Compare / OpenQR vs QR Code Generator (qr-code-generator.com)
OpenQR vs QR Code Generator (qr-code-generator.com)
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OpenQR keeps working after you stop paying: static codes are free and watermark-free with no account, and dynamic codes and scan analytics sit on the free tier (1 code and 7-day history; 25 active codes and a 90-day window on Pro for £9/mo). QR Code Generator (qr-code-generator.com, by Bitly) is one of the most-visited QR sites, and its model leans on a free-looking flow that funnels you into a subscription: dynamic codes work during a 14-day trial and then stop unless you pay, and the most useful design/export options are gated. OpenQR also adds a custom oqr.to back-half, a UTM builder, CSV bulk creation, a free API and an MCP server, all open-source.
Where OpenQR wins
- Free forever: your OpenQR dynamic codes never expire or get switched off because a trial ended.
- No sign-up and no watermark: download a clean code in your browser in seconds.
- Scan analytics on every plan (last 7 days free, a 90-day window on Pro at £9/mo), with no paywall to see your scans.
- An open-source core you can self-host, audit or fork (no vendor lock-in, no upsell funnel).
- A built-in MCP server, so AI agents (Claude, Cursor) can create OpenQR codes directly.
Where QR Code Generator still leads
- A very large library of pre-built templates (menus, apps, coupons, and more), though OpenQR now covers vCard/business cards free.
- Guided, step-by-step creation flows for non-technical users.
- Established brand with broad platform integrations (it's part of Bitly).
- Team features and custom branded domains on paid plans.
- Higher bulk-import limits on paid tiers.
FAQ
Is QR Code Generator (qr-code-generator.com) actually free?
Partly. QR Code Generator's static codes are free, but its dynamic (editable) codes work only during a 14-day trial and then stop unless you subscribe, and analytics are paid. OpenQR includes dynamic codes and analytics on its free tier (1 code and 7-day history; 25 active codes and a 90-day window on Pro), and they never expire.
Will my QR code stop working if I don't pay?
On qr-code-generator.com, a dynamic code can stop redirecting once the trial ends, with no way back. On OpenQR, static codes work forever offline and nothing is ever deleted: cancel a paid plan and codes beyond the free active allowance pause (scanners see a holding page) until you reactivate one or re-subscribe, which brings every paused code back at once.
Is OpenQR a good free alternative to qr-code-generator.com?
Yes. For most purposes OpenQR replaces it entirely: free static codes, 1 free dynamic code (25 active on Pro), free 7-day analytics (a 90-day window on Pro), custom design, a UTM builder, CSV bulk creation and an API, with no trial and no watermark.
Where does QR Code Generator still win?
In its large template library, guided flows for non-technical users, and team and branded-domain features on paid plans. OpenQR covers the core payload types today, including free vCard/digital business cards, with more templates on the roadmap.
Free, open-source, no sign-up to generate.