What happens to QR codes when the subscription ends?

Why the end of the subscription affects the QR code

What happens to QR codes when the subscription ends depends on their structure. A dynamic QR code does not contain your destination, but rather a short link from the provider, and its server forwards every scan. When the subscription ends, the provider decides whether to forward, show a notice, or deactivate. A static QR code contains the destination directly in the image; it does not require a subscription, but can no longer be changed.

How providers handle this

The rules vary greatly. Some providers deactivate all dynamic QR codes after the subscription ends, others keep a few active, and others forward to the last destination. Data is almost never deleted immediately, and if you pay again, you get the QR codes back. An overview with sources per provider is available in the article "Why dynamic QR codes no longer work after cancellation".

How Same-QR handles the end of the subscription

At Same-QR, the end of a subscription is handled as follows: QR codes within the quota of your new plan continue to run unchanged – in the free plan, the two oldest. QR 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 QR code shows a notice instead of the destination when scanned and works again as soon as your plan covers it.

• The subscription runs until the end of the paid period, after which the free plan applies.
• In the free plan, the 20 QR codes remain permanently active, with 1,000 scans per month.
• All others are deactivated after a 14-day grace period; three emails are sent beforehand.
• Nothing is deleted: With a suitable plan, deactivated QR codes work immediately again.

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.

Three points before printing

• Check what your provider does with the QR codes after the subscription ends or the trial period.
• Plan how long the printed materials will be in circulation and whether the subscription should run for that long.
• Make sure you can export your QR code list. With Same-QR, this is possible with "Export all" in every plan.

Static or dynamic for long-lasting signs?

For a sign that hangs for ten years and whose destination never changes, a static QR code may be sufficient, as long as the destination URL remains valid. Same-QR only generates dynamic QR codes. Your advantage: If the website changes, you change the destination instead of reprinting. In the free plan, two of them remain permanently active.

Frequently asked questions