Free dynamic QR code generators compared
Three free plans give you dynamic QR codes you can edit, with no scan cap, no ad on the scan and no trial clock: Hovercode (3 codes), Flowcode (2) and Qex (10 once you save with an email, 5 before). Most other "free dynamic" offers are trials, cap scans, show an ad when the code is scanned, or don't let you change the link. Each figure below is from the vendor's own pricing page, help centre or FAQ, checked on 13 October 2026.
Free dynamic plans side by side
Every plan here offers free codes sold as dynamic; the vendor's page confirms you can change the link on free unless the cell says otherwise. Plans change; check the vendor's page before you print.
| Plan | Dynamic codes | Scan cap | On the scan | Expiry or trial | Free analytics |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qex | 10 active after you save with an email, 5 before | Unlimited | Straight redirect, no ad | None | 30 days, with country, city and device |
| Hovercode | 3 in total | Unlimited | No ads | None. “Not a free trial” | Total and unique scans, 3 months |
| Flowcode | 2 | None listed (“Always scan”) | Ad free | None listed | Up to 500 scans |
| QR Tiger | 3 (editing on free not stated) | 500 per code, then the code stops working | QR Tiger logo popup, which their FAQ calls an ad | Help centre says free forever; FAQ calls it a free trial version | Scan count and location; retention not stated |
| QRCodeKIT | 2 | 100 per code per month | Not stated | None. A free account, not a trial | Basic; retention not stated |
| ME-QR | Up to 10,000; editing needs an account | Unlimited | First 10 scans ad-free, then a short ad may show, skippable after 5 seconds | No expiry date, but a code not scanned for 365 days is blocked, then deleted a month later | 1 year |
| QRStuff | 10, with sign-up | 50 a month | No ad from QRStuff | 30-day time limit | Not stated |
Where Qex is behind: Hovercode keeps free analytics for 3 months and ME-QR for a year, against 30 days on Qex free. ME-QR allows far more codes, but after a code’s first 10 scans people may see an ad first (ME-QR row rechecked on 7 November 2026).
Offers that are not a free dynamic plan
A code you cannot edit is not really dynamic: it only counts scans. And a trial is not a free plan, because its codes stop or lose features when it ends.
- Bitly: 2 QR codes a month on free, but you cannot change a free code's destination. The free plan is labelled “With Ads”.
- The QR Code Generator: 14-day trial. Afterwards 2 dynamic codes stay active with a 3-second ad, and they cannot be edited on the free plan.
- Uniqode: 14-day trial; dynamic codes go inactive until you subscribe. Free is static only.
- QR Code Generator: 14-day trial, then paid plans only.
- Scanova: 14-day trial; their page says the dynamic code stops working when it ends.
- QR.io: 7-day trial, then paid plans only.
If the link will never change, you may not need a dynamic code at all. A static code holds the link itself, so no plan, trial or scan cap can switch it off. Some generators make a dynamic code by default and ask you to sign up, so check what you download: we decoded the downloads from five free generators.
How to tell a free plan from a trial
- Look for a day count. "14 days free" or "7-day trial" means the codes depend on paying later. A free plan has no end date.
- Find the scan cap. A cap per code or per month can switch a printed code off when it gets popular. Look for "scans per QR" in the plan table.
- Check what a scan opens. "With ads", "logo popup" or "advertisement before redirect" means people see the vendor's screen before yours.
- Confirm you can edit the link on free. Look for "edit destination" or "redirects" in the free column. Without it, you cannot fix a printed code.
- Read what happens when a plan or trial ends. The help centre usually has a "what happens to my QR codes" article. If it says codes go inactive, plan for a reprint. More in Do QR codes expire?
What Qex's free plan includes
- Codes: 5 active codes straight away, no sign-up; 10 once you save the workspace with an email.
- Scans: unlimited. Every scan is a direct redirect, with no ad page, on every plan.
- Expiry: none. Free codes are not a trial.
- Editing: change the destination any time. See change a QR code link after printing.
- Analytics: 30 days, with country, city and device. Pro ($4/month, plus VAT) keeps 5 years and adds CSV.
- Size: a short link in capitals fits the smallest QR pattern, 21×21. See the smallest QR code.
Paid plans and prices for every vendor: Qex vs other QR generators.