Free codes that never expire
Yes, they exist — they're called static QR codes. Here's how to tell them apart from the trial-trap kind, and how to make yours in 30 seconds.
Static vs. dynamic: the only distinction that matters
A static code encodes your link directly in the pattern. Nothing to expire, nothing to renew — it works as long as the link works. A dynamic code encodes a redirect on the vendor's server, so they can charge you monthly to keep it alive. The full explainer: static vs dynamic QR codes.
The trial trap
Many "free QR code generators" quietly create dynamic codes on a 7- or 14-day trial. Your printed flyers work beautifully — until the trial ends and every code goes dead. Red flags: the site asks for your email before generating, mentions "scan analytics", or talks about "campaigns". A truly free static generator needs none of that.
The 30-second test
Before you trust a generator with your print run: generate a code without creating an account. If it works, it's static. FreeQrly only makes static codes — no accounts exist, so there's nothing to expire. That's also why QR codes don't have to expire.
What can still break (it's not the code)
A static code lasts forever, but its destination might not: if you delete the page it links to, the code "stops working". Link to stable URLs you control, and your codes will outlive most of your marketing materials.
Make yours
Pick any type in the free generator — link, vCard, WiFi — download the PNG or SVG, and print it. No sign-up, no trial, no expiry date hiding in the fine print.
Try it yourself — free, no sign-up
Everything in this article works in the FreeQrly studio right now. Static codes, eight content types, PNG and SVG export.
Open the studioGood to know
Do free QR codes expire?
Static ones don't — the destination is baked into the pattern. Dynamic ones from trial-based generators stop working when the subscription or trial ends.
How can I tell if my QR code will expire?
If the generator required an account or email, it's almost certainly dynamic and tied to a subscription. True static generators work with no sign-up.
What's the catch with FreeQrly?
There isn't one for static codes: they're generated entirely in your browser, so there's no server cost to pass on to you.