Static vs dynamic QR codes
Short answer: a static QR code stores your link inside the code. A dynamic QR code stores a short link that forwards to your real link, so the destination can change later and opens can be counted.
Side by side
| Question | Static | Dynamic |
|---|---|---|
| Change the link after printing | No | Yes |
| Count how often it is opened | No | Yes |
| Depends on a service staying online | No | Yes |
| Can stop working | Only if your own link breaks | Also if the provider turns off the short link |
| Who sees each scan | Only the destination | The provider, then the destination |
Why it matters
Some "free" generators hand out dynamic codes without saying so, then switch off the short link when a trial ends. The printed code looks fine but leads nowhere. It is a common complaint about QR services.
Before you print a large batch, find out which kind you have and what happens to it if you stop paying.
How it works here
- The generator on the home page makes static codes. No account, and we never see the scans.
- Codes you save in an account use a short link so we can count how often it is opened. On the free account (5 codes) the link is fixed. On Pro you can change it.
If you stop paying for Pro, your saved codes keep working. What happens if you cancel
Which one to choose
Choose static for Wi-Fi, contact cards, or a link that will not change.
Choose dynamic for menus, flyers or packaging: anything printed in bulk whose link might change.
Questions
Do static QR codes expire?
No. There is nothing to expire: the content is printed in the pattern itself.
Do dynamic QR codes expire?
They work as long as the provider keeps the short link running. Here, saved codes keep working after Pro ends.
Can I turn a static code into a dynamic one?
No. The link is inside a static code, so you would print a new code.
Are dynamic codes slower?
There is one extra redirect when the code is scanned, which is usually too quick to notice.
Which is more private?
Static, because no server in the middle sees the scan.
Simply Automated QR is made by Simply Automated. Questions: support@simplyautomated.io