How to Track QR Code Scans (Free Analytics Setup)
Set up QR code analytics in 2 minutes — track scans by time, city, device and placement. Free tools, what data you actually get, and how to use it.
5 min read · Updated May 18, 2026
Static QR codes are invisible — they fire a URL and that's it. Dynamic QRs route through a short link you control, which logs every scan. Setting it up takes 2 minutes; using the data well is what separates winning campaigns from spray-and-pray.
What you can track
- Total scans, all-time and per day
- Time of day (peak scan hours)
- City and country (geo by IP)
- Device type (iPhone vs Android vs other)
- Referrer (almost always blank — QRs are direct)
- Per-placement counts (one QR per location to compare)
What you can't track
QR scans don't tell you who scanned (just an IP), street-level location, or what they did after on third-party sites. For deeper funnel data, send the scan to a page you own and add Google Analytics or Plausible there.
Setup in 4 steps
- Generate a dynamic QR in Linkly (free, no signup).
- Print it.
- Watch the analytics dashboard fill up automatically.
- Make a separate QR per placement to A/B test locations.
How to actually use the data
- If 90% of scans happen 12–2pm — your campaign is a lunchtime story; double down there.
- If scans are all iPhone — your audience skews higher income; adjust messaging.
- If a placement gets 5 scans/month — kill it and move budget to the winner.
- If scans spike then flatline — the print needs a refresh or a new CTA.
Edit the destination anytime
The biggest unlock of dynamic QRs isn't analytics — it's editability. Run a Christmas campaign, then on Jan 2 swap the same printed QR to point at Valentine's. Print once, reuse forever.