Static vs Dynamic QR Codes: Which Ones Never Expire
A QR code that suddenly leads to a “subscription expired” page is printed on thousands of flyers far too often. The difference is whether your link is inside the code or behind someone else’s redirect.
The difference
| Feature | Static QR code | Dynamic QR code |
|---|---|---|
| What is encoded | Your actual URL or text | A short link on the provider’s server |
| Works without the provider | Yes, forever | No — stops if the provider or your plan stops |
| Edit the target after printing | No | Yes |
| Scan statistics | Use analytics on your own site (e.g. UTM tags) | Provided by the service |
| Cost | Free | Usually a subscription |
A static code is just a picture of your data. Nothing can make it “expire”: if the URL it contains keeps working, the code keeps working.
How to make one that lasts
- Use a URL on your own domain (you control it forever). Add UTM parameters if you want to count scans in your analytics.
- Create the code with QR Code Generator — it makes static codes in your browser.
- Download SVG for print (sharp at any size) or PNG for screens.
- Test it with two different phones, and with the QR scanner, before printing.
Size and error correction
QR codes can repair damage thanks to error correction. The four levels recover roughly 7% (L), 15% (M), 25% (Q) and 30% (H) of the code. Higher levels make the pattern denser, so use them only when needed (a logo in the middle, outdoor wear). Shorter URLs give simpler codes that scan from further away. Keep the quiet zone — the white margin around the code — at least four modules wide.
Can a static QR code be tracked?
Not by the code itself. Track visits to the URL instead, for example with UTM parameters in your own analytics.
I printed a dynamic code that stopped working. Can I fix it?
Only the provider can restore its redirect. For the future, print static codes pointing to your own domain, where you can set up redirects yourself.