Static vs dynamic QR codes
One is a pattern that holds your address. The other holds a link to someone else's server.
Last updated 15 November 2026
Side by side
| Static | Dynamic | |
|---|---|---|
| Where the address is kept | Inside the pattern itself | On a server. The pattern holds a short link |
| Change it after printing | No | Yes |
| Can it expire | No, as long as the page it points to works | It depends on the service behind it |
| Scan counts | No | Yes |
| Needs an account | No | Usually |
| Who sees the scan | Only the destination page | The service in the middle, too |
When to choose static
- The address will not change, or you can change the page it points to.
- You want it to work for as long as the page exists, with no account to keep up.
- It is going on something permanent: packaging, signage, a vehicle, a gravestone.
- The content is itself the message, such as WiFi details, a contact card or plain text. These are always static.
When to choose dynamic
- You might need to point the printed code somewhere else later, and you cannot change the page itself.
- You want to know how often it is scanned.
- You are comfortable relying on the service that makes it. Ask what happens to your codes if you stop paying.
The trap to avoid
Some generators hand you a dynamic code without saying so. It looks like a normal free code until the trial ends and it stops. Always check which kind you were given. Every code on Plainly QR is labelled "Static – Never expires" or "Dynamic – Editable & Trackable".