Handycode
What Happens to My QR Codes if I Cancel?
Last updated: October 23, 2026.
The short answer
HandyCode QR codes do not expire. If you cancel Pro - or stop paying altogether - your dynamic QR codes keep redirecting to their content, and nothing you have already printed stops working.
This page documents exactly what changes when a plan ends, and how several other QR services handle the same situation, using their own published statements.
What changes when your Pro plan ends
When Pro lapses, your account moves to the Free plan. On your hosted content pages, the only thing that changes: a small “Powered by HandyCode” label may reappear - and only on pages where Pro had hidden it.
Everything else on the hosted side keeps serving exactly as before:
- Redirects: every dynamic code keeps redirecting to the same destination.
- Content pages: text, link, and menu pages keep loading with the same content.
- Uploaded files: PDFs and images behind your codes stay available at the same addresses.
- Printed material: the look of a QR code is baked into the image you printed, so nothing changes on flyers, menus, or signs.
Pro features inside the app - custom logo uploads, branding removal, and detailed analytics after the 14-day trial - require an active Pro plan. These are app-side features; losing access to them does not switch off a published code.
Can I still edit my codes after cancelling?
Yes. Editing where a code points is part of the Free plan. You can keep updating destinations after your Pro plan ends, without reprinting.
What happens on other QR services when a plan lapses
The table below reflects each service’s own published statements, as observed on the dates shown. If you are evaluating a switch, check the linked sources for current terms.
| Service | What happens to dynamic codes when the subscription ends | Source |
|---|---|---|
| HandyCode | Codes keep redirecting; printed material keeps working. The “Powered by HandyCode” label may reappear on hosted pages. | This page (policy as of 2026-10-23) |
| Uniqode (formerly Beaconstac) | Dynamic codes become inactive after trial/subscription lapse. Their FAQ: “Once your free trial expires, any dynamic QR Codes you created will become inactive…” | uniqode.com/pricing FAQ, accessed 2026-10-22 |
| QRCG by Bitly (qr-code-generator.com) | Dynamic codes expire with the subscription, per their support documentation. | qr-code-generator.com support documentation, accessed 2026-10-22 |
| QR TIGER (qrcode-tiger.com) | Paid-plan functionality requires an active plan, as observed on their site. | qrcode-tiger.com, observed 2026-10-22 |
Frequently asked questions
Do HandyCode QR codes expire if I cancel?
No. HandyCode dynamic QR codes keep redirecting to their content after a Pro cancellation or refund. The only observed change on downgrade is that a small “Powered by HandyCode” label may reappear on your hosted content pages.
What happens to my printed QR codes if I stop paying?
Nothing. Everything you printed keeps working. The code keeps redirecting to the same destination, and the styling of the QR image you printed is part of the printed image itself, so it is unaffected.
Can I still edit my QR codes after cancelling Pro?
Yes. Updating a code’s destination is part of the Free plan. Pro-only features - custom logo uploads, branding removal, detailed analytics after the 14-day trial - require an active Pro plan, but they are app features and do not affect whether your published codes keep working.
Do QR codes expire?
The QR Code standard has no expiration date. A static code works as long as the printed symbol is readable. A dynamic code works as long as the service behind its redirect keeps serving it - and some services deactivate dynamic codes when a subscription ends. HandyCode does not deactivate codes on cancellation. See Do QR Codes Expire? What You Need to Know for the full explanation.
QR Code is a registered trademark of DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED. Uniqode, QRCG, Bitly, and QR TIGER are trademarks of their respective owners; comparisons here are informational.