Guide
Static vs Dynamic QR Codes: Which One Should a Shopify Store Use?
What separates a static QR code from a dynamic one, when each makes sense for a Shopify store, and the one risk of dynamic codes you should plan for.
Every QR code you print is either static or dynamic. The difference is invisible on paper, but it decides whether you can change where the code goes, measure who scans it, and reuse the print you already paid for.
What a static QR code is
A static QR code stores its content directly in the pattern: a web address, a Wi-Fi password, a contact card. The phone reads the pattern and acts on it — there is nothing in between.
- Free: any generator can make one.
- Permanent: it never depends on a service, so it can’t stop working.
- Fixed: to change the content, you print a new code.
- Silent: nobody counts the scans.
- Dense when the content is long: a long address means more, smaller squares.
What a dynamic QR code is
A dynamic QR code stores a short link. When someone scans it, the link records the scan and redirects to the destination you set — and you can change that destination at any time.
- Editable after printing: change the product, the offer or the page without touching the print.
- Measurable: every scan is counted, with time, device and approximate country.
- Smart: a dynamic code can send people to different pages depending on their device or country, or switch to another page after a date.
- Lighter pattern: the short link makes a less dense code, easier to scan.
- Dependent on a service: the redirect has to stay online.
Side by side
| Static | Dynamic | |
|---|---|---|
| Change the destination after printing | No | Yes |
| Count scans | No | Yes |
| Compare placements | Only with separate UTM links | Yes, one code per placement |
| Pattern density | Grows with the content | Low (short link) |
| Works without any service | Yes | No |
| Cost | Free | Free plans exist; paid plans add features |
When a static code is enough
- Content that will never change and that you don’t need to measure: a printed contact card, a permanent instructions page.
- A one-off internal use, such as a link on a staff notice.
When you need a dynamic code
- Anything printed in volume or kept for months: packaging, inserts, catalogs, shop-window stickers. Offers change; boxes stay in circulation.
- Campaigns you want to judge: flyers, posters, events, magazine ads.
- Codes that should lead to different places over time: a pre-launch page, then the product, then a fallback once the stock is gone.
The one risk of dynamic codes — and how to plan for it
Because a dynamic code relies on a redirect service, it stops working if that service disappears or if you stop using it. Before printing thousands of codes, check three things:
- What happens when a code is paused or expired? With TrackQr, the shopper is sent to your store or to a fallback page you choose — never to an error page.
- What happens if you downgrade? With TrackQr, nothing is deleted: codes beyond your plan’s limit are paused (and fall back to your store) until they fit again.
- What happens if you leave? If you uninstall TrackQr, your data is deleted after 48 hours and the codes stop redirecting. If you only want to stop paying, switch to the free plan instead and keep your codes alive.
How to create a dynamic QR code for a Shopify product
- Install TrackQr from the Shopify App Store. The free plan includes 3 dynamic codes.
- Open Create QR code, choose Product and pick the product from your catalog.
- Optionally add a discount code, applied automatically when the shopper lands.
- Name the code after where it will be printed, then download it.
- Activate it, print it, and scan it once to check.
From then on, you can change where it points without reprinting — and see every scan.