Comparison · Free vs Paid

QR code generator: free vs paid, compared honestly.

Free covers more than most pricing pages admit — and breaks in a few specific, expensive ways. Here is the exact line between the two, so you can stay free as long as it is safe to.

Feature-by-feature comparison

Free plan compared with Paid plans
FeatureFree planNo card. Unlimited static codes, 3 dynamic codes.Paid plansFrom Pro upward. Unlimited dynamic codes and full analytics.
Static QR codesUnlimitedUnlimited
Dynamic (editable) codes3Unlimited
Code expiryNever expiresNever expires
WatermarkNoneNone
Edit destination after printingYes, on the 3 dynamic codesYes, on every code
Scan analyticsBasic, 7-day windowFull history: country, device, OS, browser, referrer
PNG exportYesYes
SVG / PDF vector exportSVGSVG, PDF, and print packs
Bulk CSV generationNot includedIncluded
Custom colours and centre logoYesYes, plus saved brand presets
Branded short domainNot includedBusiness tier
API access and webhooksNot includedIncluded
Team seats and rolesSingle userTeam tier
Commercial useAllowedAllowed
Data export if you leaveYesYes

Free is genuinely enough for a pilot

Unlimited static codes plus three permanent dynamic codes with no watermark and no expiry covers a single venue, a small event, or a first campaign. Nothing switches off after 14 days.

Paid is about scale and evidence

You upgrade when you need more than three editable destinations, when someone asks how the campaign performed, or when the codes need to be generated in bulk and printed as vectors.

The reprint maths

One corrected destination on a printed batch usually costs more than a year of a paid plan. That single risk is why dynamic codes are the first thing teams pay for.

Stay on free plan if…

  • You need fewer than four editable codes.
  • Your destinations are fixed — WiFi, a vCard, a permanent URL.
  • Nobody is going to ask for a scan report.
  • You are testing whether QR codes work for your audience at all.
Start free

Move to paid plans if…

  • You are printing more than a hundred physical items.
  • You need scan data by country, device, or time of day.
  • More than one person manages the codes.
  • You want a branded short domain, an API, or bulk CSV generation.
Compare plans

Frequently asked

Is a free QR code generator safe to use for print?

Only if the free codes are static, or the free dynamic codes have no expiry. Trial-based dynamic codes stop redirecting when the trial ends, which breaks anything already printed. QR Lift's free dynamic codes never expire.

Do free QR codes have a watermark?

Not on QR Lift. Many generators add a centre logo on free codes and charge to remove it — always check before you export.

What is the single biggest difference between free and paid?

The number of editable destinations and the depth of scan analytics. Free gives you three editable codes and a short analytics window; paid removes both limits.

Can I start free and upgrade later without losing my codes?

Yes. Your existing codes, destinations, and scan history carry over — the printed patterns never change.

Is there a free trial of the paid features?

The free tier is permanent rather than a countdown trial, so you can validate dynamic codes and analytics on real placements before paying.

Try it before you pay for it

Three permanent dynamic codes, no watermark, no card required.