QR code generator comparison
Choose a QR code generator by what happens to your printed codes over time: whether dynamic codes are free or only on a trial, whether scans are capped or show ads, and what the vendor says happens when a plan ends. The table below answers those questions for linqr and 9 popular generators, using only what each vendor states on its own pages.
linqr is our product, so we kept this page to facts each vendor publishes and link them under Sources. Everything was checked on September 25, 2026. Plans change, so confirm on the vendor's site before you buy.
QR code generators side by side
The biggest differences aren't in design tools, which most generators have, but in free dynamic codes, trials and what happens when a plan ends.
| Service | Free dynamic codes | Trial | When the trial or plan ends | Ads when a code is scanned | Vector files |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| linqr | 3 active codes, no end date | None, free plan with no card | No trial and no expiry date on codes; the terms of service cover what happens when Pro ends | None | SVG on Free; PDF and EPS on Pro |
| QR Code Generator PRO | None | 14 days, no card | Dynamic codes point to a service page after the trial, or 30 days after a paid plan ends | None mentioned | SVG, EPS |
| QRCode Monkey | None, static codes only | None, fully free | Static codes have no expiry date | None on scans; the website shows ads | SVG, PDF, EPS (PDF and EPS without logo and design) |
| ME-QR | Yes, codes are dynamic by default | None, free plan | Codes keep working; ads come back | Yes, on the Free plan | SVG |
| QR.io | None | 7 days | Dynamic codes are paused | Not stated | SVG |
| Canva | Yes, with the Canva logo on Free and Pro | Offered for Pro and Business | Not stated for dynamic codes | None stated | SVG, PDF (design export) |
| Bitly | 2 a month; destination can't be changed on Free | Not stated | Links and QR codes stay active after a downgrade | Ad page on Free links; QR scans not stated | SVG |
| QR TIGER | 3, with 500 scans each | None, free plan with no card | Codes stop working when a plan expires | Yes, on free codes | SVG |
| Uniqode | None, static PNG only | 14 days, no card | Dynamic codes become inactive | Not stated | SVG, EPS, PDF |
| Flowcode | 2, with analytics for up to 500 scans | Not stated on the pricing page | Codes keep scanning; older help articles say only the 2 most recent stay accessible | Free plan listed as “Ad free” | SVG, PDF |
“Not stated” means we found no official page that says it, not that the answer is no. Each comparison below adds prices, plan limits and quotes with links to the vendor's own pages.
Detailed comparisons
Each page compares linqr with one service, says honestly where the other one is stronger (more codes, team seats, link management, a full design editor) and shows how to switch.
- linqr vs QR Code Generator PROQR Code Generator PRO deactivates dynamic codes after its 14-day trial. linqr has free dynamic codes with no trial. Prices, limits and formats compared.
- linqr vs QRCode MonkeyQRCode Monkey makes static codes only, so you can't change the link after printing or count scans. linqr adds free dynamic codes with logo and stats.
- linqr vs ME-QROn ME-QR's free plan people who scan see an ad before your content. linqr sends them straight to your link, free plan included. Plans and prices compared.
- linqr vs QR.ioQR.io pauses dynamic codes after its 7-day trial and when you cancel. linqr has a free plan with no trial and no card. Prices and limits compared.
- linqr vs Canva QR codesCanva's dynamic QR codes carry the Canva logo on Free and Pro, and scan insights need Business. See how linqr compares on logo, stats, price and print.
- linqr vs Bitly QR codesBitly Free gives you 2 QR codes a month, but you can't change where they point. linqr lets you edit the link without limits, even for free. Plans compared.
- linqr vs QR TIGERQR TIGER's free dynamic codes are capped at 500 scans each and show ads. linqr's 3 free codes have unlimited scans and no ads. Plans and prices compared.
- linqr vs UniqodeUniqode sells dynamic QR codes on annual plans only, and codes go inactive when you cancel. linqr has a free plan and codes with no expiry. Compared.
- linqr vs FlowcodeFlowcode Free gives you 2 codes with analytics for up to 500 scans. linqr gives 3 dynamic codes with unlimited scans and link changes. Plans compared.
How to read this comparison
- A trial is not a free plan. After a trial, dynamic codes often stop, pause or open the vendor's page. Printed codes can't be updated, so check this first.
- A scan cap or an ad page hits your best code. The more a code gets scanned, the sooner it reaches a cap, and every ad page is an extra step for your customer.
- Vector files matter for print. SVG, PDF and EPS stay sharp at any size; print shops usually ask for one of them.
- Look at the price after a year and at what happens if you stop paying, not just the first month.
For a vendor-neutral checklist you can run against any service, see how to choose a QR code generator. For linqr's own plans, see linqr pricing: Pro costs $4.99 a month or $39.99 a year, and the Free plan stays free with no trial.
Test linqr with your own link
Paste a link into the free dynamic QR code generator and you'll see the preview and a live scan check right away. Saving and downloading need a free account, with no card.
Paste your linkQuestions
Which QR code generators have a free plan with dynamic codes?
Of the services we compared on September 25, 2026: linqr (3 active codes), ME-QR (dynamic by default, with ads on Free), Canva (with the Canva logo on Free and Pro), Bitly (2 a month, destination not editable on Free), QR TIGER (3 codes, 500 scans each) and Flowcode (2 codes). QR Code Generator PRO, QR.io and Uniqode offer trials instead.
Which QR code generators turn off dynamic codes when a trial ends?
According to their own pages on September 25, 2026: QR Code Generator PRO sends deactivated dynamic codes to a service page after its 14-day trial, QR.io pauses them after its 7-day trial, and Uniqode makes them inactive after its 14-day trial. linqr has no trial, so there is nothing to run out.
Which QR code generators show ads when someone scans a free code?
ME-QR states that users on its Free plan see ads before your content, and QR TIGER says its ads display when codes from its free version are scanned. Bitly shows an ad page on Free links, but doesn't say whether QR scans get it. linqr never shows ads, on any plan.
Which QR code generators keep codes working after you stop paying?
According to their own pages on September 25, 2026, Bitly and ME-QR say codes stay active when you downgrade or cancel (ME-QR shows ads again), and Flowcode's older help articles say codes keep scanning. QR Code Generator PRO redirects to a service page 30 days after the paid period, QR.io pauses codes, and Uniqode and QR TIGER codes stop working when the plan ends. For linqr, the terms of service, linked in the footer, set out what happens to codes when Pro ends; the Free plan has no trial and codes have no expiry date.
Which free QR code generators give you vector files for print?
linqr gives SVG on its Free plan and adds PDF and EPS on Pro. QRCode Monkey offers SVG, PDF and EPS for static codes, though PDF and EPS skip the logo and design. ME-QR, QR TIGER and Bitly list SVG. Canva exports SVG and PDF as part of its design export.
How was this QR code generator comparison checked?
We read each vendor's own pricing pages, help centers and FAQs on September 25, 2026, and used only what they state there. Where a vendor doesn't say something, the table says “Not stated”. Prices that depend on your location are marked as such on each comparison page. Every source is linked below.
Is this comparison of QR code generators neutral?
linqr is our product, so read it with that in mind. We stick to facts each vendor publishes, link every source and say where competitors are stronger: more codes and team seats at Uniqode, link management at Bitly, a full design editor at Canva, no account needed at QRCode Monkey. Check the vendors' pages before you decide.
Sources
- QR Code Generator PRO: Pricing,
- QR Code Generator PRO Help: What happens when the trial expires,
- QR Code Generator PRO Help: How do I cancel my subscription,
- QR Code Generator PRO Help: Download formats,
- QRCode Monkey,
- ME-QR: Pricing,
- ME-QR: FAQ,
- ME-QR: How to create a QR code,
- QR.io: Pricing,
- QR.io Help: What happens when the free trial expires,
- Canva: QR code generator,
- Canva Help: Create and manage QR codes,
- Canva: Pricing,
- Bitly: Pricing,
- Bitly Support: Why are there ads on my links?,
- Bitly Support: What happens when I downgrade?,
- QR TIGER: Pricing,
- QR TIGER: FAQ,
- Uniqode: Pricing and FAQ,
- Uniqode blog: How to download a QR code,
- Flowcode: Pricing,
- Flowcode Help: What happens to my Flowcodes when I cancel (dated 2023-12-04),
- Flowcode Help: What file formats are supported?,