Comparison

QR Dex vs Bitly

Bitly is a link shortener that added QR codes as a secondary feature. QR Dex is a dedicated QR code platform built from the ground up for teams that need more than just shortened URLs.

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Who Should Choose QR Dex, and Who Should Choose Bitly?

The short answer: pick QR Dex when QR codes are central to your operations; pick Bitly when shortened links are the primary job and QR codes are occasional.

Choose QR Dex if you:

  • Print QR codes on physical assets — signage, packaging, menus, equipment, or property
  • Need scan-level analytics: where (city and country), on what device, and when each scan happened
  • Manage codes as a team at a fixed price — Starter covers up to 50 codes with unlimited scans ($50/year)
  • Need dedicated QR types like Wi-Fi, WhatsApp, or Phone codes, with SSO and a REST API

Choose Bitly if you:

  • Mainly need link shortening and branded links, with QR codes as an occasional add-on
  • Want one dashboard that aggregates clicks across social media, email, and other link channels alongside QR scans
  • Only create a handful of QR codes and don't need scan location or device data

Feature Comparison

A side-by-side look at what each platform offers for QR code management.

Feature QR Dex Bitly
Dynamic QR Codes
QR Code Analytics
Per-scan location, device & time
Link-click based
Custom Branding & Logo
Full customization
Limited
Team Collaboration
Free Plan Available
SSO (Okta & Microsoft Entra ID)
Higher-tier plans only
REST API
From Growth plan
6 QR Code Types
(URL, Email, SMS, WhatsApp, Phone, Wi-Fi)
Fewer types
QR-Code-First Platform
Link shortener first
50 QR Codes on Starter Plan
(unlimited scans)
$50/year

Why Teams Choose QR Dex over Bitly

QR Dex was built for teams that treat QR codes as a core part of their operations, not an afterthought.

Built for QR Codes

QR Dex is a dedicated QR code platform, not a link shortener with QR codes bolted on. Every feature is designed around QR code creation, management, and tracking.

Six QR Code Types

QR Dex supports URL, Email, SMS, WhatsApp, Phone, and Wi-Fi QR codes. Bitly covers some of these types but lacks WhatsApp and Phone-specific codes.

Full Branding Control

Customize colors, shapes, and add your logo to every QR code. Make your QR codes recognizable and consistent with your brand identity.

Affordable Plans

Get up to 50 QR codes with unlimited scans starting at $50 per year. No surprise per-code fees.

What Analytics Does Each Platform Track?

Both platforms report on QR performance, but they measure different things. Here's the difference in what you can see.

QR Dex: scan-level QR analytics

  • ✓Scan location by country and city, so you can see where each campaign performs
  • ✓Device breakdown per scan — mobile vs. desktop, and by operating system
  • ✓Time-of-day and date scan trends to plan campaign timing
  • ✓Per-code campaign tracking with team-wide dashboards

Bitly: link-click analytics

  • •Click counts and click streams for short links, which QR destinations are measured through
  • •Aggregated view across every link channel — social, email, ads — alongside QR scans
  • •Scan location and device detail are more limited because analytics are built around link clicks, not physical scans

If your KPI is QR scan performance — which locations, devices, and campaigns drive scans — QR Dex reports it natively. If you need a single dashboard aggregating every link across social and email with QR as one channel, Bitly's link-centric view may fit.

QR Dex vs Bitly: Frequently Asked Questions

Is QR Dex or Bitly better for QR codes?

QR Dex is the better choice when QR codes are central to your operations. It is a dedicated QR code platform with six QR code types (URL, Email, SMS, WhatsApp, Phone, and Wi-Fi), full branding control on every plan, and up to 50 codes with unlimited scans starting at $50/year. Bitly is a link management platform where QR codes are a secondary feature, so it makes more sense if shortened links are your primary need.

Is QR Dex cheaper than Bitly for QR codes?

For teams that need more than a handful of codes, yes. QR Dex's Starter plan at $50/year includes up to 50 QR codes with unlimited scans, and higher plans scale from there. Bitly tiers also limit how many QR codes you can create on each plan, and higher limits require moving to more expensive plans.

What analytics does QR Dex offer for QR code scans?

QR Dex tracks every scan with location (country and city), device type, and time-of-day data, plus per-code campaign tracking and team-wide dashboards. Bitly's analytics are built around link clicks rather than physical scans, so scan-level detail like scan location by city is more limited.

Which QR code types does QR Dex support that Bitly does not?

QR Dex supports six dedicated QR code types: URL, Email, SMS, WhatsApp, Phone, and Wi-Fi. Bitly's QR codes are built around URLs, so phone-specific, WhatsApp, and Wi-Fi code types are not part of its core feature set.

Explore More Features

Discover other ways QR Dex can help your business.

QR Code Types

URL, Email, SMS, WhatsApp, Phone, and Wi-Fi QR codes on every paid plan.

Learn more →

QR Code Analytics

Track scans by location, device, and time. See which campaigns perform best.

Learn more →

Team Management

Invite teammates, assign roles, and manage QR codes together from one dashboard.

Learn more →

Learn More

Explore our help center guides to get the most out of this feature.

Static vs Dynamic QR Codes

Understand the difference between static and dynamic QR codes and when to use each type.

Read guide →

Viewing QR Code Scan Analytics

Navigate the QR Dex analytics dashboard to view scan data and performance metrics.

Read guide →

Choosing the Right Plan

Compare QR Dex Starter, Growth, and Enterprise plans to find your best fit.

Read guide →

From Our Blog

Read more about this topic on our blog.

Static vs. Dynamic QR Codes: Which One Should You Use?

<p class="p1">Learn the key differences between static and dynamic QR codes. Discover which type is best for your business, how dynamic QR codes offer flexibility and analytics, and when to choose each option.</p>

Read article →

How to Create a QR Code: Step-by-Step Guide

<p>Learn how to create a QR code in minutes with our complete step-by-step guide. Whether you need a QR code for your business card, marketing campaign, or product packaging, this guide covers everything from choosing the right QR code type to customizing colors and tracking scans.</p>

Read article →

5 Creative Ways Businesses Use Dynamic QR Codes

<p>Discover how innovative businesses are using dynamic QR codes to streamline operations, boost engagement, and create memorable customer experiences. From smart packaging to contactless payments, these real-world use cases will inspire your next QR code campaign.</p>

Read article →

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