Bitly is the biggest name in link management, and plenty of small businesses reach for it when they need a QR code. But Bitly's pricing is built around enterprise link management, not QR codes — and if QR codes are the main thing you need, you can end up paying $29 a month for something a dedicated tool does for a fraction of the price. Here is an honest look at what Bitly's QR code plans actually give you in 2026, and when a cheaper alternative makes more sense.
Bitly's QR Code Limits in 2026
Bitly's free plan includes just 2 QR codes per month, alongside 5 short links. Those codes do get unlimited scans, and basic customisation is included, but two codes is a hard ceiling — enough to try the product, not enough to run campaigns.
The paid tiers don't scale much better for QR-first users:
- Free: 2 QR codes per month, basic customisation
- Core (~$10/month): 5 QR codes per month, limited analytics retention
- Growth ($29/month): 10 QR codes per month, more styling options
Notice the pattern: you are paying for a link-management platform where QR codes are a metered add-on. At the Growth tier, ten QR codes works out at $2.90 per code per month — and most of what you're paying for is short links and landing pages you may never use.
What QR-First Users Actually Need
If you're putting QR codes on menus, flyers, packaging or posters, your needs are usually simple: a dynamic QR code that won't break, scan analytics you can act on, and a price that doesn't punish you for adding one more code. That's a different product from enterprise link management.
QR Insights charges £1.99 per month per QR code, with the first month free. Every code comes with the full analytics suite — scan counts, geographic breakdown, device data, time-of-day patterns, and AI-generated insights that tell you what the data means. There are no tiers, no monthly code quotas, and no features held back for a higher plan.
Bitly vs QR Insights for QR Codes
- Pricing model: Bitly sells bundles (links + codes + landing pages) at fixed tiers. QR Insights charges per code, so one code costs £1.99 and you only ever pay for what you use.
- Analytics: Bitly's scan analytics are solid but data retention is restricted on lower tiers. QR Insights includes full historical analytics and AI insights on every code.
- Focus: Bitly is link management first. QR Insights does one thing — trackable QR codes with analytics.
- UK compliance: QR Insights is UK-based and anonymises scan data at collection, which keeps GDPR compliance simple.
When Bitly Is Still the Right Choice
Bitly earns its price if you genuinely need the rest of the platform: hundreds of branded short links, custom domains, landing pages, and QR codes as one part of a bigger link strategy. If your marketing runs on short links, stay with Bitly.
When to Switch
If you looked at your Bitly invoice and realised you're only using it for QR codes, you're overpaying. One trackable code at £1.99 a month — or five for under £10 — with full analytics on each beats a $29 bundle you use a tenth of.
See how the whole market compares in our cheapest QR code tracker rankings, or compare other platforms: QR TIGER, Uniqode, and Flowcode.