What is a Dynamic QR code?
Static: https://example.com/menu/spring-2026?utm_source=print&utm_medium=flyer Dynamic: https://shorturl.la/aB3dE → redirects to the menu page
The difference is what is inside the code.
Static code
Contains the destination itself. It can't be changed or counted, works without any service, and gets denser as the address gets longer.
Dynamic code
Contains a short link. The service redirects to the destination, so you can edit it, count scans and switch the code off.
Why choose dynamic for print.
Update without reprinting
Fix a typo or point to a new page and every printed copy follows.
Measure scans
See scans by day, country and device.
A simpler pattern
A short link has few characters, which gives a code that scans well at small sizes.
Turn it off
Archive the link when a campaign is over.
What you depend on.
A dynamic code works only while the service behind its link is running, and only while the link is active. Choose a service you trust, and decide what an old code should do when a campaign ends, because an archived link leads to a not-found page.
Common questions
Is a dynamic QR code the same as a QR code from a short link? +
In practice yes. A dynamic code is a QR code that points at a redirecting link, which is what a short link is.
Does a dynamic QR code cost money? +
That depends on the service. On shorturl.la a QR code made from a short link is part of the free plan, within the monthly link limit.
Can I turn a static code into a dynamic one? +
No. The printed pattern is fixed. Create a short link, generate a new code from it and replace the old one.
Is it slower to scan? +
The extra redirect takes a fraction of a second, and the code is usually easier to scan because it holds less data.