FAQ
Answers to what people actually ask.
Dynamic QR codes, scan tracking, AI insights, pricing, team workflow, and security. If your question isn't here, email hi@scanforge.com.
Dynamic QR codes
- What is a dynamic QR code?
- A dynamic QR code is a QR whose destination URL can be changed after the code is printed. The printed pixel pattern encodes a short redirect URL on a platform like ScanForge; the destination the redirect points to lives on the server and can be updated any time. Static QR codes, by contrast, encode the destination directly into the pixels, so changing the destination requires reprinting.
- What's the difference between dynamic and static QR codes?
- Static QR codes encode a URL directly into the pixel pattern — scans go straight to the destination and leave no server-side record. Dynamic QR codes route through a short redirect that logs the scan before forwarding. Dynamic codes are editable, measurable, and routable (by device, geo, time); static codes are none of the above. ScanForge creates dynamic codes by default so everything you print is trackable and editable.
- Can I change a QR code's destination after printing?
- Yes — if it's dynamic. Dynamic QR codes route through ScanForge, so the printed pixel pattern never changes; you update the destination URL inside ScanForge whenever campaigns shift. Static QR codes cannot be edited after printing — that's a property of how the QR encodes the URL, not a platform limitation.
- Do QR codes expire?
- Not by default. ScanForge QR codes work for as long as your account is active, with no expiry. If you want a code to expire, you can set scan expiry (by date, time, or scan count) on any dynamic QR — useful for time-limited promos and exclusive drops.
Scan analytics
- Can I track QR code scans?
- Yes, as long as the QR is dynamic. Every dynamic QR on ScanForge logs every scan with geo (country and city), device (type, OS, browser), referrer (if any), and timestamp. Static QR codes, by design, cannot be tracked — the destination never routes through a platform.
- Can I track QR code scans by location?
- Yes. ScanForge resolves every scan to a country and city in real time and plots it on a world choropleth map. Filters support date range, campaign, and per-QR-code views. Aggregate counts are available immediately.
- Can I track QR code scans by device?
- Yes. Every scan is classified by device type (phone, tablet, desktop), operating system, and browser. The dashboard shows the iOS/Android split and lets you filter by device family — useful for deciding which app-store routing to prioritize.
- How does ScanForge filter bot scans?
- ScanForge runs bot detection on every scan using user-agent signals, IP reputation, scan cadence, and headless-browser markers. Suspicious scans are flagged and excluded from your main counts automatically. You can still see bot-classified scans in the raw scan log if you need to investigate a scraper.
- Does ScanForge have a day-by-hour scan heatmap?
- Yes. Every QR code dashboard has a day × hour heatmap that shows when people actually scan. Useful for timing reprints, pushes, and ad spend around real scan cadence — weekday vs weekend, lunch, evening, commute windows.
AI features
- Does every plan include the AI features?
- Yes. AI weekly briefings, anomaly explanations, one-click performance reports, and campaign metadata suggestions are included on Pro and Business, and are available during the 7-day free trial. The AI is grounded in your own scan data and never invents metrics.
- Does ScanForge's AI make up numbers?
- No. The AI is constrained to cite metrics that actually exist in your scan history. If a trend can't be verified against your real scans, the AI says the data is insufficient rather than guessing.
- What's in a weekly briefing?
- A 3–5 paragraph written update covering: total scans this week vs last, which campaigns moved the most, notable geo or device shifts, any anomalies flagged, and a short recommendation for the next week. Delivered every Monday to the email on your account.
Pricing & plans
- How much does ScanForge cost?
- Pro is $29/mo (or $290/yr — 2 months free) and includes unlimited dynamic QR codes, full analytics, AI insights, smart routing, bulk creation, REST API, and up to 10 teammates. Business is $79/mo (or $790/yr) and adds custom domains, white-label shared reports, webhooks, retargeting pixels, priority support, and up to 20 teammates. Enterprise is custom.
- Do I need a credit card to start?
- No. Your 7-day trial starts immediately with full Pro access — no credit card required until you decide to upgrade.
- What does 'unlimited' actually mean?
- Unlimited plans are intended for legitimate business use. There are no scan throttles and no code limits for normal usage — even high volume. ScanForge reserves the right to limit accounts running bot traffic, spam, phishing, resale operations, or infrastructure-abusive activity. Business plans have higher volume thresholds than Pro; Enterprise plans have custom limits negotiated upfront.
- What happens after the trial?
- Your QR codes pause — no redirects. Subscribe to reactivate instantly. Your codes and analytics are never deleted, so when you return everything is where you left it.
- Can I cancel anytime?
- Yes. Cancel from the billing page anytime. Your plan stays active until the end of the current billing period.
- Do you offer a money-back guarantee?
- Yes — 7-day money-back guarantee on all plans. If ScanForge isn't a fit, email us within 7 days of your first charge and we'll refund you, no questions asked.
Teams & agencies
- How many teammates can I invite?
- Pro includes up to 10 teammates; Business includes up to 20. Need more? Enterprise scales higher with custom seat pricing.
- Can I separate clients into different workspaces?
- Yes. Create a workspace per client or per region. Codes, analytics, templates, webhooks, and team access are all scoped to the workspace — a teammate in one workspace has no visibility into another.
- Can I share analytics with a client who doesn't have a login?
- Yes. Generate a signed share link from any dashboard; the client sees live data without needing a ScanForge account. Links can be revoked at any time. On Business plans, shared dashboards can be white-labeled to your agency brand.
Security & reliability
- Can QR codes be password-protected?
- Yes. Any dynamic QR can be gated behind a password — scanners see a branded gate page before the code resolves. Wrong-password attempts are rate-limited to prevent brute force, and every attempt is logged.
- Can I make a one-time QR link?
- Yes. One-time links resolve exactly once, then expire. The second scan lands on a 'link already used' page. Useful for unique invites, single-use downloads, and secure drops.
- Can I revoke a printed QR code?
- Yes. Revoke any dynamic code instantly from the dashboard. Revoked codes resolve to a 'no longer active' page — so a sticker left in the wild can't keep driving traffic to a stale destination forever.
- Is ScanForge SOC 2 / GDPR compliant?
- SSO is available via the Enterprise tier. Additional compliance certifications (SOC 2, etc.) are on our roadmap — contact sales for current status and procurement-specific questions. GDPR: we minimize PII, log scans at an aggregate level by default, and offer data export and deletion on request.
Getting started
- How do I create my first QR code?
- Sign up for a free trial, click 'New QR' in the dashboard, paste your destination URL, optionally apply branding and routing rules, and download PNG or SVG. Dynamic tracking is on by default — scans will start logging the moment the first person scans.
- Can I generate QR codes in bulk from a CSV?
- Yes. Upload a CSV with one row per code (destination URL, label, campaign tag) and ScanForge generates a branded QR per row in seconds. Export the whole batch as a zip for print. Included on every paid plan.
- Can I integrate ScanForge with my existing stack?
- Yes. Every paid plan includes REST API access for creating codes, updating destinations, and pulling analytics. Business plans add signed HMAC webhooks on every scan — stream scans into your CRM, warehouse, Zapier, Make, or internal tools.
Still have questions? Try it — it's free.
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