Bootcamp · Day 1
Bootcamp Day 1: Make Your First QR Code
Welcome to Day 1. Today's big idea is the dynamic QR code: a code that points at a short redirect link, which means it can change where it goes later and it gives you scan numbers back. Start by making a free tracked code on the MyQR homepage in about a minute, no signup needed — every scan gets counted. Dynamic codes you can re-point live in your account dashboard — accounts are free.
What is a dynamic QR code?
A dynamic QR code is a printed pattern that points at a short redirect link instead of pointing straight at your destination. Because the link sits in the middle, you can change where it goes and you can count how many people scan it.
Picture two QR codes. A static code has your web address baked right into the dots, so the pattern *is* the address. A dynamic code has a short redirect link baked in instead, and that link forwards scanners to wherever you tell it to. Same little square on the outside, very different on the inside.
That one design choice is what makes a code useful for marketing. The redirect link is something you own and can edit, so the printed square stops being a dead end and becomes a switch you can flip. We go deeper on the trade-offs in Static vs. dynamic QR codes.
Why does dynamic beat static for marketing?
Dynamic codes give you two things static codes can't: you can re-point them after they are printed, and you get scan numbers back. Static codes are fine for a fixed link you will never change and never need to measure.
Marketing changes. A sale ends, a menu updates, a link breaks. With a static code, the only fix is to reprint and re-stick every poster. With a dynamic code, you edit the destination once and every printed copy follows along. That re-point ability is the payoff on Day 5 of this bootcamp.
| Static QR | Dynamic QR | |
|---|---|---|
| Change the destination after printing | No, reprint required | Yes, edit anytime |
| See scan numbers | No | Yes |
| Best for | A link you will never change | Anything you market |
Swipe the table sideways to see more →
The scan numbers matter just as much. QR codes are mainstream now: according to QR Tiger's 2025 statistics roundup, more than 1 trillion QR codes were expected to be scanned worldwide in 2025. But a number that big only tells you the behavior is common, not whether *your* poster is working. Only your own scan counts can tell you that, and you only get them from a dynamic code. We cover reading those numbers on Day 4.
How do I make my first QR code on MyQR?
Open the MyQR homepage, paste the link you want the code to lead to, and you get a tracked QR code instantly. No account is needed to make one — an account is where the re-pointable dynamic codes live.
Here is your do-it-now task for today. It takes about a minute:
- 1.Go to the MyQR homepage.
- 2.Paste in the link you want people to land on, for example your website, your menu, or a sign-up page.
- 3.Grab your QR code. It is a tracked code, so it is ready to count scans from the moment you put it up.
- 4.Save the image somewhere safe. You will use this exact code for the rest of the bootcamp.
The free generator on the homepage is open to everyone, no signup required. If you want a dynamic code you can edit later and a dashboard where you watch scans come in — those come with an account, and accounts are free. Step-by-step help lives in Getting started.
Worried about committing to a dynamic code? Paid plans haven't launched yet, but when they do, cancel-to-static means a paid dynamic code keeps redirecting to its last destination forever if you ever stop paying. Printed codes don't suddenly break. More in Does my QR code still work if I cancel?
What does it cost to start?
Making a tracked QR code on the MyQR homepage is free with no signup. The free account tier keeps a dynamic code you can edit, plus full scan analytics and custom shapes, with paid plans coming at launch from around $5 a month.
You do not need to spend anything to follow along. The anonymous generator is free, and the free account tier includes one dynamic QR code you can re-point, one landing page, unlimited static codes, full scan analytics, custom code shapes, and print-ready stickers.
Paid plans are coming at launch, starting around $5 a month for early birds, with pricing not finalized yet. The idea is simple: paid is the free plan with higher limits, not a wall of locked features. You can see the current breakdown on the pricing page.
What happens tomorrow?
Tomorrow, Day 2, you make the code yours: custom module shapes and corner styles so it looks like your brand instead of a generic square.
You have the most important piece now: a working code that counts every scan. Tomorrow we make it look like *you*. Day 2: make it yours covers custom shapes and corner styles, and why MyQR keeps classic codes black-on-white so they still scan cleanly. See you in Day 2.
Want to keep exploring on your own first? The learn hub has the rest of the bootcamp and short guides on scans, printing, and landing pages.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an account to make a QR code?
No. The free generator on the MyQR homepage makes a tracked code with no signup. An account is what gets you a dynamic code you can re-point later, and it's where you view scan data — accounts are free.
Can I turn a static QR code into a dynamic one later?
Not the same printed code. A static code has the destination baked into the pattern, so changing the destination means a new code and a reprint. That is exactly why we start you on a dynamic code today.
What scan information will I get from a dynamic code?
For each scan you can see things like country, region, city, device, operating system, browser, language, referrer, and time, plus totals and trends. The data is coarse and pseudonymous, and MyQR does not store the scanner's raw IP address. Details live in the Privacy Policy at /privacy and in What scan data do I get.
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Make your Day 1 QR code
Paste your link, get a tracked QR code in about a minute. Free, no signup. Save it, you'll use it all week.