Last checked November 2, 2026
Linktree QR code: how it works, and alternatives for print
Linktree's QR code generator is free with a Linktree account, and the code it makes sends people to your Linktree page [1]. People searching for it ask practical questions: "linktree qr code free", "does linktree qr code expire", "linktree qr code not working", "linktree qr code on business card" and "does linktree have a qr code generator". This page explains what the code does, where it fits well, where a different tool makes more sense for print, and how five alternatives compare. We make QRay, one of them, and we say so where it comes up.
Facts checked on November 2, 2026. Prices and terms change, so follow the numbered sources before you buy.
The problem: one code, one destination
Say a musician prints 500 gig flyers with a Linktree QR code. A scan opens their Linktree page, with links to tickets, streaming and merch [1]. When the tour dates change, they edit the links on the page, and the flyers keep working, because the code points to the page, not to any one link [1]. For a creator with one public page, that's a neat setup.
Now say the same musician runs a small café on the side and wants table cards that open the menu directly. A Linktree code opens the Linktree page first [1], so a diner scans, sees a list of buttons, and taps the menu. That's one extra step every time, and the café's menu now lives inside the musician's link-in-bio page.
The question is whether you want the code to open a hub of links or a single page you choose. Linktree is built for the first. For the second, a dynamic QR tool lets each code point to its own address, and you can change that address later.
Linktree's plans are priced per month. Free costs nothing and includes unlimited basic links. Starter is $7 a month billed annually or $9 monthly; Pro is $14 billed annually or $17 monthly; Premium is $30 billed annually or $35 monthly [2]. Pro removes Linktree branding and adds custom designs, and Premium adds link rules and routing, all-time analytics and data export [2]. Pro and Premium can be tried free for 7 days [2].
On the QR side, Linktree says you can customize colors and designs, and see how many people scan, when, and where they scan from [1]. You download your code from the Share button on your Linktree's Links page [3]. Linktree's pages don't say how long a code works if you close your account, so treat the code as part of the account: while your Linktree page is live, the code opens it.
Three things to check before you choose
1. A hub of links or a single destination
Ask what a person should see the moment they scan. A Linktree code opens your Linktree page [1]. A dynamic code from Bitly, Hovercode or QRay opens the address you set for that code, and you can change it later [4] [5]. Canva's dynamic codes can be edited by their creator [6].
2. Who owns the page people land on
A Linktree code sends scans to a Linktree page with its design and, on lower plans, its branding [2]. If the code is for your business rather than your creator profile, decide whether you want scans to land on your own site.
3. Scan counts and what they cost
Linktree lists QR scan analytics [1]. Bitly includes scan counts but limits destination edits by plan [4]. Hovercode's free plan keeps 3 months of analytics history [5]. Check whether scan data is per code, which matters when one flyer and one poster share a page.
Comparison table
| Linktree | QRay | Bitly | Canva | Hovercode | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edit destination after printing | You change your Linktree page; the code keeps opening it [1] | Yes | Paid plans only: 5 edits/mo on Core, more on higher tiers [4] | Yes, by the code's creator [6] | Yes [5] |
| Free option | Free with a Linktree account [1] | Free to try, no card | Free with ads: 2 QR codes/mo [4] | Free [6] | Free plan: 3 dynamic codes in total [5] |
| When a trial or plan ends | Not stated | Codes made with a free account have no trial end date | Paid plans can schedule a code to expire on a date [4] | Canva says codes are valid forever; may be deactivated if linked content breaks its guidelines [6] | Free-plan codes don't expire; extra paid codes expire if you cancel [5] |
| Paid plans from | $7/mo billed annually, or $9 monthly (Starter) [2] | Free to start | $10/mo billed yearly (Core) [4] | Not stated for the generator | $12/mo [5] |
| Scan counts | Yes, QR analytics [1] | Yes, per code | Yes [4] | Not stated [6] | Basic analytics, 3 months of history on free [5] |
| Use from AI tools | Not stated for QR codes | Claude and Cursor (MCP), command line; ChatGPT planned next | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
Pros and cons of each
Linktree
Pros
- Free with a Linktree account, with color and design options [1]
- Update the links on your page any time without regenerating the code [1]
- Scan counts, plus when and where people scan [1]
- The same page works from your social bios, email signature and printed codes [1]
- Paid plans add selling with 0% fees on Pro and up [2]
Cons
- The code opens your Linktree page, not a page you pick per code [1]
- Removing Linktree branding from the page is a Pro feature [2]
- Link rules and routing are on Premium, at $30 a month billed annually [2]
- Linktree's pages don't say how long a code keeps working if the account closes
QRay
We make QRay, so read this section with that in mind.
Pros
- You can change where a printed code goes, and the pattern stays the same
- Free to try without a card, and codes made with a free account have no trial end date
- Scan counts per code
- You can create and edit codes from Claude or Cursor through MCP, or from the command line
Cons
- A young product with fewer features than the large tools: fewer code types, no landing-page builder and no bulk CSV upload
- Fewer design options than design-first tools
- Team accounts and custom domains aren't available
- ChatGPT support is planned next, not available yet
Bitly
Pros
- Short links, QR codes and landing pages in one account [4]
- Bulk creation from CSV or Excel on higher plans [4]
- Mobile deep links and custom dashboards on higher plans [4]
- Paid plans can schedule a code to expire on a date, handy for time-limited campaigns [4]
Cons
- The free plan has ads and doesn't include changing a code's destination [4]
- Destination changes are counted per month on paid plans [4]
- Core is $10/month with an annual charge of $120 [4]
- Growth is $29/month billed yearly, a step up if you need more edits [4]
Canva
Pros
- Free, including dynamic codes, and Canva says its codes won't expire [6]
- Editing a dynamic code updates every design that uses it [6]
- Handy if your menus and flyers are already designed in Canva
Cons
- On Free, Pro and Education plans the code carries a Canva logo by default [6]
- Only the person who created a dynamic code can edit it [6]
- The generator page doesn't say whether you get scan counts [6]
- A dynamic code may be deactivated if the linked content doesn't meet Canva's platform guidelines [6]
Hovercode
Pros
- A free plan that isn't a trial: the first 3 dynamic codes don't expire [5]
- Custom domains, GPS tracking and team features on paid plans [5]
- GS1 Digital Link codes [5]
- The free plan's rules are written plainly on the pricing page, which makes planning easy [5]
Cons
- The 3 free dynamic codes are a total, not per month [5]
- Codes beyond the first 3 expire if you cancel a paid plan [5]
- Custom domains and GPS tracking are paid features [5]
Which one fits your situation
A creator with one public page of links. Linktree. Update the page and every printed code follows [1].
A café, shop or venue that wants a code to open one page. A dynamic QR tool, such as Hovercode's free plan or QRay, so each code opens its own address [5].
A business card. If the card should open your link-in-bio, Linktree's code works, and Linktree's help center covers creating a digital business card [3]. If it should open your site or a contact page, a dynamic code you can repoint is the safer choice.
Short links and QR codes in one account. Bitly combines both, with destination edits on paid plans [4].
Designs already in Canva. Canva's free generator, with dynamic codes its creator can edit [6].
FAQ
Is Linktree's QR code free?
Yes. You can generate a QR code for free with a Linktree account [1].
Does a Linktree QR code expire?
Linktree's pages don't state an expiry. The code opens your Linktree page, so it works while that page is live [1].
Why is my Linktree QR code not working?
Common print causes are low contrast, a code printed too small, or a damaged print. Since the code opens your Linktree page, also check that the page is live and loads on a phone [1].
Can I put a Linktree QR code on a business card?
Yes. Linktree suggests printing it on cards, posters and packaging [1]. Test a printed sample on two or three phones before ordering a full run.
Does Linktree have a QR code generator?
Yes. Linktree has a free QR code generator, and you can download your code from the Share button on your Links page [1] [3].
Can I change where my Linktree QR code goes?
You change the links on your Linktree page, and the code keeps opening that page [1]. To send a code to a different page entirely, use a dynamic QR code from another tool.
How much is Linktree Pro?
Pro is $14 a month billed annually or $17 monthly, and can be tried free for 7 days [2].