Bitly alternative: a QR code you pay for once
Bitly's cheapest paid plan that includes dynamic codes is Core, $10/mo, annual billing only. That works out to about $120 a year and $360 over three years, against $3 once for a ThreeDollarQRCode code. For one editable code, that is roughly 40 times the first-year price of a ThreeDollarQRCode code, and the gap widens every year because ours does not renew.
This page compares them straight, including the things Bitly does that we do not. Prices were read on October 30, 2026 and can change, so check Bitly's own page before you decide.
What does Bitly cost for one editable QR code?
The Core plan is billed annually only and includes 5 QR codes a month. The free plan allows 2 per month.
The comparison below uses the cheapest paid plan that includes a dynamic (editable) code. If you need many codes, a team, or a lot of scans, a different plan may suit you better.
| Bitly | ThreeDollarQRCode | |
|---|---|---|
| First year | $120 (Core, $10/mo, annual billing only) | $3 |
| Three years | $360 | $3 |
| Dynamic codes included | 5 QR codes a month | 1 per $3 purchase |
| Free plan | 2 QR codes a month | None; the free option is our static generator |
| If you stop paying | We could not find what happens to codes after a plan ends. | Nothing to stop. Your code is yours. |
Source: the service's own pricing page, read on October 30, 2026.
When is Bitly the better choice?
Bitly's free options (2 QR codes a month) may be enough if you need only one or two codes and can live with the limits. Read its terms first, especially what happens when a limit or a trial ends.
Paid plans from services like Bitly generally add things we do not offer: colored or logo designs, detailed analytics, bulk creation, team accounts, and support. If you need those, a subscription can be fair value.
- You need styled QR codes with colors or a logo.
- You need to create dozens or hundreds of codes, or work with a team.
- You need detailed scan analytics beyond a simple count.
When does a $3 one-time code fit better?
ThreeDollarQRCode is for one code that has to keep working and might need its destination changed later: a sign, a menu, a flyer, a package, a van. You pay $3 once, get your code and a private edit link by email, and never get a renewal notice.
There is no account to create and no plan to cancel. What you give up compared with Bitly is design options and analytics beyond a scan count. Your code is a plain black-and-white code.
- You print something that has to last, and you want to avoid a yearly bill.
- You only need one or a few codes.
- You want to change the destination later without reprinting.
Can I move my Bitly codes to ThreeDollarQRCode?
Not for codes that are already printed. A printed Bitly code points to a short address that only Bitly controls, and nobody else can redirect it.
What you can do is make a new ThreeDollarQRCode code for new prints, and let the old Bitly code run until you replace it. Check what Bitly does to a code when a plan ends before you decide when to switch.
Questions
How much does Bitly cost per year?
On October 30, 2026, Bitly's cheapest paid plan with dynamic codes was Core, $10/mo, annual billing only, about $120 a year. Check Bitly's pricing page, since prices change.
Does Bitly have a free plan?
What we found: 2 QR codes a month. Details change, so confirm on Bitly's own page.
What happens to my Bitly QR codes if I stop paying?
We could not find what happens to codes after a plan ends.
Is there a one-time payment alternative to Bitly?
Yes. ThreeDollarQRCode charges $3 once per code, with no subscription. It is a plain dynamic code with a private edit link and a scan count, and it does not offer designs or team features.
Can I edit a ThreeDollarQRCode code after I print it?
Yes. Your private edit link lets you change the address the code opens, and the printed code stays the same.
Get a dynamic QR code for $3
Pay once. Pick the page your code opens, print it wherever you need it, and change the page whenever you like.