Static vs dynamic QR codes: what's the difference?

How a static code works

A QR code is text written as a grid of square modules. In a static code, that text is the address itself, for example https://tacosdelsol.com/menu. The phone reads it straight from the image and opens the page, with no server in between.

Every pro and con follows from that. Nobody can switch a static code off, because there's nothing to switch off. There's also no account, no subscription and no stats. But if the address changes, the old code still points to the old address, and usually your only option is a new code and a reprint. QRCode Monkey, a popular free generator, works this way: we compare it in practice in linqr vs QRCode Monkey.

What is a dynamic QR code?

A dynamic QR code holds the generator's short link instead of your address. In linqr it looks like onsonara.com/q/k7x2mz9, where the last 7 characters identify your code. When someone scans it:

1. the phone reads the short link and contacts the generator's server,
2. the server looks up where the code should point right now,
3. the phone gets a redirect and opens your page.

In linqr that's an HTTP 302 redirect, a temporary one, sent with an instruction not to cache it. So after you change the destination, the very next scan goes to the new address. There's no interstitial page or ad along the way.

Editing after printing

This is the main reason businesses choose dynamic codes. Say a food truck prints a code on its window decal that opens the menu PDF. In the fall the menu changes, and the new file has a new address. With a static code, that means a new decal. With a dynamic one, the owner pastes the new address into Change link and every existing decal opens the new menu right away.

The printed code looks exactly the same, because its short link doesn't change. For step-by-step instructions, plus what to do about a static code that's already printed, see how to change a QR code link after printing.

Tracking

Since every scan passes through the generator's server, it can be counted. A static code can't do that: the phone opens your page directly and the generator never hears about it. You can only measure that traffic on the destination site.

In linqr, the Free plan shows total scans, unique scans, a 30-day chart, your top 3 countries and device types. We leave out bots and link previews and don't store IP addresses. More on what we measure: QR code tracking.

Size and scannability

The more characters a code holds, the more modules it needs. At the same print size, each module gets smaller and harder to read from a distance. A static code with a long link, like a cloud file or a URL with campaign parameters, can get dense. A dynamic code always holds the same short link, no matter how long your destination address is.

linqr writes that short link in uppercase: HTTPS://ONSONARA.COM/Q/K7X2MZ9. The QR standard has an alphanumeric mode for digits, capital letters and a few symbols that takes less space than regular text. That makes the code one version smaller: 25 × 25 modules instead of 29 × 29 at medium error correction (M). Phones open the uppercase address without trouble, and our server recognizes the code regardless of case.

Cost and the risk of deactivation

A static code costs nothing to keep running, and nobody can switch it off. A dynamic code works only as long as the provider keeps redirecting it, so its terms matter more than the upfront price. Some generators give you a dynamic code on a trial, say 14 or 30 days, and switch it off unless you subscribe. Others cap your scans. We cover how to spot those terms, and what to do if a code already died, in our guide on whether QR codes expire.

linqr codes have no expiration date and no scan limit. The Free plan includes 3 active dynamic codes with no fee, no trial and no credit card. The details are on our free QR code generator with no expiration page.

How to tell which one you have

Scan the code and read the address before you open the page. Apple's help says the iPhone camera shows a link you tap to open, and Google's help says Google Lens in Chrome on Android shows a link to tap. What the address tells you:

• your own website or a service like drive.google.com or instagram.com: most likely a static code,
• a generator's short address, like onsonara.com/q/… for linqr: a dynamic code, changed in the account that created it,
• a link shortener's address: it works like a dynamic code, but you can change the destination only if the shortener allows it and you have the account.

If an agency or print shop made the code, ask which generator they used and whose account it lives in. Without access to that account, you can't change the link.

When to use which

A static code is enough when the address will never change, it's short and you don't need stats. Think of your homepage on a lobby sign, or a code on a slide you'll show once.

Choose a dynamic code when:

• the code goes on something expensive to reprint: packaging, signs, vehicle wraps, business cards,
• the content will change: menus, price lists, seasonal offers, a PDF manual,
• you want to know how many people scan the flyer or poster,
• the destination link is long and a static code would be too dense.

You can make one right on the linqr home page, a free dynamic QR code generator where you paste a link, style the code and download it. For the whole process, read how to make a QR code for a link.