You printed QR codes on flyers, posters, or packaging. People are scanning them. But how many? From where? On what devices? At what time?
If you're using static QR codes, the answer is: you have no idea. Static QR codes contain the destination URL directly — the scan goes straight to the target without passing through any tracking system.
Dynamic QR codes solve this. Here's how tracking works and how to set it up.
How QR Code Tracking Works
The concept is simple. Instead of encoding your actual URL in the QR code, you encode a short redirect link — like qree.app/abc123.
When someone scans the QR code, here's what happens:
- Their phone opens
qree.app/abc123 - The server receives the request and logs data: IP address, User-Agent header, timestamp, referrer
- The server redirects the user to your actual destination URL (e.g.,
yoursite.com/menu) - The redirect happens in milliseconds — the user doesn't notice anything
From the logged data, the server extracts:
- Country and city — from the IP address using a geolocation database
- Device type — iOS, Android, or desktop — from the User-Agent string
- Browser and OS — Safari, Chrome, Firefox, etc.
- Time of scan — exact timestamp
- Referrer — where the scan came from (if available)
This is the same principle behind link shorteners like Bitly, email tracking pixels, and UTM parameters in marketing. The key is that the request passes through your server before reaching the destination.
What Data Can You Track?
With a dynamic QR code from qree.app, every scan is recorded with the following data:
Scan count — total scans, scans today, scans this week/month. The most basic metric. Tells you whether your QR code is getting attention.
Geography — country and city of each scan. Useful for local businesses (are people in my neighborhood scanning?) and international campaigns (which markets engage most?).
Devices — iOS vs. Android vs. desktop breakdown. Tells you what kind of audience you're reaching. If 90% of scans are on iPhones, your landing page better look good on Safari.
Time — when people scan. You can see patterns: lunch hours, weekends, evenings. A restaurant might learn that most menu scans happen between 12:00 and 13:00. An event organizer might see a spike the day before the event.
Browsers and OS — more granular than device type. Useful for debugging if your landing page looks broken for some users.
Referrer — where the scan came from. Note: most QR scans from a phone camera don't have a referrer, so this field is often empty. It's more useful when people click the short link directly (shared in a chat, for example).
Step-by-Step: Set Up Tracking
1. Create a free account at qree.app
Go to qree.app and sign in with Google. This gives you access to the dashboard where you can create dynamic QR codes and view analytics.
2. Create a dynamic QR code
In your dashboard, click "New QR Code". Enter the destination URL, give it a name (e.g., "Spring Flyer Campaign"), and customize the design. Click "Create".
You'll get a short link like qree.app/abc123 and a downloadable QR code that encodes this link.
3. Use the QR code
Download the QR as PNG (for digital) or SVG (for print). Place it on your flyer, poster, menu, business card, or wherever you need it.
4. View analytics
Go to your dashboard and click on the QR code. You'll see the analytics page with all the data: scan timeline, geography, devices, and recent scans.
Data updates in near real-time — you'll see scans within seconds of them happening.
Combining QR Tracking with Google Analytics
For deeper insights, add UTM parameters to your destination URL before creating the QR code:
https://yoursite.com/menu?utm_source=qr&utm_medium=flyer&utm_campaign=spring2026
This way, qree.app tracks the QR scans, and Google Analytics tracks what those visitors do on your website — pageviews, conversions, purchases.
You get the complete picture: how many people scanned (from qree.app) → what they did on your site (from Google Analytics).
How Many Scans Should You Expect?
This depends entirely on context. Some benchmarks:
- A QR code on a restaurant table: 5–20 scans per day
- A QR code on a flyer: 1–5% of people who see it will scan
- A QR code on product packaging: 0.5–2% scan rate
- A QR code at an event: 10–30% of attendees
If your scan rate is low, check the basics: is the QR code big enough? Is there a clear call-to-action? Is it placed where people naturally look?
Common Tracking Mistakes
Using a static QR code and expecting analytics. Static codes have no tracking. If you need data, use dynamic.
Not labeling different QR codes. If you put the same QR on flyers and posters, you can't tell which channel works better. Create separate QR codes for each placement with descriptive names.
Ignoring the data. Tracking is useless if you don't act on it. Check your dashboard weekly. If a flyer gets zero scans after a week, the placement isn't working — move it or try a different design.
Start Tracking
Create a free account at qree.app, generate a dynamic QR code, and start seeing exactly who scans, when, and where. All analytics features are free during Early Access.