Static vs. dynamic QR codes: which should you use?
A plain-language comparison of fixed and editable QR codes, followed by a simple way to choose and set one up.
UpdatedFrequently asked questions
Start with the questions people ask before making a code.
What is a static QR code?
A static QR encodes its destination or content directly. If the encoded destination changes, you need to make and print a new code, although you can still edit a webpage you control at the same URL.
What is a dynamic QR code?
A dynamic QR points to a managed redirect. You can change the destination in your account while keeping the printed pattern. The managed link also makes scan reporting possible.
Which one is free?
The static QR generator is free and needs no account. A free business account includes one active dynamic QR. Pro raises the dynamic allowance to 30 and adds analytics.
Can I track scans with either type?
The free static generator does not provide managed scan reporting. Dynamic codes use a managed redirect, which makes scan activity available with Pro analytics. Scan counts describe visits to the redirect, not what a visitor did afterward.
Which should I use for menus, reviews, or promotions?
Choose dynamic when the destination may move or you want managed scan activity. Choose static for a stable link when you do not need to edit the encoded destination or see scan reporting.
Does a dynamic QR need the service to keep running?
Yes. Its printed pattern opens a managed link, so that redirect must remain active. A static code holds its destination directly, though the destination website itself still needs to be available.
What happens if I stop using Pro?
Static downloads keep their encoded destination. After Pro ends, the oldest active dynamic QR remains under the free allowance; additional dynamic codes are preserved but paused. Purchased physical Displays have separate link management.
How to set it up
Follow these steps, then scan the finished code yourself.
Decide whether the destination may change
If the encoded link is unlikely to move, start with a static QR. If you may switch it after printing, choose a dynamic QR.
Choose whether you need scan reporting
If scan activity would help you compare placements, use a dynamic QR and review the available analytics. Scans do not prove a purchase or review.
Create and test the code
Enter the correct destination, download the artwork, and scan a sample at the final print size with more than one phone.
Keep the destination healthy
Recheck the page periodically. For a dynamic QR, update the destination in your account when it moves; for a static QR, create a new code if its encoded link must change.
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Learn the difference between static and dynamic QR codes