QR Code Generator, QRCode Monkey or Canva: which codes expire?
Make a static QR code, and it keeps working for as long as the page it points to exists. A dynamic code sends every scan through a short link owned by the generator, and QR Code Generator's own support pages say dynamic codes are deactivated when a free trial ends while static ones carry on. So ask any generator two questions: is this code static or dynamic, and what happens to it when the plan stops?
QR code generatorNeed a QR code that won’t expireDo it freeAt a glance
Details are as published by each service at the time of writing (November 2026) and can change.
| Tool | Where your data goes | Sign-up | Free use | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QR Code Generator | Static codes hold the data, dynamic ones use its short link | Account for dynamic codes, 14-day trial | Static codes free and never expire | Editable, trackable codes on a paid plan |
| QRCode Monkey | Static codes | Not required on the page | Free, no expiry, no scan limit | Logos, colours and print formats |
| Canva | Codes are kept in your Canva account | Canva account | Free generator, static or dynamic | Codes inside a Canva design |
| fixmint | Drawn in your browser | None | Free, static only | Codes that must never expire |
QR Code Generator
At qr-code-generator.com the static types are free: URL, vCard, plain text, email, SMS, Twitter, WiFi and Bitcoin. The site says they never expire, but their content cannot be edited and their scans cannot be tracked. Dynamic codes let you change the destination after printing and track scans. Trying them means creating an account for a 14-day trial, with no credit card needed.
The support pages describe what happens when the trial expires. You can still log in, dynamic codes are deactivated and point to a service page rather than the original destination, and static codes continue to work. Your code data is kept but cannot be viewed until you upgrade, and upgrading reactivates the dynamic codes. A printed dynamic code is therefore only as durable as the subscription behind it.
QRCode Monkey
QRCode Monkey states that every code it generates is static, free for commercial use, never expires and has no scan limit. The one limitation it names is that you cannot edit a code again afterwards.
It offers logo upload (PNG or SVG), colours, shapes and gradients, and downloads in PNG, SVG, PDF and EPS. Its page notes that the logo and design settings work only with PNG and SVG, and it recommends a high pixel setting when you need a print-quality PNG.
Canva
Canva's generator page says you can make static or dynamic codes, customise the design, and for dynamic codes change the destination URL later. Your earlier codes are listed in your account so you can manage them.
The codes belong to your Canva account. If you print a dynamic one for something long-lived, check Canva's current terms to see what happens to it if your plan changes.
When another tool is the better choice
- You want scan counts, or the ability to change the link after printing: use a dynamic code from QR Code Generator or Canva, and accept that it depends on a plan.
- You want a logo, rounded shapes or a gradient on the code: QRCode Monkey. fixmint offers colours, size and error correction, but no logo upload.
- You need vector files for a big print: QRCode Monkey offers SVG, PDF and EPS. fixmint offers PNG and SVG.
- The code belongs on a poster you are already designing in Canva: its built-in generator saves a step.
Do it free on fixmint
fixmint makes static codes for a link, email, phone number, SMS or plain text, drawn in your browser. There is no account, trial or expiry date, and nothing you type is sent anywhere. Error correction is your choice: M is a good default, and H keeps the code readable when part of it is covered, for example by a logo you place over the centre, at the cost of a denser pattern. For a guest network, the Wi-Fi QR code tool writes the network name and password into a code and a printable card. Make a QR code that never expires, free, and read static versus dynamic QR codes before you print.
Quick answers
Do QR codes expire? A static code does not, because the data is inside the pattern. It only stops being useful if the page it points to is taken down. A dynamic code can stop when the service that redirects it deactivates it, for example after a trial.
Can I change a static code after printing? No. The content is part of the pattern, so you make a new code and print that one. Test the link before you print a large run.
Why will my QR code not scan? Low contrast, a code printed too small and too dense a pattern are the usual causes. Why a QR code will not scan lists the fixes.
Does a static code count scans? No. A static code opens its content directly, so there is no redirect that could count visits. Scan counts are a feature of dynamic codes, which is why they depend on a plan. fixmint makes static codes only, and it never sees or stores what you type.
Comments
No comments yet. Be the first.
