How to track QR code scans: count them, and see which poster worked

October 10, 2026 · 4 min read

You printed a QR code on a flyer, a menu or a conference badge, and now you'd like to know whether anyone scanned it. A plain QR code can't tell you: the link is stored in the black and white squares themselves, and a phone opens it without asking anyone. To count scans, something has to sit between the code and the page, or the page has to recognise the visit when it arrives.

Two ways to count scans

Point the code at a short link that counts. The code opens a short link, the short link records the scan and sends the visitor on in a fraction of a second. You get a number per day and per country without touching your website.
Tag the link so your analytics recognises it. Add UTM tags such as utm_source=qr and utm_medium=offline to the link inside the code. Every scan then shows up in your analytics as its own source instead of "direct", and you can follow what those visitors did next.

They answer different questions. The short link counts scans even if the page is slow or the visitor leaves at once. The UTM tags tell you whether scanners went on to sign up or buy. Using both is the most complete picture.

Doing it with the free generator

The QR code generator has both options as checkboxes. Tick Count scans and the code points to a short link with a free stats page of scans per day and country. Tick Tag the link and it adds utm_source=qr, utm_medium=offline and your campaign name. It also takes your logo and colours and downloads PNG or SVG.

One trade-off to know before printing: a code made with Count scans without an account relies on a short link that lasts 30 days. Signed in, the short link doesn't expire. A plain code with only UTM tags works forever, because nothing sits in between.

Compare flyers, not just totals

The number that changes decisions is the comparison. Give each placement its own campaign name (flyer-library, table-card, poster-station) and its own code. A week later you'll know which spot earned its print run, instead of a single total that mixes them all.

Tips that save a reprint

Scan the printed proof with two different phones before the full print run.
Link to the final address. If your page redirects, check that the tags survive it: a redirect that drops the query string makes every scan look like direct traffic. The UTM link checker opens the link and tells you.
Keep it dark on light and at least 2 cm (about 0.8 in) wide; bigger if people scan from across a room.
Use a short link inside the code when you can. Shorter links make simpler codes that scan faster.

Reading the results

A scan count tells you reach; what matters is what came next. In measuremy.site, scans tagged with a campaign show up as their own source, so you can open it and see pages viewed and signups from that flyer, or ask your coding agent "how did the October flyers do?". Whatever tool you use, the habit is the same: one code per placement, tags on every code, and a check before it goes to print.

See it on your own site

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Add measuremy.site analytics to this project: connect the measuremy.site MCP server at https://a.measuremy.site/mcp (it signs in with OAuth, no key), then tell me how to sign in. Details: measuremy.site/llms.txt

Free tools

QR code generator: QR codes with your logo, colours and scan counts.
Link shortener with click tracking: Short links with a click count by day and country.
Free UTM link builder: Add utm_source, medium and campaign to any link.

All free tools