Why do QRCG by Bitly QR codes stop working?

QRCG's free plan is a 14-day trial. When the trial expires, dynamic QR codes are deactivated or converted to an ad-gated version that shows a 3-second ad before the redirect. If a paid subscription lapses, codes also stop redirecting. This is the most common complaint across Trustpilot and Sitejabber reviews: users print materials and later find the code no longer reaches its destination.

Are QRZY free QR codes permanent?

Yes. QRZY's free plan offers one dynamic QR code with no trial, no credit card, and no expiry. It includes smart routing rules (time of day, day of week, date range), 7-day daily analytics, and keeps redirecting indefinitely. The free tier is designed to demonstrate the permanence model before you pay.

What happened to qr-code-generator.com?

Bitly acquired Egoditor GmbH — the company behind qr-code-generator.com — in December 2021. The product continued operating under the qr-code-generator.com brand until April 20, 2026, when it was rebranded as 'QRCG by Bitly.' The subscription model, billing entity (Bitly Europe GmbH), and user reviews carried over through the rebrand.

Is QRCG by Bitly the same as Bitly?

No. Bitly (the URL-shortening platform, bitly.com) and QRCG by Bitly are two separate products with separate accounts and subscriptions. Bitly's own support documentation confirms this. QRCG is the renamed qr-code-generator.com, focused on QR code generation.

What is the difference between QRZY and QR Code Generator?

The core difference is what happens when you stop paying. QRZY permanently reserves your short code — the redirect keeps working indefinitely. QR Code Generator (QRCG by Bitly) deactivates dynamic codes when the trial ends or a subscription lapses. QRZY also includes conditional routing (time, location, device, A/B) on every paid plan; QRCG has no equivalent routing engine.

QRZY vs QR Code Generator (QRCG by Bitly)

QR Code Generator's 14-day trial ends and your printed codes go silent — or show a three-second ad before redirecting. Users on Trustpilot describe scanning a menu or business card to find nothing. QRZY codes keep redirecting whether you're paying or not.

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

When to choose each

Choose QRZY if…

Your QR codes are on physical print runs that cannot be reprinted if they stop working. You want smart routing and analytics without a subscription trap.

Choose QRCG by Bitly if…

You only need a one-off static QR download, will not print it on anything permanent, and do not need analytics or routing.

Feature comparison

Feature	QRZY	QRCG by Bitly
Code longevity after cancellation	Codes redirect forever — short codes permanently reserved	Dynamic codes deactivated or ad-gated when trial ends or subscription lapses
Free dynamic codes	1 permanent dynamic code — no trial, no expiry, no credit card	14-day free trial; then deactivated (or 3-second ad on ~2 codes) without payment
Smart routing	Time/day/date on Free; device + A/B on Starter; location, language, scan count on Pro	No conditional routing logic
Analytics	Geo, device, channel attribution, hourly/daily breakdown — GDPR-compliant HyperLogLog	Basic scan count; limited to paid tiers
Billing model	$100/yr Starter (annual-only, no monthly creep)	~$120/yr Starter billed annually — no monthly option
Brand recognition / SEO reach	New, independent product	High organic traffic; backed by Bitly infrastructure
Visual QR templates	Clean, functional	Large template library with logos, shapes, and color customization

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 by default. No trial cutoff.

QRCG by Bitly

Free tier

14-day free trial with dynamic QR and analytics; after trial, dynamic codes are deactivated or ad-gated

Entry paid

Starter: exact USD price still unconfirmed — pricing page is geo/JS-rendered — but plan structure confirmed at 2 dynamic QR codes with a 10,000 scans/month cap (qr-code-generator.com/pricing, checked 2026-07-10); third-party estimates cite ~$120/yr

Notes

Annual-only billing, no monthly option. No-refund policy documented in reviews. Billed by Bitly Europe GmbH.

Where QRZY wins

QR codes work forever after cancellation — short codes are permanently reserved and cannot be deactivated.
1 permanent free dynamic code with smart routing (no trial, no credit card, no expiry).
9-condition routing engine — time/day/date on the free tier; device + A/B on Starter; location, language, scan count on Pro.
GDPR-compliant analytics: HyperLogLog unique-visitor counts without storing raw IP addresses.
Channel attribution — track which print run, event, or campaign drove each scan.

Where QRCG by Bitly wins

Much larger visual template library — hundreds of QR styles, shapes, and logo-embed options.
Higher organic search visibility; a well-known destination for one-off QR creation.
Backed by Bitly infrastructure and Bitly Europe GmbH data-protection compliance.

Frequently asked questions

Related resources

Dynamic vs Static QR Codes

The core difference — and why the trial-to-paid trap only affects dynamic codes.

QR Code Tracking Guide

What scan analytics looks like when it actually works — every scan, for years.

Getting Started with QRZY

Create your first permanent dynamic QR code free — no trial, no credit card.

Your printed QR should never stop working

Create a permanent dynamic QR code free — no trial, no expiry.

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