Handycode
Best Free Dynamic QR Code Generators (2026)
We make HandyCode, so we are not neutral. What makes this list checkable anyway: every competitor figure below is quoted from that vendor’s own page, with the access date, so you can verify (or catch us) in a minute. Updated October 2026.
This guide ranks the generators that offer dynamic QR codes - codes you can edit after printing, because they redirect through the service instead of storing the link in the image. If that distinction is new to you, start with Static vs Dynamic QR Codes.
All limits and prices observed on the dates shown (mostly 2026-10-25); vendors change terms.
How we ranked them
Three criteria, in order:
- What the free plan actually gives you - dynamic code count, scan caps, branding, file hosting.
- What happens when you stop paying - this is a decision axis, not a footnote: some vendors deactivate dynamic codes when a plan ends, others document keeping them alive. Your printed material lives or dies by this line.
- Platform - browser, iPhone/iPad app, Android.
Comparison table
Figures from each vendor’s own pages, accessed 2026-10-25 unless noted:
| Tool | Free dynamic codes | Free scans | Cancellation behavior | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HandyCode | Unlimited, 46 free types | No documented cap | Keeps redirecting after cancel - see the documented policy | iPhone & iPad app |
| LinkScan | “Unlimited (3 new per day)” | Unlimited | Active while account exists; above-free limits undocumented | Web |
| QR TIGER | 3 (500 scans each) | 500 per code | Active plan required | Web + iOS + Android |
| QRCodeChimp | 10 | 1,000/mo shared | Deactivates above free limits (all but last 10) | Web |
| Hovercode | 3 in total, lifetime | Unlimited | Deactivates above free limits (keeps first 3) | Web |
| Uniqode | None - trial only | Trial only | Active plan required - trial codes go inactive | Web + iOS + Android |
A note on the cancellation column: we are not claiming other roundups ignore it - it is simply the axis we think deserves the most weight for anything you print, because it is the failure you cannot fix after the fact. HandyCode ranks first on the unlimited-free-dynamic plus cancel-safety axis; LinkScan is the closest free rival; QR TIGER and Uniqode are strong tools for audiences HandyCode does not serve.
1. HandyCode - best unlimited free dynamic plan on iPhone
Free: unlimited dynamic codes across all 46 free code types (links, PDFs, images, rich text, menus, WiFi, vCard, social), files hosted behind the code, no credit card, and no documented scan cap - we don’t publish a limit because none exists in the server. Form-type codes are the one Pro-only type; everything else is free. Cancel: dynamic codes keep redirecting after a Pro cancellation or refund; the only documented change is a small “Powered by HandyCode” label possibly reappearing on hosted pages. This is covered by automated server tests - full policy in What Happens to My QR Codes if I Cancel?. Paid: Pro is $9.99/mo or $89.99/yr (App Store billing): custom logo, branding removal, detailed analytics after a 14-day trial. Honest losses: detailed analytics is trial-then-Pro (Hovercode gives basic analytics free forever), and there is no Android app or web dashboard. The app is offline-first, which is the point if you manage codes from a phone.
Full breakdown, including what is not free: free dynamic QR code generator and free QR codes that never expire.
2. LinkScan - the closest free rival, browser-only
Free: their pricing page bullets and FAQ say “Unlimited dynamic QR codes (3 new per day)” - while their feature table also says “unlimited (6/day creation)”. Quoting both as found: their own page is inconsistent about the daily rate, so treat 3-6 codes/day as the practical ceiling. Unlimited scans, and static codes are generated client-side with no account. Cancel: dynamic codes “remain active as long as your account exists” - no documented deactivation-on-cancel, though behavior above the free limits is also undocumented. Catch: free scans carry LinkScan branding; removal is the Advanced plan ($5/mo), and analytics is entirely behind the paywall. Strength: if you refuse to install anything and want zero-friction statics plus cheap dynamic headroom, LinkScan’s economics are hard to beat. Side-by-side: LinkScan alternative.
3. QR TIGER - best template ecosystem, strict free tier
Free: 3 dynamic codes, 500 scans each, and a logo popup on free QR pages. Paid: US$7/mo Regular (12 dynamic), $16/mo Advanced (200), $37/mo Premium (600); unlimited scans on paid, no popup. Cancel: dynamic-code functionality requires an active plan; a downgrade caps you at the 3 free dynamic codes. Strength: a huge template ecosystem, apps for iOS and Android (29 languages), and real enterprise features. If your team lives in a browser and needs Android, that ecosystem is worth money - the free tier just is not the way to use it. Details: QR Tiger alternative.
4. QRCodeChimp - 10 free dynamic codes, shared scan pool
Free: unlimited static codes plus 10 dynamic codes (including one digital business card), with “1000 scans per month free for all the dynamic codes combined” (their pricing page). The first 10 dynamic codes “remain active indefinitely.” Cancel: “If the plan is not renewed, your account will downgrade to the free plan, and all dynamic QR Codes except the last 10 will be deactivated.” (their help center, accessed 2026-10-25). Strength: a generous static-code story and a middle-ground free dynamic count between Hovercode’s 3 and unlimited - as long as the 1,000 scans/mo shared pool covers your traffic and you accept that codes beyond 10 die on cancellation.
5. Hovercode - best free analytics, hardest free ceiling
Free: 3 dynamic codes in total, for life (the cap does not reset), unlimited scans, no ads on scans, and basic analytics (total/unique scans, 3-month history) free permanently. Cancel: you move to the free plan, only the first 3 dynamic codes stay active, everything else goes inactive until you resubscribe - and custom-domain codes stop working. Paid: Pro is $12/mo or $120/yr for 100 dynamic codes in total, 1 custom domain, 12-month analytics history. Strength: the free analytics and unlimited scans are genuinely good, and we would rather say so than pretend otherwise. The lifetime 3-code cap is the wall: it is a hobbyist tier, not a workflow. Details: Hovercode alternative.
6. Uniqode (Beaconstac) - enterprise-grade, no real free tier
Free: none - trial only, and their FAQ is blunt: “Once your free trial expires, any dynamic QR Codes you created will become inactive…” (their pricing FAQ, accessed 2026-10-22). Paid: entry at $9/mo, Core at $49/mo (their “best value” pick), annual billing only, and a custom domain add-on at $2,000/domain/year. Strength: compliance certifications, forms and lead capture, team features, iOS and Android apps, plus a full web dashboard. For a regulated company with a budget, that package is real - it simply has nothing to offer a free-tier user, which is why it is last here. Side-by-side: HandyCode vs Uniqode.
When HandyCode is not the right choice
A shortlist with no disqualifiers is an ad. Skip HandyCode if you need:
- Android - use QR TIGER, QRCodeChimp, or a browser tool; HandyCode is iPhone and iPad only.
- A web-based dashboard - all the web tools above manage codes from a browser; HandyCode manages them from the app.
- Enterprise compliance certifications, lead-capture forms, or multi-user workflows - Uniqode is built for exactly that and we are not.
- Free permanent analytics - Hovercode ships basic scan analytics for free; HandyCode’s detailed analytics is trial-then-Pro.
FAQ
What is the best free dynamic QR code generator?
It depends on the axis. For unlimited free editable codes that survive cancellation, HandyCode (iOS, unlimited, 46 free types, forms on Pro, no documented scan cap) leads, with LinkScan the closest free rival - also unlimited, rate-limited to 3 new per day per its own pricing page, with branding on free scans. For free analytics, Hovercode. For Android and templates, QR TIGER. All figures from vendor pages, 2026-10-25.
What happens to my QR codes if I cancel?
Three patterns, all documented by the vendors themselves: codes that keep redirecting after cancel (HandyCode; LinkScan while the account exists), codes deactivated above the free limit (Hovercode keeps 3; QRCodeChimp keeps the last 10), and active-plan-required (QR TIGER; Uniqode after trial). Read what happens when you cancel before you print anything at scale.
Are free generators safe for print?
Only if the numbers match your usage: code count, scan cap, and the cancellation clause. And remember the two-minute fundamentals - print size, contrast, and a test scan from multiple phones - covered in Static vs Dynamic QR Codes.
The takeaway
For iPhone users, the strongest free deal we could verify with dated sources is unlimited dynamic codes of all 46 free types, hosted files, and redirects that survive cancellation - that is HandyCode’s free plan. For browser-first users, LinkScan is the honest runner-up. Pick the axis, check the vendor’s own page for today’s terms, and print with fewer surprises.
Get HandyCode free on the App Store
QR Code is a registered trademark of DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED. QR TIGER, Hovercode, LinkScan, QRCodeChimp, and Uniqode are trademarks of their respective owners; comparisons are informational. Prices and tiers observed on the dates shown - verify current terms with each vendor.