How to track QR code scans
By Prabhneet Singh Narula, founder of RelyQr · Updated
Short answer
To track QR code scans, use a dynamic QR code: each scan passes through a short link that counts it before forwarding the visitor. You'll see how many people scanned, when, roughly where (city) and on which device. Static codes can't be tracked by themselves, though UTM tags on the link can show the visits in Google Analytics.
How QR code tracking works
A dynamic QR code holds a short link. When someone scans it, their phone opens the short link first; the service behind it records the scan and forwards them to your page in milliseconds. A static code goes straight to your page, so nothing in between can count it.
What a scan tells you on RelyQr
| What you see | How it's measured |
|---|---|
| Scans and unique people | Each scan, plus an anonymous count of people from a daily changing hash |
| Time | When each scan happened, live as it happens |
| Country, region and city | Approximate, from Cloudflare's network, not GPS |
| Device, operating system and browser | From the phone's browser |
| Language | The phone's language setting |
| Automated visits | Link previews and bots are flagged, so they don't inflate your numbers |
RelyQr never stores the IP address of anyone who scans. It's used only in memory to make the daily anonymous count and to stop abuse.
Track QR code visits in Google Analytics
Add UTM tags to the destination link so Google Analytics knows the visits came from a code, for example utm_source=qr and utm_medium=print, with utm_campaign naming the poster or placement. RelyQr can add UTM tags to any dynamic code for you, on every plan, without changing tags the page already has.
Compare placements
- Make one code per placement (window, table, flyer) so you can compare them.
- Enter what the print run cost to see the cost per scan.
- Watch scans by hour and day to time offers.
- Turn on live scan alerts on Business to hear the moment a code is scanned.
Questions people also ask
Can you track a static QR code?
Not by itself, because a static code opens the page directly. You can add UTM tags to its link to see the visits in your website's analytics.
Can I see who scanned my QR code?
No. Scan analytics are anonymous: you see counts, times, cities and devices, never names or personal details.
How accurate is QR code scan location?
City-level and approximate, because it comes from the network, not the phone's GPS.
Does a second scan by the same person count?
It counts as a scan, but not as a new person: RelyQr shows both scans and unique people.
Make a QR code that lasts forever
Free static codes with your logo and no watermark. Dynamic codes you can change after printing keep working on every plan.