How does the 7-day free trial work, and what happens when it ends?
Updated September 14, 2026 · 2 min read
The trial runs for 7 days from signup and needs no credit card. It gives you 5 dynamic QR codes, 25 short links, every download format, and the full location analytics — countries, cities and the scan map. When the 7 days are up, you can no longer create codes and your existing codes stop redirecting: scanners see a page saying "This page is taking a short break". Your analytics stay readable, and subscribing puts every code back online.
What the trial includes
- 5 dynamic QR codes, any of the 40+ types.
- 25 short links on qstak.co.
- Every download format — PNG, JPEG, SVG and PDF, at 512 to 4096 px, RGB or CMYK, A4 to A0.
- Full location analytics — countries, regions, cities and the scan map, which among paid plans is a Business-only feature.
- AI Insights, custom link previews, A/B testing on links and GoLinks.
The map is the thing trial users most often miss afterwards. Starter and Pro record top countries but not cities, regions or the map — see location analytics.
What the trial does not include
- Static QR codes. The trial cap is 0. A static code embeds its content permanently and cannot be switched off afterwards, so it needs a paid plan.
- Password protection, expiry dates and scan limits, and dynamic routing rules — all Pro and above.
- The UTM builder and retargeting pixels — Pro and above.
- Bulk creation, API access and scan report emails.
- Custom domains, the native integrations and team seats.
Uploads are capped at 5 MB per file during the trial, including video.
What happens when the trial ends
Nothing is deleted, but four things change the moment the 7 days are up:
| What | After the trial |
|---|---|
| Creating codes and links | Blocked until you subscribe. |
| Existing QR codes | Stop redirecting. Scanners get a page headed "This page is taking a short break" instead of your content. |
| Analytics | Still readable. Everything recorded during the trial stays in your account. |
| Downloads | One low-quality PNG at 512 × 512. JPEG, SVG, PDF, larger sizes and CMYK need a plan. |
Because scans stop resolving, anything already printed goes dead until the account is active again. If a print run is out in the world, subscribe before the trial ends rather than after.
Turning your codes back on
Go to Settings → Billing and pick a plan under Choose a Plan: Starter $9/mo ($86/yr), Pro $19/mo ($182/yr) or Business $59/mo ($566/yr). You are redirected to a secure payment page, and when the payment lands your codes start resolving again — same patterns, same links, same scan history. Nothing needs reprinting.
If you scan one of your own codes after the trial, the "short break" page has a reactivation link that signs you in and lands you on the billing page.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a credit card to start the trial?
No. Signing up starts the 7 days with no card and no charge when it ends.
Do my QR codes expire when the trial does?
The codes are not deleted, but they stop redirecting until you subscribe. Scanners see a neutral "taking a short break" page rather than your content.
Do I lose my scan data?
No. Analytics recorded during the trial stay readable on a free account forever, and reappear in full when you subscribe.
Can I make static QR codes on the trial?
No. Static codes need a paid plan, because their content is embedded in the pattern and cannot be revoked afterwards.
What if I need more than 5 codes during the trial?
Subscribe early. Starter includes 10 dynamic codes, Pro 50 and Business 600, and upgrading mid-trial keeps everything you already made.
Related articles
What are the plan limits, and what counts against them?
Starter allows 10 dynamic codes, Pro 50, Business 600, the free trial 5. Only active codes count — archiving one frees a slot immediately.
What happens to my QR codes if my subscription ends?
Dynamic codes stop redirecting and scanners see a 'taking a short break' page. Nothing is deleted — subscribing again reactivates the same printed codes.
How do I upgrade, downgrade or switch to annual billing?
Billing → Change Plan, pick a plan and period, confirm. Every change is a new checkout, and a downgrade is blocked until you are within the new limits.
Which plans include city and map scan analytics?
The Scan Locations map, countries, regions, cities and pincodes plus Busiest Times are on the free trial and Business. Starter and Pro do not have them.
Still stuck?
Email support@qrcodestack.com with the email on your account and, if it is about one code, its name or short link. A person replies within one business day, usually sooner.