You can make a QR code for free in seconds, so why pay for anything? Sometimes you shouldn't. Here's how to tell.
A free generator is fine if
- your wedding website address is final and won't change before the day, or after it if you'll share photos there;
- you only need the QR code, not an address guests can type;
- the address is short enough that the code still scans when printed small.
A plain QR code from a free generator, sometimes called a static code, holds your website's address itself. It works for as long as that address does, and costs nothing. If all three points above are true, use one.
Where free codes catch couples out
- You can't change a printed code. If you move website builder, rename your site, or want the code to lead to the photos afterwards, a static code still points to the old address.
- "Free dynamic" codes can stop working. Some sites offer editable QR codes free, then deactivate them when a trial ends unless you subscribe. Read the terms before you print: what happens after 7, 14 or 30 days, and after a year?
- Long addresses make dense codes. A code that holds a long website address has more, smaller squares, which are harder to scan when printed small or on textured card.
- There's nothing to type. Some guests don't scan codes. A typed address next to the code needs to be short and readable.
What a link you control adds
A short link such as thisisourwedding.co.uk/samandalex gives guests something to type, makes a simpler code, and lets you change where it goes at any time without reprinting. That's what we sell, from £2.99 a month, with the QR code (plain or with a heart) included. Try the example link to see how it works.
Questions to ask of any QR code service
- Does the code keep working if I stop paying, and for how long?
- Can I change where it goes, and is there a limit?
- Do I get a print-quality file (SVG), not only a small image?
- Are my guests tracked when they scan it?
Our answers: your link works for the time you've paid for, and we hold the name for 90 days after it ends; you can change it without limit; you get SVG and PNG; and guests aren't tracked.
Either way, test before printing
Scan the code from a printed proof with two different phones. Our guide to QR codes on invitations covers size, contrast and margins.
Updated 17 October 2026 · All guides