Select QR Code Generator: Comparison of providers and checklist before printing
The difference is rarely in creating the QR code
All providers can generate a QR code equally well — the format is standardized, and a QR code from provider A is technically not more readable than one from provider B. What matters is what happens around it: how it is counted, how long one is bound, what one gets out of the tool, and what happens to printed QR codes when the subscription ends.
Providers Overview
| Provider | Paid entry plan | How QR codes are counted | Worth noting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Same-QR | €19.90 excl. VAT / month for 500 QR codes | total QR codes, unlimited scans | cancel monthly, 20 QR codes free permanently |
| QR Code Generator | €8–16 / month for 2 QR codes | total QR codes, Starter capped at 10,000 scans | established provider, no permanently free tariff |
| Bitly | $10 / month for 5 QR codes per month | new QR codes per month | built around short links, annual plans only |
| QR TIGER | $7 / month for 12 QR codes | total QR codes, 500 free scans per QR code | large quotas are cheap, custom domain from $37 |
| Flowcode | $25 / month for up to 50 QR codes | total QR codes | focused on landing pages, annual plans only |
The question that costs the most money
What happens to my printed QR codes if I cancel? For every dynamic QR code, the redirection is handled by the provider. When access ends, the QR code leads nowhere — regardless of how many labels are already stuck on. Therefore, two things should be considered together: the print run and the duration for which you really want to maintain access. For signs that are supposed to hang for ten years, a static QR code or your own domain is the safer choice.
Some providers only offer their own domain in higher plans — at QR TIGER, for example, starting from the Premium plan at 37 dollars per month. The advantage: The short address belongs to you, and switching providers is possible without printed QR codes becoming worthless.
Checklist before printing
- Quota understood: QR codes in total or new QR codes per month? In campaigns with many placements, this makes the difference between a rate and double.
- Scan Limit checked: Is there an upper limit per QR code or per month, and what happens when it is exceeded — block or additional costs?
- Print file sorted out: SVG or PDF as a vector is available, not just a PNG. Only then does the QR code stay sharp from business card to banner.
- Binding checked: Is the advertised price the monthly price or the annual price divided by twelve? Notice periods are often only stated in the fine print.
- Fallback level considered: What happens in case of cancellation, price increase or if the provider disappears? Having your own domain or a static QR code for long-lasting signs helps.
- Data privacy sorted: Scans generate access data. Clarify before starting which data the provider stores and what must be included in your privacy policy.
When does which provider fit
For a few QR codes without a budget, a permanently free plan is worthwhile. Same-QR offers 20 QR codes, QR TIGER offers three with limited scans. Those who already manage short links and campaigns at Bitly should stay there sensibly, but have to live with the monthly quota. Very large quantities are most cost-effective at QR TIGER, if the annual payment is acceptable. And those who mainly need landing pages without their own website will find more building blocks at Flowcode, but have to pay the highest entry fee.
Same-QR positions itself consciously in between: medium contingents at a low price, monthly cancellable, unlimited scans on every paid plan and a free tariff that does not end after two weeks.
Frequently asked questions
This depends on the counting method, not on the QR code quality. A permanent free tariff is counted for a few QR codes, the total quota for campaigns, and a separate domain for long-lasting signs. The QR codes themselves are technically equivalent across all providers.
Only the short link itself if it is on your own domain. Otherwise, the bridge remains: As long as the old subscription is active, you redirect the target of each QR code to the new provider there, and the printed QR codes continue to redirect. For signs that hang for years, your own domain is therefore more than just cosmetic.
If the target never changes and you are not interested in scan numbers, a static QR code that is freely available is sufficient. As soon as you want to change targets or compare placements, you need a dynamic QR code and therefore a provider that operates the redirection.
New articles straight to your inbox
Tips on dynamic QR codes, new features, no spam. Unsubscribe any time.
By subscribing you consent to receiving the newsletter. You can withdraw consent at any time via the unsubscribe link in every email.