Is Bitly free for QR codes?

Bitly's free plan includes two dynamic QR codes per month with unlimited scans and basic customization — no credit card required. QRZY's free plan offers one permanent dynamic QR code (not metered monthly) with smart routing rules (time of day, day of week, date range) and 7-day daily analytics — also without a credit card.

Does Bitly have a QR code scan limit?

Bitly has a monthly creation cap (how many QR codes you can create per month) but not a scan limit — scans are unlimited on all Bitly tiers. The cap is on creation: 2/month on free, 5/month on Core, 10/month on Growth, 200/month on Premium.

What is the difference between Bitly and QRCG by Bitly?

They are two separate products. Bitly (bitly.com) is the URL-shortening and link-management platform. QRCG by Bitly (formerly qr-code-generator.com, acquired by Bitly in December 2021 and rebranded April 2026) is a standalone QR code generator with its own account and subscription. Bitly's support documentation confirms they are distinct products.

Can I switch from Bitly to QRZY without reprinting my QR codes?

Printed Bitly QR codes encode Bitly redirect URLs — they cannot be re-pointed to a different platform. Switching means new QRZY codes on future print runs. If portability matters, QRZY's architecture permanently reserves short codes in the QRZY system, so you are not locked to Bitly's redirect infrastructure going forward.

Does Bitly support conditional QR routing?

No. Bitly dynamic QR codes redirect to a single destination; there is no conditional logic for routing by time, device, location, or A/B split on any Bitly plan. QRZY includes time/day/date routing on the free tier, device + A/B on Starter ($100/yr), and location, language, and scan count on Pro ($250/yr).

QRZY vs Bitly for dynamic QR codes

Bitly is a link-shortener first and a QR tool second. Free users get two QR codes per month — and no conditional routing on any plan. If QR codes are the actual job, you're adopting a link-management suite to get one metered feature.

Looking for a Bitly alternative? See the best Bitly alternatives →

When to choose each

Choose QRZY if…

QR codes are your primary need and you want smart routing (time, location, device, A/B), full scan analytics, and a predictable annual price without adopting a link-management suite.

Choose Bitly if…

You already run URL shortening at scale on Bitly and want links, landing pages, and QR consolidated in one dashboard you already pay for — and the monthly QR cap fits your volume.

Feature comparison

Feature	QRZY	Bitly
Primary focus	Dynamic QR codes — purpose-built	Link shortening and management; QR is a secondary, metered feature
Monthly QR cap	1 permanent code on free; 3 codes on Starter ($100/yr)	Free: 2 QR/month; Core ($10/mo): 5/mo; Growth ($29/mo): 10/mo; Premium ($199/mo): 200/mo
Smart routing rules	Time/day/date on Free; device + A/B on Starter; location, language, scan count on Pro	Simple redirect only — no conditional routing logic on any Bitly plan
Analytics	Geo, device, channel attribution, hourly/daily breakdown, HyperLogLog unique visitors	Click analytics on paid plans; geo on higher tiers
Billing model	$100/yr Starter (annual-only — one predictable yearly cost)	Core is now annual-only ($120/yr, $10/mo effective) — no monthly option at entry; Growth/Premium still offer monthly at a higher rate
Brand maturity	New, independent product	10M+ users, established enterprise trust, years of proven uptime
Link management	QR-focused; URL shortening is a side effect of the redirect engine	Best-in-class link shortening, campaign UTM tracking, branded short domains

Pricing

QRZY

Free tier

1 permanent dynamic QR code, smart routing, 7-day analytics — no credit card, no trial

Entry paid

Starter: $100/yr — 3 codes, hourly analytics (7 days), no QRZY branding

Notes

Annual-only billing. All codes dynamic with smart routing — no upgrade required for conditional logic.

Bitly

Free tier

5 short links/month + 2 dynamic QR codes/month — basic customization, unlimited scans, no credit card

Entry paid

Core: $120/yr ($10/mo effective) — annual billing only, no monthly option; 5 QR/mo, 10 links/mo, basic analytics (link cap not independently reconfirmed 2026-07-10)

Notes

Bitly and QRCG by Bitly are separate products. Codes resolve through Bitly's redirect infrastructure; access is tied to your account. Core plan itself is annual-only as of 2026-07-10; Growth and Premium still support monthly billing at a higher per-month rate.

Where QRZY wins

Purpose-built for QR codes — no link-management suite to adopt just to get QR creation.
Smart routing engine — time/day/date on free; device + A/B on Starter; location, language, scan count on Pro — no Bitly equivalent on any plan.
Cloudflare KV: globally-cached redirect resolution at the edge.
3 codes for $100/yr Starter vs Bitly Core at $120/yr for only 5 QR/month.
Annual pricing means a fixed yearly cost rather than an open monthly subscription.

Where Bitly wins

Established brand trust — 10M+ users, years of proven uptime, enterprise SLAs.
If you already manage URL shortening at scale on Bitly, consolidating links + QR in one dashboard is a real win.
Growth and Premium tiers still offer monthly billing at a higher rate — an option for teams that want to avoid an annual commitment above the entry tier.
Best-in-class link management, branded domains, and UTM/campaign tracking if link analytics are as important as QR.

Frequently asked questions

Related resources

Dynamic vs Static QR Codes

Understand the difference before choosing between a QR-first platform and a link tool.

QR Code Tracking Guide

What scan analytics reveals — and what you lose when routing is locked to one destination.

Getting Started with QRZY

Create your first dynamic QR code and set your first smart routing rule.

QR codes are the job, not a side feature

Create your first dynamic QR code free — no credit card, smart routing included.

Get Started Free