QR Code FAQ

On QRCodePrime, static QR codes are free with no time limit, no watermark, and no account required. You generate a code, download it as PNG or SVG, and that is the end of the transaction. The code works forever. We do offer paid plans for dynamic QR codes (which let you change the destination after printing) and scan analytics, but the core generator is genuinely free.

No. You can generate, customize, and download a static QR code without creating an account or giving us an email address. Accounts are only needed if you want to save codes to your dashboard, use dynamic QR codes, or access scan analytics. For a one-off code, open the page, generate, download, done.

Yes, without restriction. QR codes you generate on QRCodePrime can go on product packaging, print ads, business cards, signage, merchandise, or anything else you sell or distribute commercially. There are no licensing fees and no attribution required. The codes are yours.

Static QR codes never expire. The data is encoded directly in the pattern and requires no server to decode. As long as the destination (a website URL, a phone number, a WiFi password) stays valid, the code works. Dynamic QR codes route through a redirect server, so they are only active while your account is active.

A static QR code bakes the destination directly into the pattern. Once printed, you cannot change where it points. A dynamic QR code encodes a short redirect URL instead. You control where that redirect sends the scanner, and you can update it any time from your dashboard without reprinting anything. Dynamic codes also unlock scan analytics: total scans, country breakdown, device type, and time. They require an account and are part of a paid plan.

No. There has never been a watermark on any QR code generated here and there never will be. Watermarking a QR code is a way of holding your own content hostage to push an upsell. We do not do that. Download the PNG or SVG and use it as-is.

The safe minimum for scanning at arm's length (about 30 cm or 12 inches) is 2 cm square (roughly 0.8 inches). A good rule of thumb: the QR code size in centimeters should be at least 1/10 of the maximum scanning distance in centimeters. So for a poster that people scan from 1 meter away, the code should be at least 10 cm square. For outdoor signage or billboards, scale up significantly. When in doubt, go larger. A bigger QR code is never the problem.

PNG is a raster format: it has a fixed pixel resolution. Use it when you know the exact display size in advance, like an email signature or a website image. SVG is a vector format: it scales to any size without losing sharpness. Always download SVG for anything that will be printed, since the printer can render it at full resolution regardless of the final size. If you are unsure, download both and use SVG for print and PNG for digital.

Static QR codes cannot be tracked because there is no redirect layer. The code goes straight to the destination with no server in between. To track scans, you need a dynamic QR code, which routes through a redirect that logs each hit. Alternatively, you can add UTM parameters to the URL you encode (like ?utm_source=print&utm_medium=flyer) and let your website analytics handle the attribution. That approach works with static codes and is often enough for simple campaigns.

A QR code itself does not break. If scanning fails, the issue is almost always the destination: the website went down, the URL changed, or the service behind the link stopped working. For static codes, check that the URL you encoded is still live. For WiFi codes, check that the password has not changed. For dynamic codes, log in to your dashboard and verify the redirect destination is correct. If the physical printed code is damaged or faded to the point where it will not scan, you will need to reprint.