The EQRC notebook / The basics
Static vs. dynamic QR codes: decide before you print
The important decision is not the color of the squares. It is whether the information behind them needs to change. Make that choice before a QR code becomes part of a print run.
| Question | Static QR code | Dynamic QR code |
|---|---|---|
| What is encoded? | The information itself, such as a URL or Wi-Fi details. | A managed link that resolves to a destination or hosted page. |
| Can I change the encoded content? | No. You need a new QR image. | You can update the managed destination or content without replacing the printed code. |
| Are scans measured by this app? | No. A linked website may have its own analytics. | Scan analytics are available while the dynamic service is active. |
| What must stay available? | For a web link, the destination website must still work. | The QR service and the destination need to remain available. |
What a static code keeps fixed
A static QR stores a payload directly in its pattern. If that payload is a web address, scanning opens that address. If it contains text or Wi-Fi details, a compatible scanner interprets that information. You cannot rewrite the pattern on a card that has already been printed.
There is an important distinction: the web address in a static code is fixed, but a website you control can still change what it shows at that address. If your menu always lives at the same stable URL, you may be able to update the web page without changing the static QR.
What a dynamic code adds
A dynamic code stores a managed link. The service behind that link determines where the visitor goes or which hosted content appears. That extra step makes destination changes and scan measurement possible without replacing the code on your materials.
For example, a product insert can keep its existing code when you replace an instruction file. You still need to make sure the new instructions match the product that the customer bought. Editability is useful, but it does not remove the need for a content owner.
Choose using the life of the printed material
Ask how long the material will be used, who owns its destination, and what you will do if a link changes. A one-day handout to a stable page has different needs from packaging expected to remain in use for years.
- List the details that might change: URL, document, phone number or menu.
- Identify whether you control a stable web address already.
- Decide whether scan analytics will help you make a real decision.
- Assign someone to maintain the destination for the life of the print.
Account for access after the trial
Editable QR Code lets you create and customise static codes before signing up, with a free account required to download them. Static downloads do not require a paid plan. New accounts also include a seven-day Business trial for dynamic features. The trial does not automatically become a paid subscription. After the trial and the seven-day grace period, dynamic codes stop opening their destinations unless the account is reactivated with a plan.
Static codes keep their embedded information. A static web link still depends on the linked site remaining available, while plain text can be read by a compatible scanner without loading a website. Choose the model that matches the maintenance you are willing to take on.