Static vs dynamic QR code
Two QR codes can look alike and work very differently. Here’s what’s really in the pixels, and how to choose for what you need.
What’s the difference between static and dynamic?
A static code holds the information itself (link, Wi-Fi, contact). A dynamic code holds a short address that redirects to your destination, which you can change at any time.
Dynamic codes can also count scans, since every scan goes through the redirect. At Scanotte we call them “editable QR codes”.
| Static | Dynamic (editable) | |
|---|---|---|
| Editable after printing | No | Yes |
| Scan statistics | No | Yes |
| Depends on a service | No | Yes |
| Wi-Fi, business card | Yes | No (needs a link) |
| Price at Scanotte | Free, unlimited | 1 free, then from €5.90/month billed yearly |
When should I choose static?
For information that won’t change: your Wi-Fi, a business card, your website’s address. It’s free and depends on nobody.
It’s also the right choice when you don’t want scans going through a third-party service.
When should I choose dynamic?
Whenever the code is printed in quantity and its destination might change: menus, flyers, packaging, posters, documents that get updated. You avoid reprints and see whether the code gets scanned.
If you stop paying, nothing dies overnight: whatever fits the free plan keeps working as usual, and the rest keeps redirecting, read-only, for 12 months before showing an “expired” page. Picking a plan again brings everything back.
Is a dynamic code slower to scan?
The redirect adds a step, usually unnoticeable. A dynamic code’s pattern is often simpler, too, because the short address has few characters.
A simpler pattern reads better at small sizes and leaves more room for a logo; see the minimum QR code size.
What’s the real risk of a dynamic code?
Its reliance on the service: if the redirect stops, the printed code leads nowhere. So read what the service does when a trial ends and after you cancel.
That’s the topic of do QR codes expire?. To make yours step by step, follow the dynamic QR code guide.
Which should I pick for my use?
Ask one question: could the destination change while the printed item is still around? If yes, dynamic; if no, static. Wanting statistics also tips you towards dynamic.
Examples: a restaurant menu or packaging, rather dynamic; Wi-Fi, a business card or your site’s fixed address, rather static. If in doubt, make a free static code first to test the material.
Frequently asked questions
Can a static code be turned into a dynamic one?
No, you have to create a new dynamic code and reprint it.
Do the statistics respect privacy?
At Scanotte we record the date, device type, system and approximate country; never the IP address, and no cookie on the people who scan.
How much does a dynamic code cost?
One editable code is free at Scanotte. After that, Starter is €6.90 a month (€5.90 billed yearly) for 15 editable codes.
Is a short link the same thing?
It’s the same redirect without the pattern: for an Instagram bio, a text or an e-mail. The QR code is for places where people scan.