Short answer
A static QR code never expires: the destination is stored in the pattern itself. A dynamic QR code can stop working at any time, because it depends on the company hosting its redirect, and many generators disable codes when a free trial or subscription ends.
Two kinds of QR code, two very different lifespans
Static codes store the destination (a link, Wi-Fi details, contact card) directly in the black and white pattern. Nothing sits between the phone and the destination, so there is nothing that can expire. As long as the printed code is readable and the website it points to exists, it works.
Dynamic codes store a short link owned by the QR company, such as provider.com/abc123. When someone scans, the phone visits the provider first, and the provider redirects to your destination. That is what lets you change the destination and count scans. It also means the provider decides whether your code keeps working.
Why dynamic codes "expire"
A redirect costs almost nothing to run. Codes stop working because it is a business model: once a code is printed on 5,000 flyers, the customer cannot easily leave. Reviews of popular generators show the pattern clearly. At the time of writing (September 2026), one of the largest generators held a 1.3 out of 5 rating across more than 9,000 Trustpilot reviews, dominated by complaints that "free" codes stopped working after a trial, with messages like "I have to pay $120 to keep working codes I already printed on business cards."
Common ways a dynamic code dies:
- Trial expiry. The code works for 7 or 14 days, then redirects to a sign-up page.
- Cancellation. The subscription ends and the redirect is switched off.
- Scan caps. A "free" plan silently stops after a few hundred scans.
- The provider shuts down or changes its domain.
How to tell which kind you have
Scan the code with your phone camera and look at the link it shows before opening it:
- If it shows your own website (for example
cafeluna.com/menu), it is almost certainly static. - If it shows a QR company's domain or a short link, it is dynamic and depends on that company.
You can also paste the link into the Kizmo QR safety checker, which follows every redirect and shows where the code really ends up.
What to do if your printed codes are about to expire
You cannot change what a printed dynamic code points to without the provider's cooperation, because the provider owns the short link. Your realistic options are:
- Keep paying until you can reprint, then replace the codes on your next print run.
- Reprint with a code you control. A static code pointing at a page on your own website is permanent; you can change that page any time.
- Choose a dynamic provider with a written no-deactivation promise. Kizmo's never-hostage guarantee keeps every code redirecting to its last destination even if you stop paying.
The short version
Static codes are permanent. Dynamic codes are only as permanent as the promise behind them, so read the cancellation terms before you print.
See which QR code generators keep codes working after you stop paying, with each provider's own terms.
Frequently asked
Do QR codes have an expiration date?
No QR code has a built-in expiration date. Static codes work forever. Dynamic codes stop only if the company hosting their redirect turns them off.
Why did my free QR code stop working?
It was almost certainly a dynamic code created on a free trial. When the trial ended, the provider stopped redirecting it.
Do Kizmo QR codes expire?
No. Static codes are permanent by design, and Kizmo's dynamic codes keep redirecting to their last destination even if you stop paying.