, logo). A fit for a fixed link, a business card or Wi-Fi.

Website: qrcode-monkey.com

Uniqode

Platform for companies with team features, integrations and certifications (according to the provider, including SOC 2 and ISO 27001). A fit if procurement and IT require such evidence.

Website: uniqode.com

QRFY

Beginner-friendly generator with dynamic codes and analytics. A fit if you can decide within the 7 trial days whether you want a subscription.

Website: qrfy.com

QRCodeChimp

Many design options, including non-square shapes, plus digital business cards. A fit if eye-catching design comes first.

Website: qrcodechimp.com

Bitly

Link management with short links, QR codes, landing pages and shared analytics, plus an open API. A fit if links are central and QR codes come along.

Website: bitly.com

Five steps to the right generator

1

Static or dynamic?

If the destination never changes, a static code is enough – free and forever. If you need changes or statistics, choose dynamic.
2

Read the terms

Is there a trial? What happens to printed codes when it ends or when you cancel? Is that in the terms or only on the sales page?
3

Do the maths honestly

Compare the monthly price with monthly and annual billing, and check how many dynamic codes are included.
4

Prepare for print

Download SVG or PDF for print, and test the code at the planned size and with several phones.
5

Check data and contractual partner

Who processes the scan data, where, and under which law? A look at the legal notice and privacy policy is enough.

More on this: why dynamic codes can be switched off at all

Frequently asked questions

Which QR code generator is the best?

It depends on the purpose. For fixed content, any reputable static generator will do. For printed codes whose destination should change, the terms after a trial or cancellation matter most. The table “Which generator suits you?” above matches typical cases.

Do QR codes expire?

Static QR codes don't – their content is in the pattern. Dynamic codes work as long as the provider runs the redirect. With some providers that ends with the trial; with QRown it doesn't.

Are there really free dynamic QR codes?

Yes, with some providers – usually with limits such as a small number, scan caps or an ad. At QRown, the permanent free plan includes dynamic codes with no ads and no scan limit.

Which file format do I need for print?

A vector format such as SVG or PDF – it stays sharp at any size. With a QRown account you can download SVG, PDF, PNG and JPG.

How current is the information, including prices?

The date above the table applies. We only list other providers' prices where their own page shows them clearly; USD prices usually apply with annual billing. QRown's price comes straight from our pricing table.

What does “No information found” mean?

We didn't find a clear statement on the provider's public pages. It doesn't mean the feature doesn't exist.

Can I move an existing code to QRown?

Not a dynamic code from another provider – the short address in the pattern belongs to that provider. For new print material you create a QRown code. As long as the old code is still active, you can point it to the same destination.

Terms you know

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QR code generators compared 2026