goQR.me vs Hovercode (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, goQR.me grades higher than Hovercode: 3.0 against 2.4 out of 4.0.
Checked Oct 23, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 · graded Oct 23, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
goQR.me grades higher on value for money, the free plan and ease of use. Hovercode grades higher on features and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
goQR.me
Free QR code generator and API, with a paid editable-code service
Hovercode
Dynamic QR codes and short links, with a free plan that never expires
Which one is for you
Pick goQR.me if
- Fits if you want a static code and never need to change it
- Works for developers who want a free QR image API
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you need to change a printed code, as the free codes are static
- Pricey if you want dynamic codes: QR-Server Starter allows only 1, for €60 net a year
- Watch out: QR-Server prices are net of tax in euros, on 3 or 12 month contracts
- Watch out: custom short domains and bulk import are only on the Agency plan, €588 a year
Pick Hovercode if
- Fits if you need a few editable codes and short links on your own domain without Hovercode branding
- Works for product makers preparing GS1 Digital Link codes for packaging
Look elsewhere if
- Tight if you're staying free: 3 dynamic codes, 3 short links and 1 page in total, with 3 months of analytics
- Watch out: Pro's 100 codes are a lifetime total, so past that you delete old codes or upgrade
- Pricey if you need the API, bulk creation or team members, which start on Business at $39 a month
- Skip it if you might cancel, as only the first 3 codes, 3 links and 1 page stay active and custom-domain codes stop working
- Watch out: Zapier, Make, Shopify and Bubble are only listed as coming soon, and there's no Android app
How we grade them
| 3.0GPAgoQR.meVery good | 2.4GPAHovercodeFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AThe generator and the API are free, with no request limit stated. The paid QR-Server Starter is €60 net a year, about €5 a month, with Professional at €210. | CPro is $12 a month, or $120 a year ($10 a month), at the dear end of this category, where the middle is $9, for 100 codes in total. The API, bulk creation and team members need Business at $39 a month. |
| Free plan and trial | AFree outright for static codes, with commercial use allowed. No cap is stated for the API. | CFree for good with unlimited scans, logos and the form builder, but 3 dynamic codes, 3 short links and 1 multi-link page in total is a cap you will hit, and analytics keep 3 months. |
| Features | CStatic codes in PNG, JPG, GIF, SVG, EPS and PDF with colour and error-correction options. Editable codes and scan statistics need a QR-Server plan. | BDynamic codes and short links, multi-link pages, a form builder, GS1 Digital Link codes, analytics with GPS on Business, an API, webhooks and an MCP server. Nothing in the core job is missing; teams, bulk and the API sit on Business. |
| Ease of use | BNo store rating on record. A web tool with nothing to set up: type, pick a format, download. | CNo rating on record. Codes, links and pages are set up in a web account, and Pro's code limit is a lifetime total you have to keep an eye on. |
| Platforms and integrations | CWeb only, plus an API for developers. No integrations are listed. | BWeb, an iPhone app and a Chrome extension, with Canva, Figma and Airtable, an MCP server for Claude, ChatGPT and Cursor, and an API from Business. No Android or desktop app. |
| Best for | free static QR codes and a free API | a few editable codes and short links on your own domain |
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: goQR.me and Hovercode. How we grade
Price against what you get
goQR.me starts at about $5.59 a month and scores 2.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Hovercode starts at $12 a month and scores 2.7.
Hovercode scores higher, and starts $6.41 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 goQR.me for less, and 1 scores higher than Hovercode 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
- goQR.me also covers reports.
- Hovercode also covers forms.
At a glance
| goQR.me | Hovercode | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | €60 net per year (QR-Server Starter) | $12 per month, billed monthly (Pro) |
| Free plan | The goQR.me generator and the QR code API are free, with commercial use allowed and no request limit stated for the API. | Free forever: 3 dynamic codes, 3 short links and 1 multi-link page in total, unlimited scans, logos, the form builder and 3 months of basic analytics. |
| Free trial | 14-day free trial of QR-Server | None listed |
| Web | ||
| iOS | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | Foundata GmbH | Hovercode Ltd |
| Price read from | manage.qrserver.com | hovercode.com |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 |
Worth knowing
goQR.me
- The free generator makes static codes only; changing a code's target after printing needs a QR-Server plan.
- QR-Server prices are in euros and shown net of tax, and contracts run three or twelve months.
- Starter allows 1 dynamic code; custom short domains and bulk import are limited to the Agency plan.
- The free site shows an ad for a print-on-demand shop beside the code.
Hovercode
- Pro's 100 codes are a lifetime total, not a monthly allowance; Business and Business Plus limits reset monthly.
- Cancelling keeps only the first 3 codes, 3 links and 1 page active; codes on a custom domain stop working.
- API access, bulk creation and team members start on Business at $39 a month.
- Zapier, Make, Shopify and Bubble integrations are listed as coming soon.
Key features
goQR.me
- Free static QR codes
- Codes for URLs, text, phone numbers, SMS, email, vCard contacts, locations, calendar events and WiFi logins are generated in the browser and can be downloaded without signing up.
- Print formats
- Downloads come as PNG, JPG, GIF, SVG, EPS or PDF, with a choice of size, border, colors and error-correction level.
- QR code API
- A web API at api.qrserver.com creates and reads QR codes; the documentation says there is no request limit, though abusive requests can be rejected.
- Dynamic codes on QR-Server
- The paid QR-Server service lets you change a code's target URL after printing and sends one code to different app stores by operating system.
- Scan statistics
- QR-Server plans report scans over time, browser and operating system, visitor location, time of day and day of week.
Hovercode
- Dynamic codes and short links
- Change where a code or short link points after printing, add a logo and style it. Static codes are unlimited on every plan.
- Multi-link pages and forms
- Micro landing pages with several links, and a form builder that works on the free plan too.
- GS1 Digital Link codes
- Create GS1 Digital Link QR codes for product packaging on every plan, including the free one, with guides to GTIN numbers and GS1 company prefixes.
- Scan analytics
- Free shows total and unique scans. Paid plans add time, device, browser and estimated city and country, and Business adds GPS location on request.
- Teams, API and webhooks
- Business adds API access, bulk creation, CSV exports and up to 10 team members; Business Plus adds workspaces and webhooks.
- Integrations and AI agents
- Canva, Figma, Airtable and a Chrome extension, plus an MCP server and a Claude connector for managing codes by chatting.
Plans
goQR.me
goQR.me generator and API$0
Static QR codes with PNG, JPG, GIF, SVG, EPS and PDF download, color and error-correction options, and a web API. Ads shown on the site.
QR-Server Starter€60
net per year (€23.70 net billed quarterly)
1 dynamic QR code, unlimited static codes and scans, scan statistics, 1 team member and email support.
QR-Server Professional€210
net per year (€57 net billed quarterly)
50 dynamic codes, 3 team members and API access, with the same statistics as Starter.
QR-Server Agency€588
net per year (€165 net billed quarterly)
Unlimited dynamic codes, 10 team members, bulk CSV import, 3 custom short-URL domains, white-label scan pages and phone support.
Hovercode
Free$0
3 dynamic codes and 3 short links in total, unlimited scans, logos and basic analytics with 3 months of history.
Pro$12
per month, billed monthly ($120 billed yearly)
100 dynamic codes and 100 short links in total, 1 custom domain, no Hovercode branding and advanced analytics with 12 months of history.
Business$39
per month, billed monthly ($390 billed yearly)
600 dynamic codes a month, 10 custom domains, API access, bulk creation, CSV exports, GPS tracking and up to 10 team members.
Business Plus$99
per month, billed monthly ($990 billed yearly)
2,000 dynamic codes a month, 50 custom domains, up to 25 team members, up to 10 workspaces and webhooks.
Ways to pay less
goQR.me
No public discounts listed.
Hovercode
- Annual discount
Two months free with yearly billing
Paying yearly costs 10 months' price for 12: Pro is $120 a year instead of $144, saving $24.
- Nonprofit
Discounts for nonprofits
The pricing FAQ says nonprofits can apply for a discount by getting in touch; no amount is given.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, goQR.me or Hovercode?
As of Nov 12, 2026, goQR.me is cheaper to start with: about $5.59 a month, against $12 a month for Hovercode. goQR.me starts at €60 net per year (QR-Server Starter), and Hovercode starts at $12 per month, billed monthly (Pro).
Which has a free plan, goQR.me or Hovercode?
As of Nov 12, 2026, both goQR.me and Hovercode have a free plan.
Which platforms do goQR.me and Hovercode run on?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only Hovercode lists an iOS app and a browser extension. Both list a web app. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
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.