How to Track QR Code Scans for Free

The Problem With Static QR Codes

You printed 500 flyers with a QR code. You distributed them. Now what? If you used a standard static QR code, you have zero visibility. You don't know if anyone scanned it, when they scanned it, or where they were.

Here are three ways to fix that.

Method 1: UTM Parameters + Google Analytics (Free)

The simplest approach. Add UTM parameters to your URL before generating the QR code.

Example:

https://yoursite.com/menu?utm_source=table-tent&utm_medium=qr&utm_campaign=spring-menu

Then create a QR code from this tagged URL using QRbuild's free generator.

In GA4, you'll see:

Sessions from Source: table-tent / Medium: qr
Which campaign drove traffic
Bounce rate and time on page

Pros: Free, uses existing analytics, no special tools needed
Cons: Only tracks visits that load your page (not raw scans), no device/location data from the QR side

Method 2: Dynamic QR Codes With Scan Tracking

A dynamic QR code routes through a tracking server before redirecting to your destination. Every scan is logged with:

Timestamp
City and country
Device type (iOS, Android)
Unique vs. repeat scans

This is the most accurate method. QRbuild's tracked codes give you a weekly scan report delivered to your inbox.

Method 3: URL Shortener Analytics

Create a short link (Bitly, etc.), then generate a QR code from that short URL. The shortener's dashboard shows click counts.

Pros: Simple setup
Cons: Less detailed than dedicated QR tracking, adds a redirect hop (slower), some shorteners have click limits

Which Method Should You Use?

Method	Accuracy	Cost	Best For
UTM + GA4	Medium	Free	Marketers already using GA4
Dynamic QR tracking	High	Free-$9/mo	Anyone serious about measurement
URL shortener	Low-Medium	Free	Quick one-off campaigns

For anything you're spending money to print — event materials, direct mail, signage — use a tracked QR code. The data pays for itself.

Setting Up UTM Tracking Step by Step

Go to Google's Campaign URL Builder
Enter your destination URL
Fill in: Source = flyer, Medium = qr, Campaign = spring-2026
Copy the generated URL
Paste it into QRbuild and create your QR code
Check GA4 > Acquisition > Traffic acquisition for results

Key Metrics to Track

Total scans: Is anyone engaging at all?
Unique scans: How many individual people scanned?
Time of day: When do most scans happen?
Location: Which physical placement drives the most scans?
Conversion rate: Of those who scanned, how many took action?

For QR code analytics best practices, track scans against a clear conversion goal — not just scan volume.

Start tracking your QR codes. Create a free QR code with UTM parameters built in.