Static or dynamic QR code: what is the difference?

All QR codes look alike, but there are two kinds that work very differently. The choice matters most before you print.

Create your QR code: free and static, or editable for life for €2.99 paid once.

Create a free QR code Create an editable code

The static QR code

The content is written directly into the image: a web address, a text, Wi-Fi access… The phone reads it without going through any server. It cannot expire, be cut off or be edited. The longer the content, the more small squares the code has, and the larger you must print it.

The dynamic (editable) QR code

The image only holds a short link owned by the service that created it. That link forwards to your content, which you can change at any time, and it counts scans. In return, the code depends on that service: if it shuts down, or the subscription is no longer paid, the code can be cut off.

Side by side

	Static	Dynamic
Editable after printing	No	Yes
Can be cut off	Never	Yes, by the service
Scan statistics	No	Yes
Code size	Grows with the content	Always compact
Hosted pages (PDF, business card…)	No	Yes
Price at QR Durable	Free	€2.99 once

Which one should you choose?

Static if the content will never change: a venue’s Wi-Fi, a final link, a text.
Dynamic if you print in quantity, if the address may change, if you want statistics, or for a PDF, a business card or a menu.
Either way, beware of “free” dynamic codes whose trial expires: check who controls the link and what happens if you stop paying.

Questions

Is a dynamic QR code slower to scan?

No: the redirect adds a fraction of a second, invisible to the person scanning.

Can a static code be turned into a dynamic one?

Not the same code: you need a new one, then reprint. Tip: if your static code leads to your own website, you can redirect that page to the new destination.