Will My QR Code Expire? (Free Expiry Checker)
Many online QR generators disguise 14-day trials as free tools. When the trial ends, your printed materials break. Upload your image to check if your code routes through a paid redirect paywall.
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How the "Free QR Code" Paywall Scam Works
Predatory services lure users with "Free QR Code Generator" ads. Instead of putting your actual website URL directly into the QR code matrix, they encode their own domain (e.g. qr-code-generator.com/c/xyz or qrfy.com) which redirects to your site.
Once you've printed 1,000 flyers, menus, or business cards, they disable the redirect and demand $100–$250/year to reactivate it.
Learn How to Protect Your Print Runs
Read our in-depth investigation on why static QR codes never expire and how to identify dynamic redirects before printing:
Read: Do QR Codes Expire? Everything You Need to Know →Common questions
Do QR codes expire?
The QR pattern itself never expires — it is an image containing text and stays readable indefinitely. What expires is the service behind some codes. A dynamic QR code routes through the provider's server, so it stops working when a trial ends or a subscription lapses. Codes that contain the destination URL directly have no service to expire and keep working as long as the destination page exists. Read the full breakdown →
What is the difference between a static and a dynamic QR code?
A static QR code stores the actual URL inside the pattern. A dynamic QR code stores a short link that redirects through the provider's server. Static codes cannot be edited or tracked but cannot expire. Dynamic codes can be edited and tracked but stop working if the account lapses.
What size should a printed QR code be?
Minimum width should be the scan distance divided by ten. A code read from one metre away needs to be at least 10 cm wide. Business cards need about 2 cm, menus and flyers about 3 cm, and posters 15 cm or more.
Can I change the URL after printing a QR code?
Not within the code itself. Encode a URL you control, such as yoursite.com/menu, and change what that page shows at any time. This keeps the destination flexible without depending on a third-party redirect service.
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