The one-sentence difference
A static QR code holds its information in the pattern itself, so it never expires and cannot be edited or tracked, while a dynamic QR code holds a short link that a provider's server redirects, so you can change the destination and count scans for as long as that provider keeps the redirect running.
How each one works
Static QR codes
The information is encoded directly in the pattern. When someone scans the code, the phone reads the data from the printed image, and nothing sits between the scan and the destination. That is why a static code cannot be edited after printing, cannot be tracked, and never expires.
77-3.com makes static codes. Your code is generated in your browser, and the text, contact details, Wi-Fi passwords and logos you enter are never sent to or stored on our servers.
Dynamic QR codes
The pattern holds a short link to the provider's server. Each scan goes to that server, which redirects the phone to the destination. Because every scan goes through the provider, the destination can be edited and scans can be counted.
That middle step is also the trade-off. The provider can stop the redirect, and some QR services document that dynamic codes stop working when a free trial or subscription ends.
Both kinds scan with the built-in camera app on current iPhones and Android phones, so no extra app is needed.
Static vs dynamic at a glance
The table compares the two on the points that usually decide the choice.
| Question | Static QR code | Dynamic QR code |
|---|---|---|
| Where the data lives | In the pattern itself | On the provider's server, behind a short link in the pattern |
| Can it expire? | No. It never expires. | It can. Some services stop codes when a trial or subscription ends. |
| Can you change the destination? | No, not after printing | Yes |
| Can scans be counted? | No. Static codes cannot be tracked. | Yes |
| Privacy | Nothing sits between the scan and the destination | Every scan goes through the provider |
| Cost | Free on 77-3.com, with no sign-up | Depends on the provider. Some tie codes to a trial or subscription. |
| Works if the provider shuts down? | Yes. It keeps working even if 77-3.com disappears. | Only while the provider keeps the redirect running |
When a static code is the better choice
Choose static when the code needs to work for years and you do not want it to depend on a provider staying in service. These are the most common cases.
- Anything printed in volume. Packaging, signs and flyers that stay in use for a long time are a good fit, as long as the destination is final before you print.
- Wi-Fi. The network name and password are stored in the code, and current iPhone and Android camera apps can join a network from a Wi-Fi QR code. If the password changes, you will need to print a new code. Make one with the Wi-Fi QR code generator.
- Contact cards. A contact card code opens a save contact screen on current iPhone and Android phones, and the details are never stored on our servers. Start with the vCard QR code generator.
- Codes that must last for years. A static code never expires and keeps working even if 77-3.com disappears.
- Privacy-sensitive uses. Nothing sits between the scan and the destination, and no scans can be tracked. Your text, contact details and Wi-Fi passwords are never sent to or stored on our servers.
When a dynamic code is the better choice
Dynamic codes are the right tool when the destination may change after you print, or when you need to know how many people scanned. Two common cases:
- Campaigns where the link may change. If a promotion's landing page might move, or the final address is not known when you print, a dynamic code lets you update the destination later.
- Campaigns where you need scan counts. A static code cannot be tracked by anyone. If you need to know how many people scanned, a dynamic code from a provider that counts scans is the better fit.
A dynamic code is not a mistake. It trades some independence for flexibility. Before you rely on one, read the provider's terms and find out what happens to the code if you stop paying, a trial ends, or the company closes. For more on that, read do QR codes expire?
77-3.com makes only static codes. It cannot change where a printed code points and cannot count scans, so if you need either, you will need a dynamic code from another service.
A middle path: a static code that points to your own page
You can get the editing flexibility of a dynamic code without a provider in the middle. Make a static code that points to a page on your own website. The code stores that web address, and the page itself is yours to change at any time.
That means you can update what people see without reprinting anything. The printed address cannot change, so choose one you plan to keep, and keep the page online for as long as the code is in use.
The code still cannot count scans. Also, 77-3.com cannot host files such as PDFs or menus. If the destination is a file, upload it to your website or to a cloud drive you control, then make a code for that link.
Questions to ask any QR provider before you print
Ask these before you commit to any service, whether it sells static or dynamic codes.
- Is this a static or a dynamic code? If it is dynamic, what does the printed pattern point to?
- What happens to my code if I stop paying, my trial ends, or the company shuts down?
- Can I change the destination after printing, and what does that involve?
- What data do you collect about each scan, and how long do you keep it?
- Can I download the code as a vector (SVG) file for print?
Whichever type you choose, always test-scan the code with a phone before you print a large run.
Make one now
Need a static code? It is generated in your browser with no sign-up required. Make a free static QR code now.