We are a QR generator reviewing QR generators — bias declared. So here are checkable facts about what each big name actually gives away, and where the free tiers end. Verify any cell on their pricing pages.
For free static codes with full design freedom: us or QRCode Monkey — both genuinely free; we add transparent backgrounds, 4096px exports and per-type tool pages; Monkey has had a decade of deserved trust.
For editable codes: this is where the industry's subscription trap lives — codes that die when you stop paying. Our £10-once editable code exists precisely because £96–£560 a year to keep one redirect alive is absurd for a café menu.
For enterprise fleets (hundreds of codes, teams, API, SOC 2 paperwork): the Bitly platforms are built for that budget — read our full pricing comparison first so you know what the first year really costs.
For static codes: SimplyQRCodes or QRCode Monkey — both give unlimited codes, logos and vector export with no watermark. The Bitly-owned pair restrict free tiers hard.
Static codes never expire anywhere. The danger is dynamic codes on subscriptions — they deactivate when payment stops. Our editable codes are £10 once with no subscription to lapse.
Yes — long-established, genuinely free static generator. Its dynamic/PRO product is a separate paid service.
20 types, logos, colours and print-ready files — free, no signup, generated in your browser.
Open the generatorMake it editable first — £10 once, repoint forever, no subscription.