Last checked November 1, 2026
QR no Susume (QRのススメ) alternatives for editable printed codes
QRのススメ (QR no Susume, qr.quel.jp) is one of the longest-running free QR generators in Japan. It makes static codes with no sign-up, and it also offers a free editable code type whose destination you can change after printing [1] [2]. The searches people run about it are mostly in Japanese and mostly about trust: 「qrのススメ 安全性」 (is it safe?), 「qrのススメ 期限」 (does it expire?), 「qrのススメ 無料」 (is it free?) and 「qrのススメ 有料」 (what does the paid version add?). This page answers those questions in English from the site's own pages, explains the one design choice that matters most for print, and compares five alternatives. We make QRay, one of them, and we say so where it comes up.
Facts checked on November 1, 2026. Prices and terms change, so follow the numbered sources before you buy.
The problem: an extra page between the scan and your link
Say a small guesthouse prints 200 check-in cards with a QR code that opens its house rules. The owner uses QRのススメ's free editable code, because the rules change with the seasons and the card stock is expensive.
Here is what happens on each scan. The code doesn't hold the house-rules link. It holds a fixed address on the QRのススメ site, and the site looks up where that code should go. The site's own Q&A describes this: the scan opens the site's fixed URL, and from a mobile page there, the visitor moves on to the link stored in its database [2]. The owner can log in and change that stored link at any time, and the printed cards keep working [2].
The trade-off is the page in the middle. The Q&A points people who want to skip that page, hide the ads, or see how many people scanned to the paid version [2]. For a local café whose regulars know the site, that may be fine. For a guesthouse whose guests arrive from abroad and expect the house rules straight away, a page that isn't yours between the scan and your content is worth thinking about before you print.
The second detail is how you get back into a code later. The free editable code isn't tied to an account in the usual sense. Each code has an ID (the number at the end of its d.quel.jp address) and a password you set, plus an optional admin email address [2]. If you forget the password, the site can send a reset to that email. If you never registered an email and lose the password, the site says plainly that there's no way to recover it, and you'd need to make another code [2]. That is honest, and it's also the kind of thing that bites three years after printing, when the person who made the code has moved on.
On expiry, the site's answer is calm and specific. It sets no particular expiry date for editable codes, has no current plan to stop the service, and says that if it ever does, it will announce that on the page and on X about a year in advance and keep links working for a sufficient period afterwards [2]. If you need a committed period of use, it points you to the paid version [2].
The paid version is called Smart QR. It is priced for businesses: a 10-day trial with all features, then Basic at ¥38,000 a year excluding tax (¥41,800 including) for up to 30 active links and roughly 30,000 scans a month across the account, with 6-month (¥28,000) and 3-month (¥22,000) terms too [3]. The trial doesn't roll into a paid plan automatically, upgrades are possible at any time, downgrades aren't, and there's no refund for cancelling mid-term [3]. For a guesthouse with one or two codes, that's a large step from free.
Three things to check before you choose
1. What sits between the scan and your page
Some tools redirect a scan straight to your link. Others show a page of their own first, with a notice, a confirmation step or ads. Both QRのススメ's free editable code and QRouton's free plan add a page before the redirect [2] [4]. Scan one of your test codes on a phone and look at what a first-time visitor sees, in the language they read, before you print.
2. How you'll get back into the code years later
A printed code can outlive the person who made it. Ask how the code is recovered: an account with email login, a shared team workspace, or a code-level password. If recovery depends on one email address or one password, write it down somewhere the business, not just one person, can find it.
3. What you pay, and how it's counted
Free tools differ in what they hold back (scan counts, removal of a middle page, design). Paid plans differ in how they bill: by year, by term, by link, by brand. QRのススメ's paid version is billed per term and counts active links and monthly scans across the account [3]. Work out how many codes you'll have in a year, then compare like with like.
Comparison table
| QR no Susume | QRay | QRouton | Hovercode | QRCode Monkey | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edit destination after printing | Yes, with its free editable code type [2] | Yes | Yes, any time [4] | Yes [5] | No, codes are static [6] |
| Free option | Free, no sign-up, commercial use allowed [1] | Free to try, no card | Free: 50 active links, 1 member [4] | Free plan: 3 dynamic codes in total [5] | Free generator, no scan limits [6] |
| When a trial or plan ends | No expiry set for free editable codes; about a year's notice promised if the service ever stops [2] | Codes made with a free account have no trial end date | Disabled links go to a QRouton 404 page by default [4] | Free-plan codes don't expire; extra paid codes expire if you cancel [5] | Not applicable, static codes don't expire [6] |
| Paid plans from | Smart QR (paid version): ¥38,000 a year excl. tax for Basic [3] | Free to start | ¥1,100/mo incl. tax (Entry) [4] | $12/mo [5] | Not stated |
| Scan counts | Paid version only [2] | Yes, per code | Access logs; 1 month on free [4] | Basic analytics, 3 months of history on free [5] | No [6] |
| Use from AI tools | Not stated | Claude and Cursor (MCP), command line; ChatGPT planned next | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
Pros and cons of each
QR no Susume
Pros
- Free, with no sign-up and no particular cap on how many editable codes you make [2]
- Commercial use is allowed [1]
- The site says it has run in Japan for more than two decades [1]
- Static codes for URLs, email, Wi-Fi, text and more sit on the same site [1]
- Smart QR, the paid version, makes every code type editable, adds scan counts, and has a 10-day trial that doesn't roll into a paid plan [3]
- Before closing, the site promises about a year's notice on the page and on X [2]
Cons
- Free editable codes send scans through a page on the site before your link; removing that page and the ads needs the paid version [2]
- No scan counts on the free version [2]
- If you lose the password and didn't register an email address, the site says there's no way to recover the code [2]
- Smart QR is priced for businesses: Basic is ¥38,000 a year excluding tax for 30 links, with no mid-term refunds and no downgrades [3]
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
QRouton
Pros
- No ads on any plan [4]
- Codes can be made before the destination is decided [4]
- CSV bulk create and update on Economy and above [4]
- Used in KADOKAWA publications, per its site, with an SLA on Economy and Business plans [4]
Cons
- The free plan shows a confirmation page before each redirect [4]
- The site and support are in Japanese, priced in yen [4]
- Prices are per brand, so several brands mean several bills [4]
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]
QRCode Monkey
Pros
- Free, with no scan limits, and its static codes don't expire [6]
- Logo, color and design options, with PNG, SVG, PDF and EPS downloads [6]
- No account needed, which suits a one-off job where the link will never change [6]
Cons
- Codes are static, so a typo or a moved page can't be fixed after printing [6]
- No scan statistics in the free generator; it points you to QR Code Generator PRO for that [6]
- If you later want scan counts or edits, you'll need a different code and a reprint
Which one fits your situation
A café or shop in Japan with mostly local customers. QRのススメ's free editable code is a reasonable start if the page in the middle doesn't bother your customers. Register an admin email when you make the code, so you can recover it later [2].
A guesthouse, hotel or venue with international guests. You'll probably want the scan to land straight on your page. Hovercode's free codes, QRay, or QRouton's paid plans (which drop the confirmation page) fit better [5] [4].
A business that needs invoices and contract terms in Japanese. Smart QR or QRouton's paid plans are built for this, with term billing and support in Japanese [3] [4].
A one-off print run where the link will never change. A static code is simplest. QRCode Monkey's static codes don't expire and need no account [6], and QRのススメ makes static codes without sign-up too [1].
Someone who works in Claude or Cursor. QRay lets you create a code or change its destination from the chat or the editor through MCP, or from the command line, without opening a dashboard.
FAQ
Is QR no Susume (QRのススメ) safe to use?
The site says it has operated in Japan for more than two decades and lists a recent security patch on its top page [1]. Its editable codes work by sending scans through its own fixed address and then to your link [2], which is how most editable QR tools work. What you should check is the page your visitors see in the middle, and that you can recover the code later.
Is QR no Susume free?
Yes. Static and editable codes are free, with no sign-up, and commercial use is allowed [1] [2].
Do QR no Susume codes expire?
The site sets no particular expiry date for editable codes and promises about a year's notice if it ever stops the service [2]. Static codes hold the link itself, so they don't depend on the site.
What does the paid version of QR no Susume add?
The paid version, Smart QR, removes the page in the middle so scans go straight to your link, hides ads, adds scan counts and adds a committed period of use and support [2]. Basic is ¥38,000 a year excluding tax [3].
Can I change the link of a QR no Susume code after printing?
Yes, if you made it as an editable code (可変QR). Log in with the code's ID and password and change the link [2]. A static code can't be changed.
What if I lose my QR no Susume password?
If you registered an admin email, you can have a reset password sent there. If you didn't, the site says the code can't be recovered [2].