QR Code API Comparison 2026: Finding the Right Fit

Choosing a QR code API shouldn't be complicated. You need to generate codes, maybe track scans, and not get surprised by your bill at the end of the month.

In this post, we compare the major QR code APIs available in 2026, with an honest look at pricing, features, and developer experience.

The Quick Summary

Pricing Breakdown

QRStar

QRStar uses pure pay-per-use pricing with no monthly minimums:

• Static QR codes: $0.001 per code
• Dynamic QR codes: $0.01 per code
• Scan tracking: $0.0001 per scan

This means you only pay for what you use. Generate 100 static codes? That's $0.10. Generate 1,000 dynamic codes with 50,000 scans? That's $15.

Beaconstac/Uniqode

Beaconstac (now Uniqode) targets enterprise customers:

• Starter: $49/month for 2 users, basic analytics
• Pro: $99/month for 5 users, advanced analytics
• Business: $349/month for unlimited users, API access

You're paying for seats and features, not usage. Good if you have predictable needs and budget.

QR Tiger

QR Tiger offers budget-friendly subscriptions:

• Regular: $7/month for 3 dynamic QR codes
• Advanced: $16/month for 10 dynamic QR codes
• Premium: $37/month for 100 dynamic QR codes

The catch: you're limited by number of codes, not usage.

Scanova

Scanova sits in the middle:

• Lite: $15/month for 5 dynamic codes
• Basic: $25/month for 10 dynamic codes
• Normal: $49/month for 25 dynamic codes

Similar limits to QR Tiger, with a focus on design customization.

Feature Comparison

Static QR Code Generation

All providers handle basic static QR codes well. The differences are in customization:

Dynamic QR Codes

This is where providers differentiate:

API Quality

For developers, the API matters as much as features:

Developer Experience

QRStar

const response = await fetch('https://api.qrstar.app/v1/generate', {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    'Content-Type': 'application/json',
    'X-API-Key': 'your_api_key'
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    data: 'https://example.com',
    size: 512
  })
});

const { qr_code_url } = await response.json();

Clean, minimal API. You get a URL to the generated image.

Beaconstac

const response = await fetch('https://api.beaconstac.com/v2/qrcodes/', {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    'Authorization': 'Token your_token',
    'Content-Type': 'application/json'
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    name: 'My QR Code',
    qr_type: 1,
    location_enabled: false,
    fields: { url: 'https://example.com' }
  })
});

More verbose, requires more configuration upfront.

QR Tiger

const response = await fetch('https://api.qrtiger.com/api/qr/static', {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    'Authorization': 'Bearer your_token',
    'Content-Type': 'application/json'
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    size: 500,
    colorDark: '000000',
    qrData: 'https://example.com',
    qrCategory: 'url'
  })
});

Works, but the response format varies between endpoints.

When to Choose Each

Choose QRStar if:

• Your volume varies month to month
• You want to pay only for what you use
• You need fast API response times
• You're building developer tools or SaaS products

Choose Beaconstac if:

• You have enterprise budget and steady volume
• You need advanced features like A/B testing now
• Your team needs a visual dashboard

Choose QR Tiger if:

• You're a small business with basic needs
• You want the lowest monthly cost
• You don't need API access

Choose Scanova if:

• Design customization is your priority
• You need a marketing-focused solution
• You have a small, fixed number of codes

The Bottom Line

There's no universally "best" QR code API. It depends on your use case:

Variable volume? Pay-per-use (QRStar) saves money.

Enterprise with budget? Subscription services (Beaconstac) offer more features.

Just getting started? Try a free tier first, then scale.

The best choice is the one that matches how you actually use QR codes, not the one with the longest feature list.

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Ready to try pay-per-use QR codes? Create your free QRStar account and generate your first code in seconds.