Bitly is the best-known link shortener, and QR codes are part of its connections platform. If you mainly want QR codes rather than link management, QRNever is a lighter option.
Last checked: . Competitor features and pricing change often. Always confirm current details on Bitly's own website. This page reflects our understanding in good faith and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Bitly.
Feature comparison
Feature
Bitly
QRNever
Primary product
Link management
QR codes
Pricing model
Free plan plus subscriptions
Free; Pro $4.99 once; Dynamic from $29/year
Custom short domain
Yes, on paid plans
No
Free static codes, unlimited
Limited monthly allowance
Yes
Dynamic codes
Plan-dependent
25 per subscription; keep redirecting if cancelled
QR codes as part of a link platform
At the time of checking, Bitly offers a free plan with a small monthly allowance of links and QR codes, and paid plans billed monthly or annually that raise limits and unlock customisation and analytics. Bitly QR codes typically encode a Bitly short link, so scans go through Bitly, which enables editing and tracking.
For teams already using Bitly for links across campaigns, having QR codes in the same dashboard is convenient.
Why people switch
The common threads:
They only need QR codes, not a full link management product.
Monthly limits on free QR codes don't fit occasional bursts, such as printing an event's signage.
They'd rather pay $4.99 once for static codes, or a small Dynamic plan whose codes keep working if they stop paying.
They want free static codes that don't route through any vendor at all.
Where Bitly is stronger
Bitly supports custom branded domains, much larger link volumes, team workspaces, integrations and detailed analytics. QRNever's dynamic codes use qrnever.com short links, are capped at 25 per license and show simpler statistics. If your organisation depends on branded short links, Bitly is likely the better tool. As always with dynamic codes, printed codes rely on the service that issued them.
Try QRNever free
Static codes with no signup, no watermark and no expiry. Pro is $4.99 once; Dynamic from $29/year.