Static vs dynamic QR codes: which one should you use?

The short answer

Use a static code when the content will never change and you don't need scan statistics: a Wi-Fi password, a fixed link, plain text. Use a dynamic code when you might want to change the destination after printing, or you want to count scans.

How static codes work

A static code encodes your content directly in the pattern. Nothing is stored on a server, so the code works forever, offline, and needs no account. The downsides: you can't edit it after it's made, you can't see how many people scanned it, and longer content creates a denser, harder-to-scan code.

How dynamic codes work

A dynamic code encodes a short redirect address that belongs to the service. When someone scans it, they are sent through that address to your real destination, which you can change at any time. Because the code always contains a short link, it stays simple and easy to scan, even when the final URL is long. And because scans pass through the redirect, the service can count them.

Side by side

Editable after printing: static no, dynamic yes.
Scan counts: static no, dynamic yes.
Needs the service to keep running: static no, dynamic yes. If the redirect service disappears, so does the code.
Works offline: static yes (for content that doesn't need the internet), dynamic no.
Pattern density: static varies with content, dynamic is always light.
Account needed: static no, dynamic yes.

Which to choose

Wi-Fi, plain text, contact details you will never change: static.
Restaurant menus, flyers, posters, packaging: dynamic, because you will want to fix a typo or update a link without reprinting.
Marketing campaigns: dynamic, so you can see which placement drives scans. Pair it with the UTM link builder to see the traffic in your analytics.
Digital business cards: dynamic when details may change, static vCard when they won't. See the vCard guide.

Watch out for lock-in

Dynamic codes depend on the provider. Before printing thousands of them, check what happens if you stop paying or the service shuts down: some providers deactivate the codes immediately. Keep a record of your destination links so you can recreate a code if needed, and test the redirect regularly.

Make your code

You can create both kinds with the QRinst generator. Static codes are generated in your browser with no sign-up; dynamic codes need a free account because they are stored so they can be edited.