Hovercode vs QRcode.me (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Hovercode and QRcode.me share a 2.4 GPA, both have a free plan, and Hovercode starts cheaper, at $12 a month against $14 a month.
Checked Oct 23, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Oct 23, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Hovercode grades higher on features. QRcode.me grades higher on value for money. They get the same grade on 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.
Hovercode
Dynamic QR codes and short links, with a free plan that never expires
QRcode.me
Free QR codes with a pay-once or subscription upgrade
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 QRcode.me if
- Fits if you want a few codes and will pay once for each
- Works for people who connect codes to Zapier or Make
Look elsewhere if
- Tight if you stay free, as scanners see a branding page after 3 scans
- Watch out: a code made without an account is switched off after 7 days
- Watch out: codes not scanned for over a year are deactivated
- Pricey if you need many branding-free codes, as 100 cost $278.29
How we grade them
| 2.4GPAHovercodeFair | 2.4GPAQRcode.meFair | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | B$7.99 once per code removes branding for good, and the yearly plan is $99, around $8.25 a month. |
| 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. | CFree is unlimited in scans, but a 5-second branding page shows after the third scan, and export, pixels and the API are paid. |
| 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. | CDynamic codes, tracking, editing, API and MCP on the subscription. The free plan lacks export and custom domains. |
| 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 is on record. Codes are made in the browser. |
| 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. | BWeb with an API and integrations with Zapier, Make, n8n and Slack. No apps. |
| Best for | a few editable codes and short links on your own domain | free QR codes with pay-once upgrades |
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 QRcode.me. 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. QRcode.me starts at $14 a month and scores 2.3.
Hovercode scores higher and starts $2 a month lower. Of the other QR code generators on the chart, 1 scores higher than Hovercode for less, and 6 score higher than QRcode.me 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.
At a glance
| Hovercode | QRcode.me | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | $12 per month, billed monthly (Pro) | $14 per month, or $7.99 once per code |
| 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. | Free forever: up to 10 static and 50 dynamic codes with unlimited scans, tracking and editing, but a branding page shows after 3 scans. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| iOS | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | Hovercode Ltd | QRcode.me |
| Price read from | hovercode.com | qrcode.me |
| Checked | Oct 23, 2026 | Nov 13, 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.
QRcode.me
- On free dynamic codes, scanners see a 5-second branding page after the third scan.
- A code made without an account is switched off after 7 days, per the comparison table.
- Codes not scanned for over a year are deactivated, with a reminder in advance.
- Statistics export, tracking pixels, custom domains and the API are not on the free plan.
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.
QRcode.me
- Static and dynamic codes
- Dynamic codes can be edited after printing and show scan statistics; the site lists 19 types including URL, WiFi, vCard and WhatsApp.
- Many content types
- Types include video, audio, PDF, photo collection, coupon, bio link page, multiple links, event and a payment-request type.
- GS1 Digital Link
- A GS1 Digital Link type for product GTINs, with bulk import, is available on every plan including the free one.
- API, MCP and integrations
- Paid options include an API, an MCP connection for AI assistants, webhooks, Zapier, Make, n8n and Slack.
- Your own domain
- Paid QR codes can use the customer's own domain instead of the vendor's, and team members can be invited.
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.
QRcode.me
Basic$0
Up to 10 static and 50 dynamic codes, unlimited scans, editing and scan tracking. A 5-second branding page shows after the third scan.
Paid QR code$7.99
one-time, per QR code
Removes the branding for one code for life, with unlimited scans, editing, statistics export and tracking pixels.
20 QR codes$109.89
one-time bundle
Twenty branding-free codes, each for life, with unlimited scans and editing.
100 QR codes$278.29
one-time bundle
One hundred branding-free codes, each for life, with unlimited scans and editing.
Subscription$14
per month, billed monthly
Unlimited branding-free codes, unlimited scans, API and MCP access, team members and integrations. Also sold at $99 per year.
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.
QRcode.me
- Annual discount
Yearly subscription saves 41%
The Subscription is $14 per month or $99 per year, which the pricing page labels as a 41% saving.
- Lifetime license
Pay once per QR code, no subscription
A single branding-free code costs $7.99 once and lasts for life; bundles of 20 and 100 codes are sold at one-time prices.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Hovercode or QRcode.me?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Hovercode is cheaper to start with: $12 a month, against $14 a month for QRcode.me. Hovercode starts at $12 per month, billed monthly (Pro), and QRcode.me starts at $14 per month, or $7.99 once per code.
Which has a free plan, Hovercode or QRcode.me?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Hovercode and QRcode.me have a free plan.
Which platforms do Hovercode and QRcode.me run on?
As of Nov 13, 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.