Bitly vs QR Code Generator PRO (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Bitly grades higher than QR Code Generator PRO: 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 and platforms. QR Code Generator PRO grades higher on value for money. They get the same grade on the free plan and ease of use.
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
QR Code Generator PRO
Editable, trackable QR codes with hosted landing pages, from Bitly
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 QR Code Generator PRO if
- Fits if you need a couple of editable codes for print with a phone landing page behind them
- Works for small teams that want codes sorted into folders, with separate logins
Look elsewhere if
- Tight if you start on Starter, which allows only 2 dynamic codes and 10,000 tracked scans
- Pricey if you need more codes or the API, as Advanced ($18.99) and Professional ($49.99) are billed yearly only
- Watch out: cancelling takes an email at least 30 days before the term ends, and you can only downgrade after the first term
- Skip it if you want your codes feeding other apps, as the listing names no integrations
- Watch out: free static codes download as JPG only, and listed prices exclude VAT
How we grade them
| 2.2GPABitlyFair | 2.0GPAQR Code Generator PROFair | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | CStarter is $9.99 a month billed yearly ($19.99 monthly), near this category's middle of $9, but it buys 2 dynamic codes and 10,000 scans. Fifty codes means Advanced at $18.99, billed yearly only, about twice the middle. |
| Free plan and trial | CFree for 2 QR codes and 5 links a month, 2 landing pages and unlimited clicks and scans, with ads. | CEight static code types are free on the homepage with no account and never expire, but as JPG only, with no logo, editing or tracking. A 14-day trial of the paid features needs no card. |
| 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. | CDynamic codes in 22 types, hosted landing pages, scan stats by place, time and system, logos, folders, team logins, custom short links and CSV bulk creation. The gaps: no integrations on record, and the API only makes static codes. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record. A web app with links, codes, pages and domains to set up. | CNo rating on record. Free static codes need nothing, but dynamic codes mean an account, landing pages to fill in and plan limits to watch. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWeb only, with Shopify, Canva and HubSpot integrations and an API. | CWeb only, with no apps and no integrations on record. The API on Advanced and Professional generates static codes inside your own app. |
| Best for | short links and QR codes with click counts | a few editable codes with hosted landing pages |
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 QR Code Generator PRO. 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. QR Code Generator PRO starts at $9.99 a month and scores 2.0.
Bitly scores higher, and starts $0.01 a month higher: the question is whether the extra is worth that to you. Of the other QR code generators on the chart, 1 scores higher than Bitly for less, and 7 score higher than QR Code Generator PRO 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.
At a glance
| Bitly | QR Code Generator PRO | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | $10 per month, billed annually ($120 a year; Core is annual only) | $9.99 per month, billed annually ($19.99 billed monthly) |
| Free plan | 2 QR codes and 5 links a month, 2 custom landing pages, unlimited clicks and scans, with ads. | Static codes for websites, vCards, text, email, SMS, Wi-Fi, Twitter and Bitcoin are free and never expire, but cannot be edited or tracked. |
| Free trial | None listed | 14-day free trial of the paid features, no credit card needed |
| Web | ||
| Made by | Bitly | Bitly Europe GmbH |
| Price read from | bitly.com | qr-code-generator.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.
QR Code Generator PRO
- Starter allows only 2 dynamic codes and 10,000 scans; Advanced and Professional are billed yearly only.
- Cancelling takes an email at least 30 days before the billing period ends, and a plan can only be downgraded after its first term.
- Free static codes download as JPG only; PNG, SVG and EPS need an account.
- Listed prices exclude VAT.
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.
QR Code Generator PRO
- Dynamic QR codes
- Change a code's link or content after printing, fix typos and add links without reprinting. Editing needs a paid plan or the trial.
- 22 code types and landing pages
- Code types for documents, feedback, booking and more, several of which come with a hosted landing page built for phones, so no website is needed.
- Scan statistics
- Counts scans by location, time and operating system, and exports the data to CSV reports.
- Design and organization
- Add a logo, brand colors and call-to-action frames, download in JPG, PNG, SVG or EPS, and sort codes into labels and folders.
- Team logins and custom short links
- Add team members with their own logins and permissions, customize the short URL, or use your own domain.
- Bulk creation and API
- Advanced and Professional create batches of codes from a CSV file, and include monthly API requests for generating static codes in your own app.
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.
QR Code Generator PRO
Free static codes$0
Eight static code types made on the homepage, downloaded as JPG. No editing, tracking or logo.
Starter$9.99
per month, billed annually ($19.99 billed monthly)
One user, 2 dynamic codes and 10,000 tracked scans.
Advanced$18.99
per month, billed annually only
Two users, 50 dynamic codes, unlimited scans, bulk creation of 100 codes from a CSV file and 3,000 API requests a month.
Professional$49.99
per month, billed annually only
Five users, 250 dynamic codes, unlimited scans, bulk creation of 500 codes, 10,000 API requests a month and premium support.
EnterpriseCustom
More codes, white labeling, API access and add-ons, priced by sales.
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.
QR Code Generator PRO
- Annual discount
Half price on Starter with yearly billing
Starter costs $9.99 a month billed yearly against $19.99 billed monthly, a saving of 50%.
- Nonprofit
Discounts for nonprofits and schools
The pricing FAQ says nonprofit and educational organizations can get a discount by contacting the company; no amount is given.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Bitly or QR Code Generator PRO?
As of Nov 12, 2026, QR Code Generator PRO is cheaper to start with: $9.99 a month, against $10 a month for Bitly. Bitly starts at $10 per month, billed annually ($120 a year; Core is annual only), and QR Code Generator PRO starts at $9.99 per month, billed annually ($19.99 billed monthly).
Which has a free plan, Bitly or QR Code Generator PRO?
As of Nov 12, 2026, both Bitly and QR Code Generator PRO 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.