George Smith — Founder, Klickify Agency
You printed 500 flyers with a QR code. You hand them out at a trade show. Three weeks later, you have no idea if anyone scanned them. Did the flyers work? Did people even notice the QR code? You're flying blind.
This is the problem with static QR codes. They give you zero data. You know how many codes you printed, but you have no idea how many were scanned. Dynamic QR codes give you analytics: scan counts, timestamps, device types, locations. That data tells you which marketing campaigns are working and which are a waste of money.
Most QR generators charge extra for analytics. QR Code Generator includes analytics in their $9/month plan. Bitly includes it in their $35/month plan. Beaconstac's analytics come with $15/month. Truly Free QR gives you analytics for free on every dynamic code. No subscription. No upgrade. Just data.
What Analytics You Get (And Why It Matters)
Let me show you exactly what data you'll see for each dynamic QR code on Truly Free QR.
Total scans
The raw number of times your code has been scanned. This tells you reach. If you printed 500 flyers and get 300 scans, that's a 60% scan rate – excellent. If you get 10 scans, something is wrong (bad placement, poor design, wrong audience).
Scans by day
A chart showing scan volume over time. Did scans spike right after you distributed flyers? Did they drop off after a week? This helps you time your campaigns. If scans are still coming in weeks later, your flyers have lasting value.
Device types
Tells you whether scanners are using iPhones or Android devices. This matters for design. If 80% of your scanners use iPhones, make sure your destination looks good on iOS. If Android dominates, test on Samsung and Pixel devices.
Approximate location
City-level location data (not street address). This tells you where your scans are coming from. If you put flyers in two different cities, you can see which city responded better. For national campaigns, you see geographic hotspots.
First scan and last scan timestamps
When did the first person scan? When was the most recent? This helps you know if your code is still active and relevant. If no scans in 60 days, consider re-marketing.
This data is invaluable for small businesses. You can A/B test different flyer designs, different placements, even different calls to action. Without analytics, you're guessing. With analytics, you're making data-driven decisions.
Step-by-Step: Set Up a QR Code with Analytics (Free)
Here's how to create a dynamic QR code and access its analytics dashboard.
1. Go to trulyfreeqr.com
No account needed. The generator is ready.
2. Create a dynamic QR code as usual
Paste your destination URL. Select "Dynamic." Customize if desired. Generate the code.
3. Save your edit link and analytics link
After generation, you'll see two links: "Edit QR Code" and "View Analytics." Bookmark both. The analytics link is separate because you might want to share analytics with a team member without giving them edit access.
4. Download and print your QR code
Use the SVG or PNG as usual. Distribute your flyers, posters, or product packaging.
5. Return to the analytics link regularly
Bookmark it. Check it daily after a new campaign. Watch the scan count grow. Notice patterns. Did scans spike on weekends? Did they drop after a price change?
6. Use the data to improve your marketing
If one flyer design gets 200 scans and another gets 20, stop using the low-performing design. If scans come mostly from iPhones, test your destination on iPhone more thoroughly. If location data shows scans from a city you didn't target, consider expanding there.
7. Adjust your destination based on analytics
For example, if you see many scans but low conversion (e.g., people aren't clicking through to your product), change your destination to a more compelling page. Your edit link lets you do this instantly. Then monitor analytics to see if behavior improves.
8. Export your data (coming soon)
I'm working on CSV export for analytics. For now, you can copy/paste the charts. If you need bulk export, email me.
Why Truly Free QR Offers Analytics for Free (No Hidden Upsell)
Analytics cost me very little. Each scan requires me to log a row in a database: timestamp, device info, location. That's a few bytes of storage. My ad revenue easily covers it. Competitors charge for analytics because they can – it's a feature they know businesses need, so they lock it behind a paywall.
I take the opposite approach. Analytics are essential for understanding your marketing ROI. Without them, you're wasting money on printed materials that might not work. I want you to succeed because successful businesses create more QR codes, which means more ad views on my dashboard. It's aligned incentives.
My analytics dashboard is simple but functional. It doesn't have fancy charts or real-time updates (updates every few minutes). But it gives you the core data you need: how many scans, when, from where, and on what devices. For a small business, that's plenty. If you need enterprise-grade analytics with heatmaps and user journeys, you'll need a paid tool. But for 90% of use cases, mine is sufficient.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to pay extra for analytics?
No. Analytics are included free on every dynamic QR code. Static codes do not have analytics (impossible to track). There's no "Pro" tier for more detailed analytics. What you see is what you get.
How accurate is the location data?
It's approximate, based on the scanner's IP address. It gives city-level accuracy (e.g., "Austin, TX") but not street address. For most marketing purposes, city-level is enough. If you need precise location (e.g., which specific store a scan came from), you need a different solution like geofencing.
Can I see which individual person scanned my code?
No. That would be a privacy violation. I do not track personally identifiable information. You see aggregate counts and anonymous device data only.
How often does analytics data update?
Near real-time – usually within 1-2 minutes of a scan. If you're running a live event, you can refresh the page and see scans as they happen. For most purposes, that's fast enough.
How does Truly Free QR's analytics compare to Bitly's?
Bitly's analytics are more detailed: they show referrers, click maps, and integrate with Google Analytics. They also have better reporting dashboards. But they cost $35 a month. My analytics show the core metrics (counts, devices, locations, timeline) for free. For a small business, that's often enough. For a marketing agency, you might need Bitly.
Can I reset analytics for a QR code?
Not currently. Analytics accumulate from the first scan. If you want to start fresh for a new campaign, create a new QR code. Don't reuse an old code for a new campaign – the analytics will be mixed.
Start tracking your QR code performance today. Create a dynamic code, print it, and watch the scans roll in. No subscription, no surprise bills. Just data to help you grow your business.
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