QR Tiger Alternative: QR Codes That Keep Working After You Stop Paying

You printed the codes. Their subscription ended. Now your flyers point to a dead page - that’s how QR code subscriptions work. HandyCode’s codes never expire, whether you keep your plan or not.

If you found this page comparing QR Tiger (qrcode-tiger.com) alternatives, this page explains - with dated sources - how cancellation actually works there, where QR Tiger is genuinely the better tool, and where HandyCode fits instead.

What happens when you cancel a typical QR service

Dynamic QR codes are redirects: the printed code points to a short link the service controls. That is what makes them editable - and it is also what lets the service switch them off.

This is an industry pattern, not a quirk of one vendor. Uniqode (formerly Beaconstac), one of the largest names in the space, states it plainly in their FAQ:

“Once your free trial expires, any dynamic QR Codes you created will become inactive…” — uniqode.com/pricing FAQ, accessed 2026-10-22

QR Code Generator (QRCG by Bitly) has an equivalent policy in its support documentation: dynamic codes expire when the subscription lapses (qr-code-generator.com, accessed 2026-10-22). QR TIGER, per our observations of their site, requires an active plan for paid-plan functionality (qrcode-tiger.com, observed 2026-10-22).

None of this is secret - it is in their own docs. But it is easy to miss after you have already printed the menus.

How HandyCode works instead

HandyCode is an iPhone and iPad app first. You create, style, and manage your codes on your device - offline if you like - and the codes that need it point to hosted pages we keep serving.

• Your codes never expire - cancel or not, everything you printed keeps working. Dynamic codes keep redirecting after a Pro cancellation or refund. This help page documents the policy and exactly what does change.
• Pro is $9.99/month or $89.99/year (App Store billing) and adds custom logo, branding removal, and detailed analytics. If you downgrade later, the only visible change on your hosted content page is that a small “Powered by HandyCode” label may reappear, and only where Pro had hidden it - never any change to your printed code’s behavior.
• Free is genuinely free to build on: unlimited dynamic codes of every type - links, PDFs, images, WiFi, contacts, menus - with a 14-day detailed-analytics trial.

If you want the background on why dynamic codes behave this way at all, start with Static vs Dynamic QR Codes.

Where QR Tiger is genuinely better

An honest comparison, because the alternative matters:

• Templates and design ecosystem. QR TIGER’s template library and design tooling are larger than what any iOS app can match.
• Enterprise integrations. They are built to plug into a web-platform workflow with team features a business may need.
• Languages. Their iOS app ships in English plus 28 more languages (App Store listing, fetched 2026-10-22); HandyCode currently ships in English and Spanish.
• Entry price. Their paid tiers start around $7/month billed annually (Regular $7, Advanced $16, Premium $37; their /payment page, observed 2026-10-22).

If you live inside a web dashboard, need those integrations, or serve many languages, QR TIGER may be the right tool. The difference is what happens to your printed codes afterward.

Decision table

Free tier comparison

HandyCode limits verified in the product (2026-10-23); Hovercode and QR TIGER limits observed 2026-10-22/23 on their sites.

Being straight with you: hovercode ships scan analytics as a standing free feature. HandyCode’s detailed analytics is a 14-day trial, then Pro. That is the one axis we lose today. On volume - unlimited dynamic codes and every code type, free - we know of no comparable free plan.

Frequently asked questions

Are there QR code generators where the codes keep working if I stop paying?

Yes. Static QR generators always keep working, and among dynamic services at least one - HandyCode - does not deactivate dynamic codes on downgrade or cancellation. HandyCode documents this policy, including exactly what does change on downgrade, in What Happens to My QR Codes if I Cancel?. Many larger services, QR TIGER among them, tie dynamic-code functionality to an active plan.

What’s the best dynamic QR code generator for a small restaurant?

For a restaurant, three things matter most: editing the menu without reprinting QR codes, tracking which codes get scanned, and what happens to printed codes if you stop paying the subscription. QR TIGER is strong on design templates and language support. HandyCode covers menu editing and scan analytics in an offline-first iPhone/iPad app, and its dynamic codes keep redirecting after cancellation, so printed menus keep working either way.

Do QR codes expire?

The QR Code standard has no expiration date - a printed static code works as long as it is readable. Dynamic codes depend on the service behind the redirect, and some services deactivate dynamic codes when a subscription ends. Our full explanation: Do QR Codes Expire? What You Need to Know. If a code’s lifetime must survive a cancelled subscription, choose a service that documents keeping codes live - HandyCode does, and you can change a QR code’s destination after printing without a plan at risk.

Try it free

HandyCode is free to start: unlimited dynamic codes, every type, no credit card. Pro is $9.99/month or $89.99/year if you want the logo, branding removal, and detailed analytics - and your codes keep working whether you stay on it or not.

Get HandyCode free on the App Store

QR Code is a registered trademark of DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED. QR TIGER, Hovercode, Uniqode, and QRCG are trademarks of their respective owners; comparisons are informational. Prices and tiers observed on the dates shown - verify current terms with each vendor.