Hovercode vs QR.io (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Hovercode grades higher than QR.io: 2.4 against 1.8 out of 4.0.
Checked Oct 23, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 · graded Oct 23, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
Hovercode grades higher on value for money, the free plan and platforms. They get the same grade on features and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Hovercode
Dynamic QR codes and short links, with a free plan that never expires
QR.io
Unlimited dynamic QR codes for one flat monthly or yearly price
Which one is for you
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
Pick QR.io if
- Fits if you run many codes and want to stop counting them
- Works for an agency that needs bulk creation and an API
Look elsewhere if
- Pricey if you only need a few codes: every plan costs at least $39.99 a month
- Skip it if you want a free plan, as there is a 7-day trial only
- Watch out: the page does not say whether the 12-month plan renews automatically
- Watch out: there is only one tier, so you cannot pay less for less
How we grade them
| 2.4GPAHovercodeFair | 1.8GPAQR.ioWeak | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | 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. | D$39.99 a month, or $350 for 12 months, which is about $29 a month. The category middle is $10 and the dearest tenth starts at $39.99. |
| Free plan and trial | 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. | D7-day trial with every premium feature, and the pages read do not say whether a card is needed. No free plan. |
| Features | 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. | BDynamic and static codes, landing pages, statistics, an API, bulk creation and 5 team members. Nothing in the listing is missing. |
| Ease of use | 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. | CNo store rating on record. A web app where you build the codes and landing pages. |
| Platforms and integrations | 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. | CWeb only, with an API. No integrations or apps are named. |
| Best for | a few editable codes and short links on your own domain | unlimited dynamic QR codes at one price |
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: Hovercode and QR.io. How we grade
Price against what you get
Hovercode starts at $12 a month and scores 2.7 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. QR.io starts at $39.99 a month and scores 2.3.
Hovercode scores higher and starts $27.99 a month lower. Of the other QR code generators on the chart, 1 scores higher than Hovercode for less, and 8 score higher than QR.io 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
- Hovercode also covers forms.
- QR.io also covers reports.
At a glance
| Hovercode | QR.io | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free trial |
| Starts at | $12 per month, billed monthly (Pro) | $39.99 per month, billed monthly ($350 for 12 months) |
| Free plan | 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. | None |
| Free trial | None listed | 7-day free trial with access to all premium features |
| Web | ||
| iOS | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | Hovercode Ltd | QR.io |
| Price read from | hovercode.com | qr.io |
| Checked | Oct 23, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
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.
QR.io
- There is no free plan; after the 7-day trial every plan costs at least $39.99 a month.
- There is only one feature tier, so light users pay the same as heavy ones.
- The pricing page does not say whether the 12-month plan renews automatically.
- The site lists a 7-day money-back guarantee under both plans.
Key features
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.
QR.io
- Dynamic and static codes
- Both kinds can be created, and codes can be edited from the dashboard. The trial FAQ says static codes keep working after the trial ends.
- Custom landing pages
- Included in both plans alongside color, shape and logo customization of the code.
- Scan statistics
- Reports how many scans a code gets, when and from where.
- API and bulk creation
- Both plans include API access and bulk creation of codes.
- Team members
- Five team members are included, and downloads are available as PNG and SVG.
Plans
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.
QR.io
Monthly$39.99
per month, billed monthly
Unlimited QR codes and scans, dynamic and static codes, landing pages, statistics, API, bulk creation and 5 team members.
Yearly$350
for 12 months
Same features as Monthly. The page shows $479 crossed out and a 27% saving; whether it renews is not stated.
Ways to pay less
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.
QR.io
- Annual discount
Save 27% on the 12-month plan
The pricing page shows the 12-month plan at $350, down from a crossed-out $479, with no end date given.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Hovercode or QR.io?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Hovercode is cheaper to start with: $12 a month, against $39.99 a month for QR.io. Hovercode starts at $12 per month, billed monthly (Pro), and QR.io starts at $39.99 per month, billed monthly ($350 for 12 months).
Which has a free plan, Hovercode or QR.io?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only Hovercode has a free plan. QR.io does not, though it has a free trial.
Which platforms do Hovercode and QR.io 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.