Static vs dynamic QR codes
Every QR code is either static or dynamic. The difference decides whether you can change it after printing, whether you can count scans, and — on many platforms — whether it stops working when a trial ends.
How a static QR code works
The content — a link, Wi-Fi password, contact — is encoded directly in the black and white squares. Nothing is looked up when someone scans, so it works offline and forever.
The flip side: you cannot change it, and nobody can count its scans. A typo means a reprint.
How a dynamic QR code works
The pattern contains a short link. When it is scanned, the link server records the scan and redirects to the destination you have set. Change the destination and every printed copy follows.
Because the short link is short, the pattern stays simple and scans easily even when printed small.
Do dynamic QR codes expire?
They should not, but on many services they do: free plans often limit you to a handful of dynamic codes or deactivate them after a trial, and the printed code stops working.
On QR ALTRIX dynamic codes are free and unlimited and keep working until you pause or delete them.
Which one should you use?
Static: Wi-Fi, vCard contacts, plain text, and links you are certain will never change.
Dynamic: menus, packaging, posters, business cards, campaigns — anything printed in quantity or where you want to measure results.
Frequently asked questions
Can I turn a static code into a dynamic one?
No, the pattern is different. Create a dynamic code and replace the printed one.
Are dynamic codes slower to scan?
The redirect adds a fraction of a second; the simpler pattern often makes them faster to read.
Do dynamic codes collect personal data?
On QR ALTRIX they record country, device and similar details, with IP addresses stored only as salted hashes.