Static vs dynamic QR codes: which do you need?
Both encode a destination into a scannable pattern. The difference is what happens after you print it.
Open the QR code generator →The core difference
A static QR code has your URL, WiFi details, or contact card baked directly into the black-and-white pattern. Nothing about it can change after you generate it — if the destination needs to move, you need a brand new code. A dynamic QR code instead encodes a short redirect link that GenHub controls; the printed pattern points at that link forever, but you can change where the link forwards to at any time from your account, without touching the printed code.
Static: free, permanent, no account needed
Static codes are generated entirely client-side, free, unlimited, with no sign-in required. They support URLs, plain text, WiFi credentials, contact cards (vCard), email, phone and SMS payloads, with logo and color customization and PNG/SVG export. Because the data lives directly in the code, there's nothing to maintain — the tradeoff is that the destination is locked in forever.
Dynamic: editable, tracked, Pro
Dynamic codes require a GenHub account and Pro subscription. In exchange, you get an editable destination — change it as many times as you like, instantly — and privacy-respecting scan analytics: total and unique scans, plus country, device and OS breakdowns, without ever storing a scanner's raw IP address.
A simple decision rule
- Printing a one-off flyer for a single event with a fixed URL? Static — it's free and there's nothing to break.
- Printing anything at real volume — menus, packaging, signage, business cards — where the link might need to change? Dynamic — the cost of one Pro month is far less than a reprint.
- Want to know if a physical placement is actually getting scanned before committing to more of it? Dynamic — static codes can't be tracked, since they point straight at your destination with nothing in between.
- Building a personal project, a one-time gift, or an internal-only WiFi or contact card? Static — no reason to pay for editability you won't use.
Can you switch later?
Yes, in one direction easily: if you started static and want tracking or editability, generate a new dynamic code and replace the printed material when convenient. Going the other way requires nothing — a dynamic code doesn't stop functioning if you never touch it again; it simply keeps forwarding to whatever destination was last saved.
FAQ
Does a dynamic code look any different from a static one?
No — visually a QR code carrying a short redirect link looks like any other QR code. The difference is entirely in what happens after the scan, not in the pattern itself.
Is a dynamic QR code slower to scan?
The scan itself is identical; the only extra step is a fast server-side redirect, which typically adds well under a second before the destination loads.
Do static codes expire?
No. A static QR code is just encoded data — there's no server involved, so it works indefinitely as long as the destination it points to, like a URL, still exists.
Which one should a restaurant use for a menu?
Dynamic, in almost every case — menus change seasonally and a broken link on printed table cards is expensive to fix without one.