QR code tracking and scan analytics
QR code tracking shows how many times people scanned your printed code, how many of those scans were unique, and which countries and devices they scanned from, all on the free plan. You can change the link in the code whenever you like and the stats stay with the code, so a flyer or a table tent keeps one history even after your offer changes.
Your code will appear here
What QR code tracking shows you
Every code has a Stats tab. At the top: scans in the range you picked, unique scans, and the percentage change vs the previous period of the same length. Below that, a chart of scans over time, hour by hour for 7 days and day by day for longer ranges.
Open My codes
Above the list: scans and unique scans across all your codes for the last 30 days, and a small 14-day chart next to each code.
Click the code's name
Its details open with the Stats, Design, Download and History tabs.
Pick a range
7 days or 30 days on Free; 90 days and Year on Pro.
Scroll to the breakdowns
Countries and devices are on every plan. Cities, operating systems, browsers, languages and the day-and-hour heatmap are on Pro, and Export CSV works on Pro only.
Before you mail 500 postcards, scan the finished code and refresh the Stats tab. The scan shows up within seconds, so you know the code and the counter both work. That test scan stays in your numbers.
Free vs Pro analytics
| What you see | Free | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Scans, unique scans and chart | Yes | Yes |
| Change vs the previous period | Yes | Yes |
| Range | 7 and 30 days | 7, 30 and 90 days, and a year |
| Countries | Top 3 | Up to 20 |
| Devices: phone, tablet, computer | Yes | Yes |
| Cities | No | Up to 20 |
| Operating systems, browsers and languages | No | Yes |
| Heatmap: day of week and hour | No | Yes |
| Scan export to CSV | No | Yes |
The Free plan has no trial and no scan limit, and it includes 3 active codes. Pro, with the full stats, is $4.99 a month or $39.99 a year; QR code generator pricing compares both plans. On the Free plan the stats show the 30-day view.
How scans are counted
A linqr code doesn't contain your link but a short address like onsonara.com/q/k7x2mz9. When someone scans it, our server logs an anonymous scan and immediately redirects the phone to your link. Logging runs in the background, so it never slows the redirect. We don't count:
- bots, including search engine crawlers;
- link previews, like when someone pastes the short link into WhatsApp or Slack;
- browser prefetches that load a page before anyone opens it;
- scans of a paused code: the person scanning sees a page saying the code is temporarily disabled.
Privacy
Scan stats are anonymous. We don't store IP addresses or full browser identifiers (user agents). We keep the date and time, an approximate location (country, region, city) from Cloudflare, the device type, the operating system and browser family, the language, and the referring domain if the browser sends one.
Unique scans use a hash with a key that changes every day, so it can't reveal who scanned or link scans across days. Only the code's owner sees its stats. The privacy policy in the footer has the details.
One code per placement
QR code tracking tells you how often a code was scanned, not where it was hanging. If the same code is on a flyer, a yard sign and a business card, you get one total. Make a separate code for each placement (they can all point to the same link) and name it so you know what it is: “Door hanger, Maple St.”, “Yard sign, 14 Oak Ave.”, “Business card, Dana”.
After two weeks, compare the numbers in My codes and see which placement pulls its weight. Free covers three placements; Pro removes the code limit. For planning the print run, see our guide to putting a QR code on a flyer.
UTM tags and Google Analytics
Our stats end at the redirect. To see what people do next on your website, like signing up or buying, add UTM tags to your link and read them in Google Analytics 4. Google recommends always using utm_source, utm_medium and utm_campaign:
For example, written as one string with no spaces: yoursite.com/sale? utm_source=postcard &utm_medium=qr &utm_campaign=fall_sale.
linqr has no UTM builder: you add the tags yourself, and the redirect passes the whole link through unchanged. For the GA4 steps and reports, read how to track QR code scans.
Questions
Can I track a static QR code?
No. A static code contains your link itself, so the phone opens the page directly and nothing in between can count the scan. At most, add UTM tags to the link before printing and watch visits in Google Analytics, if the site is yours. Every linqr code is dynamic: it goes through a short link that logs the scan and redirects, so each one has a Stats tab.
Can I see who scanned my QR code?
No. Stats show numbers, not people: how many scans, roughly where from and on which devices. We don't store IP addresses or anything else that identifies a person. To hear from the people who scan, point the code to a sign-up form or an offer where they leave their email themselves.
How are unique scans counted?
A unique scan is the first scan of a code by one person on one day. A diner who scans the menu three times during dinner adds 3 scans and 1 unique. The same person on Monday and Tuesday counts as 2 unique scans; the day resets at midnight UTC (7 or 8 p.m. Eastern). It's an estimate: a phone that switches from Wi-Fi to cellular can count twice.
Does tracking work on codes I already printed?
If they are linqr codes, yes: every scan has been counted since the first one, with nothing to set up. Static codes can't be tracked, and their link can't be changed either, so replace them on the next print run. Dynamic codes from another service keep their stats with that provider.
Can I export scan data?
Yes, on Pro. In the Stats tab, pick a range and click Export CSV. You get one row per scan: date and time in your time zone, country, region, city, device, operating system, browser, language, and whether the scan was unique. It opens in Excel or any spreadsheet app.
Does changing the link reset my stats?
No. Stats belong to the code, not the link, so after you change the destination the counter keeps going and the chart shows the full history. The flip side is that stats don't split scans by link. To compare two campaigns on the same code, note the day you switched, or give each campaign its own utm_campaign in the link.
Do link previews in WhatsApp or Slack count as QR code scans?
No. When someone pastes the short link into a chat app, the app fetches the page to build a preview, and linqr leaves that out of your stats. The same goes for search engine bots and browser prefetches. Only real visits from a person opening the link count as scans.
How quickly do new scans appear in my stats?
Within seconds. Each scan is logged in the background while the phone is already on its way to your link, so the redirect never waits for the counter. Scan your own code, refresh the Stats tab and you'll see it. That makes a quick test before a big print run easy.
Does linqr show the city where each QR code scan happened?
Yes, on Pro. The Stats tab lists up to 20 cities and 20 countries. The location is approximate: it comes from Cloudflare's network data, not from the phone's GPS, and we don't store IP addresses. Free shows your top 3 countries without cities.
How far back does linqr keep QR code scan history?
Free shows the last 30 days, with 7-day and 30-day ranges. Pro adds 90 days and a full year, 365 days in total, plus CSV export of individual scans. If you move from Pro back to Free, the code keeps counting and the view returns to 30 days.
Are scans counted while a QR code is paused?
No. A paused code shows a page saying it's temporarily switched off, and those visits don't go into your stats. After you click Resume, the code redirects again and counting picks up where it left off, with the history from before the pause still there.
Sources
Keep reading
- How to track QR code scansThree ways to count QR code scans: a dynamic code with built-in stats, UTM tags in Google Analytics 4, or both. Setup steps and what each shows.
- QR codes for flyers and postersAdd a QR code to flyers, posters and brochures. Measure scans per print run, fix a wrong link after printing, get print-ready SVG, PDF or EPS files.
- QR code for Google reviewsTurn your Google review link into a QR code for counters, receipts and table cards. Track scans per location and switch the link any time.