# Free QR codes that genuinely never expire

> How to tell whether a free QR code generator's codes really never expire, which limits are hidden, and how to verify a code before you print it.

Source: https://qr-code-build.com/free-qr-code-generator-no-expiration/  
Last reviewed: 2026-08-24  
Publisher: QR Code Builder

## Summary
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
1. Generate a code on the site with a URL you recognise, and download it.

2. Decode it with an independent reader — the [reader here](/qr-code-scanner/), or any scanner app.

3. Read the decoded string. If it is your URL, the code is static and permanent.

4. If it is a short link on the generator's domain, the code is dynamic and depends on that company.

5. 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](/dynamic-qr-code/) — and you should own the domain it lives on.

## Frequently asked questions
### Do free QR codes expire?
Static ones cannot, because the destination is inside the pattern with no server involved. Dynamic ones can, because they depend on a redirect that can be switched off.

### How do I know if my QR code is static or dynamic?
Decode it. If the result is your own URL, it is static. If it is a short link on the generator's domain, it is dynamic.

### Is there a scan limit on codes from this site?
No. There is no counter and no server call, so there is nothing to limit.

### Can I use these codes commercially?
Yes, including on products you sell. There is no licence attached to the output.

### What happens to my codes if this website shuts down?
Nothing. The codes are files you downloaded, encoding your own destinations. They do not call back here.

---
Licence: this page may be quoted with attribution to QR Code Builder (https://qr-code-build.com/free-qr-code-generator-no-expiration/).