Static codes do not expire
If the pixels contain https://your-site.com/menu, the phone opens that address until the site itself dies. There is no middle server to bill you. There is also no way to fix a typo or see a scan count. That is the trade.
Dynamic codes can
A dynamic code contains a short URL. The vendor decides whether that hop stays up. Some kill it after 14 days. Some after 500 scans. Some when you cancel. QRtracer keeps the hop live on Free and after a cancel. You pay for history and automation, not for the paper to keep working.
What vendors actually do
Last checked 2026-09-06. Each row cites the vendor’s own help or pricing page.
| Provider | Policy |
|---|---|
| QR Code Generator (Egoditor / Bitly) | Dynamic codes deactivate after trial expiration unless upgraded to an annual subscription. |
| QR Tiger | Short redirect domain for QR Tiger. Capped at 500 scans on free tier. |
| Flowcode | Flowcode mobile landing pages remain active indefinitely; editing locked upon plan cancellation. |
| Bitly | Primary Bitly domain. Link persistence governed by Bitly account terms. |
| Hovercode | Short domain for Hovercode dynamic redirects. First 3 free dynamic codes remain active indefinitely. |
| ME-QR | Free dynamic codes remain active but display third-party advertisement interstitials before redirecting unless a premium plan is active. |
| QRCodeKIT (uqr.me) | Legacy redirect domain for QRCodeKIT. Subject to commercial trial deactivation. |
| Uniqode (formerly Beaconstac) | Primary domain for Uniqode. Requires active subscription to maintain dynamic redirect resolution. |
| Scanova | Dynamic QR codes stop functioning when the 14-day trial expires. Upgrading to a paid plan reactivates redirection. |
| QRFY | Dynamic QR codes deactivate after 7-day trial period unless customer maintains recurring subscription. |
| Canva | Short redirect domain for Canva dynamic QR codes. |
| QRtracer | All QR codes—static and dynamic—keep redirecting forever on every plan, including Free. Codes created on paid plans continue redirecting without interruption even after cancellation. |
How to check a printed code
Scan it, copy the URL, and paste it into the expiry checker. If the host is one we know, you get the policy. If you already know the brand, skip to the compare hub.