HonestQR vs QR.io
We build a competing product — keep that in mind. Every quote and number below is from public sources as of August 1, 2026, with links. Where QR.io is stronger, we say so.
What QR.io customers say
QR.io holds 4.2/5 on Trustpilot (14,160 reviews), with 13% 1-star (Trustpilot, retrieved Aug 1, 2026). The 1-star reviews repeat one experience:
"I used QR.io to create a QR code for printed promotional materials, only to find out a few days later that it had been deactivated and required payment to work again. … customers can end up with useless printed materials and unexpected charges." — Oksana Martyniv, Aug 1, 2026 (Trustpilot)
"Great for a couple months of 'free' QR code usage… long enough to print business cards and start handing them out. Now the QR code on my business card doesn't work and they are asking me to subscribe for $39 a month to use my 'free' QR code." — Lisa Selander, Jul 31, 2026 (Trustpilot)
"SCAM! Advertised as FREE QR Codes — lets you create the code and download it. NO WHERE did it mention that it is a paid subscription and that there is a 7 day trial period. I got hundreds of sticke[rs]…" — QR.io reviewer (Trustpilot 1-star reviews)
Promise-by-promise comparison
| HonestQR | QR.io | |
|---|---|---|
| Free codes expire? | Never — static, browser-generated, no server | Codes deactivate after the 7-day trial (per reviews above) |
| If you cancel a paid plan | Codes keep redirecting — written promise | Codes point at qr.io servers; reviews report deactivation without payment |
| Pricing model | $29/year flat, unlimited dynamic codes | Monthly subscription; reviewers report ~$39/month asks |
| True static option | Yes — default, free, no account | Offered, but reviewers report codes still deactivating ("can't edit them" — darreng, Jul 23, 2026) |
| Trustpilot | Too new for a meaningful rating | 4.2/5 overall, 13% 1-star (Aug 1, 2026) |
Where QR.io is stronger
- Design options: more built-in shapes, frames and hosted landing-page templates.
- Support responsiveness: Trustpilot shows QR.io replies to 96% of negative reviews, typically within a week.
Already printed a QR.io code that was deactivated?
Reprint once, with a code nobody can switch off: the free fix-expired-QR-code tool turns your destination URL into a static code, generated in your browser.
FAQ
Is QR.io free?
Creating and downloading a code is free, but codes are dynamic and deactivate after the 7-day trial unless you subscribe. Its Trustpilot score is 4.2/5 (14,160 reviews, Aug 1, 2026) with 13% 1-star reviews — mostly about printed codes being deactivated.
How is HonestQR different from QR.io?
HonestQR static codes are free forever, need no account, and are generated in your browser — there is no server that could deactivate them. Dynamic codes are $29/year flat for unlimited codes, and cancelling never disables printed codes.
My QR.io code was deactivated after I printed it. What now?
Only a QR.io subscription reactivates that code, since it points at their servers. To be free of the problem, reprint with a static code that encodes your URL directly — our free fix-expired-qr-code tool does it in under a minute.
Also see: vs qr-code-generator.com · vs QRFY · our pricing
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