Free QR Code Generator Alternatives

Every company fact on this page comes from that company's own pages, checked November 11, 2026. For how to tell which kind of code you already have, see why QR codes stop working. For what to check before trusting any free generator, see free QR codes with no expiration, sign-up or watermark.

Static and dynamic codes

A static code holds your link or text inside the pattern. A phone reads it directly, so it works as long as the page it points to exists.

A dynamic code holds a short link run by the QR company, which forwards people to your page. That's what lets you change the destination after printing and count scans. It also means the code depends on the company's server, and on your account with it.

Our QR code generator makes static codes only, for a link, text, a Wi-Fi network or a contact card. It downloads them as SVG or PNG, with no account. We don't offer dynamic codes or scan counts.

What happens to dynamic codes when you stop paying

Here's what each company's own pages say.

QR Code Generator (qr-code-generator.com): its article Do QR codes expire? says trial codes "deactivate automatically when the trial period finishes," and "If you stop paying, the links pause." It says static codes don't need an active subscription.
QR TIGER: its FAQ says a dynamic code "will stop working" if your plan expires, and that codes made on the free trial show QR TIGER ads when scanned. Its help article on canceling says "All dynamic QR codes will become invalid."
Uniqode (formerly Beaconstac): its help article says paid dynamic codes expire only if your account is canceled, and that people scanning them then see an error page. Its pricing page says dynamic codes made on a trial stop redirecting when the trial ends unless you upgrade, while static codes keep working.
QR.io: its help article on trials says dynamic codes "will be paused" when the free trial ends, and that static codes "do not expire."
Flowcode: its help article says that if you move to the free plan, "your Flowcodes will continue to scan," and your two most recent codes stay editable.
Bitly: its QR code page says "Bitly QR Codes don't expire on their own." We couldn't open Bitly's help pages to check what happens after you cancel.

Several of these companies say upgrading brings paused codes back. So the code you printed isn't lost, but getting it working again means paying.

When a free static code is enough

The link won't change. Your website, a review page, a booking page, a PDF menu at a fixed address.
It's a Wi-Fi network or a contact card. These hold the details themselves, so there's no link to change.
You don't need scan counts. If you want a rough idea of visits, your own website's statistics show visits to the page the code points at.

To change the destination later without paying for a dynamic code, point a static code at a page on your own website. Then change what that page says, or where it forwards to. You own that redirect, so it lasts as long as you keep your domain.

Other free static options: Adobe Express says "QR codes created with Adobe Express never expire," and QRCode Monkey says its codes "do not expire and will work forever," including for commercial use.

When paying is worth it

A dynamic code is the better choice if:

You'll change the destination after printing, such as a seasonal menu, packaging or a campaign that moves.
You need scan counts, by date or place, to judge a print campaign.
You manage many codes for a team, and want them in one account.

Before you print, check what happens to the code if you stop paying. Then decide whether you're happy to keep paying for as long as the code is in use.

What a few of them cost

From each company's pricing page, checked November 11, 2026:

Bitly: a free plan with ads and 2 QR codes a month; Core is $10 a month, billed annually only ($120 a year).
QR TIGER: a free plan with 3 dynamic codes of 500 scans each; Regular is US$7 a month on monthly billing, and the page also offers yearly billing.
Uniqode: dynamic codes from $9 a month, and it says it only offers annual plans.
QR Code Generator: a 14-day free trial. Its prices didn't load when we checked, so see the page.

Before you cancel a QR subscription

List every printed item that carries one of the company's codes.
Scan each one and note the address it shows. If it's the company's own short link, the code will depend on the company after you cancel.
If the company's pages say its codes pause or stop when you cancel, make a static code for each item and reprint before the subscription ends, or move those codes to a page on your own website.
Check the company's cancel rules. Uniqode's terms ask for notice to stop renewal no later than 90 days before a renewal term starts. QR Code Generator's pricing page mentions a notice period of 30 days before the end of the billing cycle.

Common questions

Do free QR codes expire?

A static code doesn't expire, because your link is inside the code, though it stops being useful if the page it points to goes away. A dynamic code from a QR company can stop working when a trial ends or you stop paying, depending on the company. QR Code Generator, QR TIGER and QR.io all say so on their own pages, checked November 11, 2026.

Can I change the link on a free QR code?

Not on a static code. The link is inside the pattern, so you'd print a new code. To keep the option, point the code at a page on your own website and change that page instead.

Does the free QR code generator here count scans?

No. Codes made here hold your link directly, so scans don't pass through us and we can't count them. If you need scan counts, a paid dynamic code service does that.

Have you tested the codes with a phone?

Not yet. We've made codes in the Deskshed app, and checked in Chrome that the Wi-Fi tab builds the text phones expect, with special characters escaped. We haven't scanned any of its codes with an iPhone or Android phone yet, so scan yours before you print it.

Paying for something not listed here? Ask for a quote to replace it.