Select QR Code Generator: Comparison of providers and checklist before printing
The difference is rarely in creating the code
All providers can generate a QR code equally well — the format is standardized, and a 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 codes when the subscription ends.
Providers Overview
| Provider | Paid entry plan | How codes are counted | Worth noting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Same-QR | €14.90 / month for 100 codes | total codes, unlimited scans | cancel monthly, 2 codes free permanently |
| QR Code Generator | €8–16 / month for 2 codes | total codes, Starter capped at 10,000 scans | German provider, no permanently free tier |
| Bitly | $10 / month for 5 codes per month | new codes per month | built around short links, annual plans only |
| QR TIGER | $7 / month for 12 codes | total codes, 500 free scans per code | large quotas are cheap, custom domain from $37 |
| Flowcode | $25 / month for up to 50 codes | total codes | focused on landing pages, annual plans only |
The question that costs the most money
What happens to my printed codes if I cancel? For every dynamic code, the redirection is handled by the provider. When access ends, the 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 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 codes becoming worthless.
Checklist before printing
- Quota understood: codes in total or new 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 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 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 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 codes without a budget, a permanently free plan is worthwhile — Same-QR offers two 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 and a free tariff that does not end after two weeks.
Frequently asked questions
This depends on the counting method, not on the code quality. A permanent free tariff is counted for a few codes, the total quota for campaigns, and a separate domain for long-lasting signs. The codes themselves are technically equivalent across all providers.
Only if the short address is on your own domain. If the provider's domain is included in the code, only the reprint remains when switching — therefore, the own domain is more than cosmetics in large print runs.
If the target never changes and you are not interested in scan numbers, a static code that is freely available is sufficient. As soon as you want to change targets or compare placements, you need a dynamic code and therefore a provider that operates the redirection.
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