Avoid lock-in with QR codes: own domain, export, fair cancellation

What lock-in with QR codes means

Lock-in means: A switch becomes so cumbersome that you stay, even though you would prefer to leave. With dynamic QR codes, this arises entirely without malicious intent, solely through the technology. The printed code contains a short link from the provider. As long as your printed materials are in circulation, every scan requires this provider. Anyone who wants to avoid lock-in with QR codes should therefore pay attention to three things before the first print: the domain in the code, the export, and the rules after the subscription.

Own domain: Benefit and price

The strongest protection is offered by an own short link domain, such as qr.yourcompany.at. Then your domain appears in the code, and upon switching, you only adjust the redirection. Many providers offer this, often in higher plans. According to pricing and help pages (as of October 2026), the own domain is available at Hovercode starting from „Pro“, at QR TIGER from Premium, at QR Code Generator PRO from Professional, and at Uniqode in the Plus plan or as an add-on for $2,000 per year per domain.

To be completely open: Same-QR does not offer an own short link domain. Our codes run via sameqr.com/r/…, optionally with a self-chosen, descriptive link. The protection that the own domain otherwise provides, we offer through the other two points: export and fixed rules after the subscription.

If you already have an own domain with the old provider, switching is particularly easy: After the switch, you redirect the domain via your web space or a redirection rule at your DNS provider path for path to the new links.

Export: your data belongs to you

A switch always begins with a list: which code, which destination, which name. Check beforehand whether your provider provides this list as a file. The differences are significant. Uniqode, for example, documents a CSV export with name, short link, and destination URL according to the help centre. At QR Code Generator PRO, the help centre describes a CSV export of scan statistics per code, but no list of all codes with destinations.

At Same-QR, you can export all codes as a CSV file with name, destination URL, and labels at any time in the dashboard under „Many codes at once“ with „Export all“, in every plan.

Fair rules after the subscription

Ask before printing: What happens to my codes if I cancel or the trial period ends? The answers range according to provider pages from „Codes are deactivated“ to „Codes continue to scan to the last destination“. Three points are important: Is it deleted or only paused? Does part of the codes remain active? Are you warned beforehand?

At Same-QR, the end of a subscription is handled as follows: Codes within the quota of your new plan continue to run unchanged – in the free plan, the two oldest. Codes beyond that are deactivated by us only after a 14-day grace period, and you will receive three emails beforehand (7, 3, and 1 day before). Deactivated does not mean deleted: The code shows a notice instead of the destination when scanned and works again as soon as your plan covers it.

All paid Same-QR plans can be cancelled monthly at the end of the billing period, with no minimum term. You can also cancel without signing in via “Cancel contracts here” at the bottom of the website.

Checklist before the first print

• Does the code contain the provider's domain or your own?
• Can the code list with destinations be exported as a file, and from which plan?
• What happens to the codes after the trial, cancellation, or missed payment?
• Is there a minimum term or cancellation period?
• Are you warned before deactivation, and are data retained?
• How many codes remain active permanently without a subscription?

Frequently asked questions