What is the difference between a static and a dynamic QR Code?

The most common QR Code type is a QR Code with an encoded URL. When scanning such a QR code the user is either being linked to your website directly (static QR Code) or he is redirected through a tracking URL to your website (dynamic QR Code). The following example explains the two approaches in more detail:

An advantage of static QR Codes is that they have no expiry date and always work as long as the target URL is online.

Static QR Codes can be scanned any number of times as long as the target server can process the requests.

If you only save text content such as events, contact information or WiFi connection data instead of a URL, these can also be read without an Internet connection.

With a static QR Code the user sees immediately where he is being redirected when scanning the QR Code, because the target URL is directly encoded into the QR Code. But what if for some reason the target URL is broken, removed or you just want to redirect the user to a different URL? If you have printed the QR Code already on thousands of magazines, you have a problem.

The content of a static QR code can NOT be changed and NOT be tracked after creation and you can NOT change a static QR Code into a dynamic QR Code

Unfortunately, you cannot change a static QR Code to a dynamic QR Code. Once printed a static QR Code can never be changed again. You can only change the target URL of a dynamic QR Code. Please always use dynamic QR Codes to avoid broken QR Codes.

With a dynamic QR Code you are not only able to change the target URL of the QR Code after publishing but also track from where, when and from who the code has been scanned. This is accomplished by routing the user through a tracking server first and then redirect the user to the original URL. The first URL is called the tracking or Vanity URL. The data we collect is anonymous and cannot be assigned to any person and therefore it is compliant with any data protection regulations like GDPR or CCPA.

When you create a dynamic QR code, you have the option of changing the target address at any time. We often keep getting inquiries like:

We had a high-volume catalog printed with QR Codes and accidentally deleted the underlying YouTube videos. Can I link the QR Codes to another video?

If you already have a QR Code campaign running and are using dynamic QR Codes, changing the destination address is easy without having to reprint the QR Code.

Changing the target URL of a dynamic QR Code does not change the appearance nor the structure of the QR Code.

But even if a typo has crept in or you forgot to put the http-protocol in front of the link (some QR code readers do not recognize the link if the protocol is missing), you can easily correct the target URL.

An example of the use of dynamic QR codes are campaigns that should only be directed to a URL after a certain date. You can create a redirection determined by date and time, which will allow, for example, that your clients can buy tickets for a show or spectacle only from a pre-determined day and time.

We regularly check your dynamic QR codes to see whether the target address of a QR code is still available. Our link monitor automatically informs you by e-mail if it discovers an orphaned link. You can then point the target address of your dynamic QR code to a valid URL.

Shortened tracking URLs have another advantage: due to the smaller number of characters encoded in the QR code, the QR code can also be printed out smaller and still remains readable. The following example illustrates a QR code with a long URL on the left and a tiny dynamic QR code with the slim short URL on the right.

No. The URL in the QR code is either a shortened URL that runs through our server (dynamic) or the target URL is encoded directly in the QR code (static). It is not possible to switch between static and dynamic QR Codes as these are different URLs.

No. The URL in the QR code is either a shortened URL that runs through our server (dynamic) or the target URL is encoded directly in the QR code (static). It is not possible to switch between static and dynamic QR Codes as these are different URLs.