Comparison
Free QR codes that genuinely never expire
Every generator says free. The question is what happens in month four, when the trial ends and ten thousand flyers are already in the world.
- Static codes
- No account
- No scan limit
- Commercial use
A QR code only expires if it points at a redirect that can be switched off. Static codes — where the destination is encoded directly in the pattern — cannot expire, because there is no server involved. Check whether a generator gives you a static code by scanning your own downloaded code and reading the decoded URL.
Why some free codes stop working
Expiry is not a property of QR codes. It is a property of redirects.
When a generator makes a dynamic code, it encodes a short link on its own domain and redirects to your destination. That redirect is a service, and services can be stopped: after a trial period, after a scan limit, or after the company changes direction. Your printed material stops working, and there is nothing you can do to it, because the pattern is ink on paper.
A static code encodes your destination directly. There is no redirect, no scan counter, and nothing to switch off. It cannot expire in any meaningful sense — the only way it stops working is if your own destination goes away.
How to check any generator in thirty seconds
- Generate a code on the site with a URL you recognise, and download it.
- Decode it with an independent reader — the reader here, or any scanner app.
- Read the decoded string. If it is your URL, the code is static and permanent.
- If it is a short link on the generator's domain, the code is dynamic and depends on that company.
- Check the terms for scan limits, trial periods and what happens to existing codes when a plan ends.
This test costs nothing and settles the question definitively, regardless of what the marketing page claims. Do it before any print run of any size.
What free sometimes means
| Limit | How it appears | How to spot it |
|---|---|---|
| Trial expiry | Codes stop after 7–14 days | Terms mention a trial for dynamic codes |
| Scan cap | Code dies after N scans | Pricing page lists scans per month |
| Watermark | Logo baked into the image | Visible in the download |
| Commercial restriction | Free for personal use only | Terms restrict business use |
| Account lock-in | Codes tied to a login | Download requires sign-up |
| Resolution cap | Only small PNG free | SVG behind a paywall |
| Retroactive changes | Old codes moved behind a plan | Terms allow changing service at will |
None of these are dishonest by themselves. They become a problem when you discover them after printing.
What this site does and does not do
Plain terms, so you can compare:
- Every code is static. Your destination is encoded directly in the pattern.
- Encoding runs in your browser. What you type is never sent to a server, which you can verify in the network tab of developer tools.
- No account, no email, no watermark, no scan limit, no resolution cap.
- Commercial use is fine, including printing on products you sell.
- PNG, SVG and JPG at any size you like.
- The trade-off, stated plainly: no scan analytics and no editing after printing. If you need either, you need a redirect you control — and you should own the domain it lives on.
Frequently asked
Do free QR codes expire?
How do I know if my QR code is static or dynamic?
Is there a scan limit on codes from this site?
Can I use these codes commercially?
What happens to my codes if this website shuts down?
Last reviewed 24 August 2026 · Checked by the QR Code Builder team