The short version
| Static | Dynamic | |
|---|---|---|
| What the code stores | The content itself | A short link, such as qrfun.app/q/menu |
| Change it after printing | No | Yes, at any time |
| Scan statistics | No | Yes |
| Works if the service disappears | Yes | No |
| Content types | Links, text, Wi-Fi, contacts, email, phone, SMS | Web links |
| Pattern | Denser as the content grows | Always short and simple |
| Price on QRfun | Free, unlimited | One free, unlimited on Pro from $4/month |
How static codes work
A static code stores your content directly in its pattern: the full URL, the Wi-Fi details or the contact card. The phone reads it and acts on it without contacting anyone in between. That makes static codes permanent and private. It also makes them fixed: the only way to change what a static code does is to print a new one.
How dynamic codes work
A dynamic code stores a short link on the service that created it. When someone scans it, the service looks up where that link should go right now and sends the phone there. Because the destination lives on the server rather than in the print, you can change it whenever you like, and every scan can be counted on the way through.
When to use a static code
- Wi-Fi networks. Phones have to read these from the code, so they cannot be dynamic. See the Wi-Fi QR code generator.
- Contact cards that will not change. See the vCard QR code generator.
- Links to pages you own and will never move, such as your home page. See the website QR code generator.
- Anything temporary: a one-day event, a slide, a quick test.
When to use a dynamic code
- Anything printed in quantity or meant to last: menus, packaging, product labels, posters, signs, business cards.
- Links you do not control or that are likely to change, such as a PDF, a booking page or a link-in-bio service.
- Campaigns you want to measure, to see whether the code is being scanned and when.
- Long URLs. A dynamic code always holds a short link, so its pattern is simpler and scans more easily when printed small.
For a worked example, see QR codes for restaurant menus.
The trade-off: you depend on the service
A dynamic code only works while the service behind its short link is running. Before you print thousands, it is fair to ask what happens if that changes. On QRfun:
- Dynamic codes keep redirecting if you cancel Pro. You just cannot create more than the free allowance.
- If the service ever shuts down, the terms of service promise at least 30 days' notice so you can update your printed materials.
- Static codes made with the generator do not depend on us at all.
What gets tracked
Static codes are generated in your browser and scanning them is never tracked; downloads are only counted by code type and file format. When a dynamic code is scanned, QRfun records the time, device type, operating system, browser, referring site and country, plus a hash of the IP address combined with the date. The raw IP address is never stored. The details are in the privacy policy.
Try both. Static codes are free without an account, and your first dynamic code is free too.