Guides
Static vs dynamic QR codes
The two types look the same and behave very differently.
A static QR code contains your content itself, so it cannot be changed or tracked and it never expires. A dynamic QR code contains a short link to a service, which forwards to your target, so the target can be changed and scans can be counted, but it depends on that service.
Static codes
- The content is in the pattern. A code for a link holds the link.
- No account is needed and nothing sits between the scanner and your content.
- It cannot be edited after printing, and you cannot see how many people scanned it.
- It works for as long as the target does.
Dynamic codes
- The code holds a short link on the provider's domain, which redirects to your target.
- You can change the target later and see scan counts.
- The code stops working if the subscription ends or the service closes, and scans pass through a third party.
Which to choose
Choose static for anything permanent or low-stakes: Wi-Fi sharing, a contact card, a link to a page that will stay in place. Choose dynamic when you need to change the target after printing or you need scan statistics, and accept the dependency. This generator makes static codes only, so you get codes that do not depend on us.
Frequently asked questions
Can I turn a static code into a dynamic one?
Not directly. A dynamic code has a different content: a link to the provider. You would create a new code and replace the printed one.