Bitly vs Flowcode (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Bitly grades higher than Flowcode: 2.2 against 2.0 out of 4.0.
Checked Oct 23, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 · graded Oct 23, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
Bitly grades higher on features. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan, ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Bitly
Link shortener and QR code platform with click and scan analytics
Flowcode
Branded QR codes and landing pages, with an enterprise data platform
Which one is for you
Pick Bitly if
- Fits if you want links and QR codes counted in one dashboard
- Works for a marketer who needs short links next to the codes
Look elsewhere if
- Tight if you are staying free: 2 QR codes and 5 links a month, with ads
- Watch out: Core is annual only, and Premium is $300 a month if billed monthly
- Pricey if you want branded links, which start on Growth at $29
- Watch out: only Premium keeps a year of data and city and device-level detail
Pick Flowcode if
- Fits if you're a consumer brand putting codes on packaging, ads or broadcasts and want scans tied to a CRM
- Works for one person who needs two designed codes and basic scan counts, free
Look elsewhere if
- Pricey if you're one person or a small shop, as Pro Plus is $25 a month yearly and $60 monthly
- Tight if your codes get scanned a lot, as analytics stop at 500 scans free and 6,000 on Pro Plus
- Pricey if you need the API or CRM links, which start on Growth at $250 a month, billed yearly only
- Watch out: Flowcode 2 plans have no published price and are bought through a demo with sales
- Watch out: the Pro Plus plan card gives 3 collaboration seats, while the comparison table lists 5
How we grade them
| 2.2GPABitlyFair | 2.0GPAFlowcodeFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | DCore is $10 a month billed annually for 5 QR codes, Growth $29 for 10, Premium $199. Branded links and the included custom domain start on Growth, well above the $10 category middle. | DPro Plus is $25 a month billed yearly, or $60 monthly, which puts it in the dearest tenth of this category, where the middle is $9. CRM integrations and the API need Growth at $250 a month, billed yearly only. |
| Free plan and trial | CFree for 2 QR codes and 5 links a month, 2 landing pages and unlimited clicks and scans, with ads. | CFree for good with no ads: 2 Flowcodes, 2 landing pages and analytics for up to 500 scans. The codes keep scanning after that, but two codes is a cap you will hit. |
| Features | BDynamic QR codes, short and branded links, click and scan analytics, landing pages and 2D barcodes. The limits are monthly caps rather than missing parts. | CDesigned codes, landing pages, forms, routing by day, device or place, scan and click analytics and bulk creation. The gap the listing names: analytics stop at a scan cap on every priced plan, 6,000 on Pro Plus and 10,000 on Growth, though the codes keep working. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record. A web app with links, codes, pages and domains to set up. | CNo rating on record. Pro Plus is self-serve, but Flowcode 2 is bought through a demo and set up by its team, and the analytics caps need watching. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWeb only, with Shopify, Canva and HubSpot integrations and an API. | BWeb only, with CRM and CDP connections and an API from Growth. The listing names no specific integration, and there's no phone or desktop app. |
| Best for | short links and QR codes with click counts | designed codes for large consumer brands |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Bitly and Flowcode. How we grade
Price against what you get
Bitly starts at $10 a month and scores 2.7 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Flowcode starts at $25 a month and scores 2.3.
Bitly scores higher and starts $15 a month lower. Of the other QR code generators on the chart, 1 scores higher than Bitly for less, and 8 score higher than Flowcode for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
- Bitly also covers reports and digital business card.
- Flowcode also covers forms and a/B testing.
At a glance
| Bitly | Flowcode | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | $10 per month, billed annually ($120 a year; Core is annual only) | $25 per month, billed annually ($60 billed monthly) |
| Free plan | 2 QR codes and 5 links a month, 2 custom landing pages, unlimited clicks and scans, with ads. | Up to 2 Flowcodes and 2 mobile landing pages, analytics for up to 500 scans and no ads. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| Made by | Bitly | the dtx company |
| Price read from | bitly.com | flowcode.com |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Bitly
- Monthly caps bind quickly: Free allows 2 QR codes a month, Core 5 and Growth 10.
- Core is sold with annual billing only, and Premium costs $300 a month if billed monthly.
- Branded links and the complimentary custom domain start at Growth; long data history needs Premium.
- The free plan shows ads.
Flowcode
- Analytics stop at a scan cap on each plan (500 free, 6,000 on Pro Plus), though codes keep working.
- Growth costs $250 a month and is billed annually only; CRM integrations and the API start there.
- Flowcode 2 plans have no published price and are bought through a demo with sales.
- The plan card gives Pro Plus 3 collaboration seats, while the comparison table lists 5.
Key features
Bitly
- Dynamic QR codes
- QR codes can be redirected after printing and are customizable, with advanced customization from the Core plan.
- Short and branded links
- Links can be shortened, given custom back-halves, and branded with your own domain from the Growth plan.
- Click and scan analytics
- Clicks and scans are tracked with data history that grows from 30 days on Core to a year on Premium, with city and device detail on Premium.
- Landing pages and cards
- Link-in-bio style custom landing pages and digital business cards sit alongside the links and QR codes.
- Bitly Assist and AI connectors
- Bitly Assist creates links and analyzes performance with AI on Core and above; the site also lists an MCP server for AI agents.
- 2D barcodes
- A GTIN can be added to QR codes made for product packaging.
Flowcode
- Designed QR codes
- Codes made from artist-designed templates with logos, brand colors and fonts. The destination can be edited at any time, and codes keep scanning for life.
- Landing pages and forms
- Mobile landing pages and forms behind a code, with smart routing that sends a scan somewhere different by day, device or location.
- Scan and click analytics
- Scan data by device, time and date, landing-page clicks, UTM charts, filters and CSV reports. Each plan caps how many scans get analytics.
- SmartFlow and Conversion Pixel
- SmartFlow tests landing-page variants and shifts traffic to the better one; the Conversion Pixel tracks results on outside websites. Both are in Flowcode 2.
- FlowID and retargeting
- Flowcode 2 builds a first-party profile of each person who scans, for retargeting audiences and personalization, and pushes the data to CRM and CDP tools.
- Bulk creation and API
- Pro Plus creates 50 codes at once and Growth 1,000. API access starts on Growth, and Enterprise adds custom API integrations.
Plans
Bitly
Free$0
2 QR codes and 5 links per month, 2 landing pages, 3 custom back-halves per month and QR code customization. Shown with ads.
Core$10
per month, billed annually ($120 a year)
5 QR codes and 100 links per month, 5 landing pages, 30 days of click and scan data, UTM builder and Bitly Assist. Annual billing only.
Growth$29
per month, billed annually ($35 billed monthly)
10 QR codes and 500 links per month, 10 landing pages, branded links, a complimentary custom domain, bulk creation and 4 months of data.
Premium$199
per month, billed annually ($300 billed monthly)
200 QR codes and 3,000 links per month, 20 landing pages, 1 year of data, city and device-level data, mobile deep linking and campaign tracking.
EnterpriseCustom
Custom volumes, multiple users and group permissions, SSO, webhooks, a dedicated customer success manager and priority support.
Flowcode
Free$0
Up to 2 Flowcodes and 2 landing pages, with analytics for up to 500 scans.
Pro Plus$25
per month, billed annually ($60 billed monthly)
Up to 50 Flowcodes and landing pages, analytics for up to 6,000 scans, bulk creation of 50 codes and 3 collaboration seats.
Growth$250
per month, billed annually only
From 150 Flowcodes and landing pages, analytics for the first 10,000 scans with location data, CRM integrations, API access and priority support.
Growth PlusCustom
Flowcode 2 for one team: usage-based pricing through sales, an audience builder for retargeting, CRM and CDP integrations and custom dashboards.
EnterpriseCustom
Flowcode 2 with unlimited workspaces, custom API work, SmartFlow optimization, conversion tracking pixels and a dedicated success team.
Ways to pay less
Bitly
- Annual discount
Save up to 34% with annual plans
The pricing page states annual billing saves up to 34%; Growth is $29 a month annually against $35 monthly, and Premium $199 against $300.
Flowcode
- Annual discount
Save 58% on Pro Plus with yearly billing
Pro Plus costs $25 a month billed annually against $60 billed monthly; the pricing page labels annual billing as a 58% saving.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Bitly or Flowcode?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Bitly is cheaper to start with: $10 a month, against $25 a month for Flowcode. Bitly starts at $10 per month, billed annually ($120 a year; Core is annual only), and Flowcode starts at $25 per month, billed annually ($60 billed monthly).
Which has a free plan, Bitly or Flowcode?
As of Nov 12, 2026, both Bitly and Flowcode have a free plan.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.