Static or dynamic QR code: which one for printed material?
A static QR code contains the destination address itself: it depends on no service, but that address can no longer change once the code is printed. A dynamic QR code contains a short address that redirects to the destination: you can change it without reprinting and count scans, but the code only works as long as the redirecting service stays active. For material printed in large numbers or displayed for a long time, a dynamic code saves a reprint; for a one-off use whose address will never change, a static code is enough.
The difference in one table
| Criterion | Static QR code | Dynamic QR code |
|---|---|---|
| What the image contains | The final address | A short redirect address |
| Change the destination after printing | Impossible | Possible, without reprinting |
| Count scans | No | Yes |
| Depends on a service | No | Yes, it must stay active |
| Image size | Denser if the address is long | Always compact |
When to choose a static QR code
- The address will never change (for example the home page of a stable website).
- The material has a short life.
- You do not want to depend on any provider, and you do not need statistics.
When to choose a dynamic QR code
- The material is printed in large numbers or displayed for a long time: packaging, signs, shop windows, brochures, business cards.
- The destination may change: new restaurant menu, updated form, campaign page.
- You want to know whether, and when, the material is scanned.
The question to ask before choosing a dynamic service
What happens to your QR code if you stop paying, archive it, or the account stays inactive? At QR Suisse, QR codes are dynamic, and the rules are written down:
- Archived QR code: the person who scans only sees a short message in French, "QR code introuvable ou désactivé." (QR code not found or disabled). You can reactivate it at any time, within the limits of your plan.
- Deleted QR code: its short address is retired for good. It will never point to another QR code.
- End of a paid subscription: if the account has more than 3 active QR codes, the 3 oldest keep working. The others show, for 14 days, an intermediate page with a link to the destination, then a neutral page, without the destination, until a paid plan is active again. QR codes printed with a custom domain stop working as soon as the subscription ends, with no grace period.
- Inactive Free account: after 6 months with no sign-in and no scan at all, preceded by warning e-mails, the account is marked for deletion: its QR codes stop responding, and there are 30 days left to recover it before it is deleted. A QR code that keeps being scanned keeps the account active.
Frequently asked questions
Does a dynamic QR code stop working one day?
It works as long as the redirecting service is active and your account allows it. At QR Suisse, a QR code that is scanned regularly keeps the account active, and every case where it stops (archiving, deletion, end of subscription) is described in advance.
Can a static QR code be turned into a dynamic one?
No. The image of a static QR code contains the final address. To go dynamic, you create a new QR code and reprint it.
Is a dynamic QR code harder to scan?
No. Its short address gives a simpler image, often easier to read than a static code that encodes a long address.
Can I use my own domain name in a dynamic QR code?
Yes, with a Pro or Entreprise plan: your QR codes can use your own subdomain, for example qr.your-company.ch. Images downloaded after that carry your domain's address, and only work while this domain is active and the subscription is running, with no grace period. Each QR code also keeps its QR Suisse address.