Last checked November 1, 2026
QR Code Generator PRO alternatives for codes you've already printed
QR Code Generator PRO (qr-code-generator.com, part of Bitly) is one of the most visited QR tools on the web, and it does a lot well. But a common search after using it is some version of "why did my QR code stop working?" or "qr code generator pro cancel subscription". This page explains why that happens, what to check in any dynamic QR tool before you print, and how five alternatives compare, including QRay, the tool we make.
Facts checked on November 1, 2026. Prices and terms change, so follow the numbered sources before you buy.
The problem: the code is printed, the plan isn't
Say a café prints 500 table cards with a QR code that opens its menu. The owner made the code during a free trial because it was quick and the design looked good. A few weeks later, guests start saying the code opens a page that isn't the menu.
Nothing is wrong with the print. A dynamic QR code doesn't hold your menu link. It holds a short link owned by the QR service, and that service decides where each scan goes. If the account behind the code is no longer active, the service can stop forwarding scans. On QR Code Generator PRO, dynamic codes created during the free trial are deactivated when the trial ends, and scans go to a service page until you upgrade [2]. Upgrading turns the same codes back on, so the cards don't need reprinting [3].
That's a fair business model, and it's written in their help center. The trouble is that it's easy to miss when you're making a code in a hurry, and the cost of missing it lands on printed material you can't change.
So the useful question isn't "which generator has the most features?" It's "what happens to a printed code under each plan, and what will it cost me to keep it working?"
Three things to check before you choose
1. What happens to printed codes when a trial or plan ends
This matters more than any design option. Look for a plain statement in the pricing page or help center. There are roughly three patterns:
- Codes stop redirecting when a trial or subscription ends (until you pay again).
- Codes keep working, but with ads, a logo popup or a scan cap.
- Codes keep working with no conditions stated.
If a tool doesn't say, treat that as "not stated", not as "safe".
2. Whether you can change the destination after printing
Static codes put your link straight into the pattern. They never depend on a subscription, but you can't fix a typo or point them somewhere else later. Dynamic codes can be edited, which is why menus, flyers and packaging usually want them, and why the first check above matters.
3. What a small team will really pay
Check three things on the pricing page: the cheapest plan that includes dynamic codes, whether it's billed monthly or only yearly, and how cancellation works. A plan that looks cheap per month may be billed as a year up front.
Comparison table
| QR Code Generator PRO | QRay | QRCode Monkey | Canva | QR TIGER | Hovercode | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edit destination after printing | Yes, dynamic codes [1] | Yes | No, codes are static [5] | Yes, by the code's creator [6] | Yes [7] | Yes [8] |
| Free option | Free trial [1] | Free to try, no card | Free generator [5] | Free [6] | Free plan [7] | Free plan [8] |
| When a trial or plan ends | Trial dynamic codes are deactivated until you upgrade [2] | Codes made with a free account have no trial end date | Not applicable, static codes don't expire [5] | Canva says codes are valid forever; may be deactivated if linked content breaks its guidelines [6] | Free dynamic codes have a scan cap and a logo popup [7] | Free-plan codes don't expire; extra paid codes expire if you cancel [8] |
| Paid plans from | $9.99/mo billed yearly, or $19.99 month to month [1] | Free to start | Not stated | Not stated for the generator | US$7/mo [7] | $12/mo [8] |
| Scan counts | Yes [1] | Yes, per code | No [5] | Not stated [6] | Basic analytics on free [7] | Basic analytics on free [8] |
| Use from AI tools | Not stated | Claude and Cursor (MCP), command line | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
Pros and cons of each
QR Code Generator PRO
Pros
- A large set of code types and landing-page templates [1]
- Bulk creation from a CSV file on paid plans [1]
- Upgrading reactivates the codes you already printed, so a lapsed trial doesn't force a reprint [3]
- Static codes made there keep working after the trial [4]
Cons
- Dynamic codes made in the trial stop redirecting when it ends [2]
- The Starter plan includes 2 dynamic codes and 10,000 scans for 1 user; Advanced and Professional are billed yearly only [1]
- Subscriptions renew automatically, and notice to cancel is due before the end of the billing cycle [1]
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, which helps if you already work in those tools
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 Canva or QRCode Monkey
- Team accounts and custom domains aren't available; they may come later, but we won't promise dates
- ChatGPT support is planned next, not available yet
QRCode Monkey
Pros
- Free, with no scan limits, and its static codes don't expire [5]
- Logo, color and design options, with PNG, SVG, PDF and EPS downloads [5]
Cons
- Codes are static, so a typo or a moved page can't be fixed after printing [5]
- No scan statistics in the free generator; it points you to QR Code Generator PRO for that [5]
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], which matters if staff change
- The generator page doesn't say whether you get scan counts [6]
QR TIGER
Pros
- Free plan with dynamic codes and basic analytics, plus unlimited static codes [7]
- Paid plans from US$7/month, with bulk generation and geofencing on higher tiers [7]
Cons
- Free dynamic codes are capped at 500 scans each [7]; packaging or a busy flyer can reach that
- Free codes show a QR TIGER logo popup [7]
Hovercode
Pros
- A free plan that isn't a trial: the first 3 dynamic codes don't expire [8]
- Custom domains, GPS tracking and team features on paid plans [8]
Cons
- The 3 free dynamic codes are a total, not per month [8]
- Codes beyond the first 3 expire if you cancel a paid plan [8]
Which one fits your situation
A café or restaurant menu. The menu link changes with seasons and prices, and the cards stay on tables for a long time. You want a dynamic code whose end-of-plan behavior is clear. Hovercode's free codes, Canva (if the logo is fine) and QRay all fit. If you stay on QR Code Generator PRO, upgrade before the trial ends.
A solo maker or small shop printing packaging. Scan volume can grow quietly. Check scan caps (QR TIGER's free plan has one [7]) and pick a tool where you can change the link if you move shops or product pages. QRay suits this if you'd rather not keep a subscription running.
A small agency handling several clients. You'll want team seats, bulk creation and many code types. QR Code Generator PRO's paid plans [1] or Hovercode's paid plans [8] fit better than QRay today.
A one-off event. If the link won't change after printing, a static code from QRCode Monkey is simple and doesn't depend on any account [5]. If the schedule might change, use a dynamic code.
Someone who works in Claude or Cursor. QRay lets you create a code or change a destination from the chat or the editor through MCP, without opening a dashboard.
FAQ
Why did my QR Code Generator PRO code stop working?
If it was a dynamic code made during the free trial, it was deactivated when the trial ended, and scans now go to a service page [2]. Upgrading reactivates it [3].
Do QR codes expire?
Static codes don't; the link is inside the pattern. Dynamic codes depend on the service behind them. Some keep working on a free plan, some stop when a trial or subscription ends. Check the help center of the tool you use.
Is QR Code Generator PRO free?
It has a free trial [1]. Static codes keep working after it ends; dynamic codes don't, unless you upgrade [2][4].
How do I cancel a QR Code Generator PRO subscription?
Its pricing page says subscriptions renew automatically and an informal email is enough to cancel, but notice must arrive before the end of the billing cycle [1]. Codes tied to the plan stop redirecting after it ends.
How much does QR Code Generator PRO cost?
From $9.99/month billed yearly ($119.88), or $19.99 month to month, for the Starter plan [1].
Is there a free dynamic QR code with no expiration?
Canva says its codes are valid forever [6], and Hovercode's first 3 free dynamic codes don't expire [8]. Codes made with a free QRay account have no trial end date.
qr-code-generator.com or QRCode Monkey?
QRCode Monkey makes free static codes that can't be edited [5]. QR Code Generator PRO makes dynamic, editable codes on a trial or paid plan [1]. Pick by whether the link might change after printing.
Can I move my existing code to another service?
No. The short link inside a printed dynamic code belongs to the service that made it. To switch, make a code with the other tool and use it on your next print run.
Sources
- https://www.qr-code-generator.com/pricing/
- https://support.qr-code-generator.com/hc/en-us/articles/7665046137613
- https://support.qr-code-generator.com/hc/en-us/articles/7665049132685
- https://support.qr-code-generator.com/hc/en-us/articles/7665040427405
- https://www.qrcode-monkey.com/
- https://www.canva.com/qr-code-generator/
- https://www.qrcode-tiger.com/payment
- https://hovercode.com/pricing/