Bitly vs QR Tiger — Should You Pick a Link Shortener or a QR Platform?
Bitly was built for link shortening with QR as a secondary feature. QR Tiger was built for QR codes with link shortening tacked on. The distinction matters more than the marketing suggests. Honest comparison plus the alternative that handles both natively.
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The Quick Answer
Bitly wins for teams whose primary use case is branded short links — bit.ly slug customization, Slack/Salesforce integration, and analytics tied to URL patterns. QR Tiger wins for teams whose primary use case is QR codes — design templates, vCard QR, PDF QR, and dynamic editing. If you need both equally, neither is optimized for that combination — QRLynx includes branded short links, dynamic QR codes (49 types), and bio pages on a single $7/mo plan. Last updated April 2026.
Bitly vs QR Tiger vs QRLynx
| Feature | Bitly | QR Tiger | QRLynx |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free dynamic QR codes | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| AI Insights (auto-summary + trends) | |||
| Free scans / month | 50 | 1,000 | Unlimited |
| Branded short links | Limited | ||
| Custom slug on free | Limited | ||
| Entry paid plan | $10/mo (Core) | $7/mo (Regular) | $7/mo (Starter+) |
| Mid tier | $35/mo | $16/mo (Advanced) | $14/mo (Pro) |
| Codes per Pro plan | 5,000 active links | 3 dynamic | 300 dynamic |
| PDF QR codes | |||
| Digital Business Card | |||
| Apple/Google Wallet save | |||
| Bio pages | |||
| Smart redirect rules | Enterprise | Premium | Pro $14/mo |
| Built for | Link shortening | QR codes | Both + bio pages |
When Bitly Wins
Bitly is the right call when:
- You manage thousands of short links — Bitly's Pro plan allows 5,000 active links vs QR Tiger's 3 dynamic QR codes
- Your team uses Slack, Salesforce, or HubSpot — Bitly has the deepest native integrations
- You need API at scale — Bitly's API and bulk operations are built for it
- You only occasionally need QR — QR is a feature, not the focus
Where Bitly struggles: free plan caps at 50 scans/month, QR features are basic, no PDF or vCard QR types, and the Growth plan jumps to $35/mo. Aggressive pricing for SMBs.
When QR Tiger Wins
QR Tiger is the right pick when:
- You need polished QR design templates — QR Tiger has the largest template library
- You generate 5-50 QR codes per month, not thousands of links
- Your QR types include PDF, vCard, WiFi, social — QR Tiger covers all of these
- You need 1,000 scans/month free — most generous free scan tier among major QR generators (until you hit unlimited)
Where QR Tiger struggles: branded short links require Premium plan ($14/mo), no bio pages, no Apple/Google Wallet save, and dynamic QR codes capped at 3 on the free plan.
Why QRLynx Wins When You Need Both
If you need branded short links AND QR codes, you're paying for two products with Bitly + QR Tiger ($24-49/mo combined). QRLynx covers both:
- Branded short links + custom slugs on every plan including free
- 5 free dynamic QR codes with unlimited scans and no plan-based cap (vs Bitly's 50/mo cap)
- 49 QR types — URL, PDF, vCard, WiFi, social, payments, Digital Business Card with Apple/Google Wallet save
- Bio pages with custom domains on the Enterprise plan — Bitly doesn't offer; QR Tiger doesn't offer
- $14/mo Pro — $2 cheaper than QR Tiger Advanced ($16/mo), $21 cheaper than Bitly Growth
Honest trade-off: QRLynx's short-link analytics aren't as deep as Bitly's — Bitly has been doing this since 2008 and the analytics dashboard reflects it. For teams managing 10,000+ short links with custom attribution, Bitly is still the better fit.
Bitly vs QR Tiger — FAQ
Can Bitly generate QR codes?
Yes, Bitly generates QR codes for any short link. The QR codes are basic (square pattern, customizable color, optional logo) but functional. They scan as standard ISO 18004 QR codes. The limitation is type variety — no PDF QR, no vCard QR, no WiFi QR, no Digital Business Card.
Are QR Tiger codes better than Bitly's?
For visual design, yes — QR Tiger has more templates, custom shapes, and frame options. For underlying QR code quality, both produce standard-compliant codes that scan reliably. The differentiator is the surrounding feature set, not the QR itself.
Which is cheaper for a single user?
QR Tiger Regular at $7/mo (annual) is cheapest if you only need 3 dynamic QR codes. Bitly Core at $10/mo gives 5 custom-branded short links + basic QR. QRLynx Starter+ at $7/mo gives 50 dynamic QR codes + branded short links — same price as QR Tiger with 5x more codes.
Does Bitly have unlimited scans on free?
No. Bitly's free plan caps at 50 scans/month per QR code. After that, scans still work but aren't tracked in analytics. To remove the scan cap, you need Bitly Core ($10/mo) or higher.
Can I export Bitly link analytics to CSV?
Yes, on the Growth plan ($35/mo) and above. Free and Core plans don't support CSV export. QRLynx Business at $29/mo includes CSV export of full scan analytics.
Does QR Tiger include short URL analytics?
QR Tiger tracks scans on dynamic QR codes (which use a short URL internally) but doesn't expose short-link-specific analytics like Bitly does (referrer, geographic heatmap, custom attribution). For deep short-link analytics, Bitly is better. For deep QR analytics, QR Tiger is better.
Which integrates with Salesforce / HubSpot?
Bitly has native Salesforce and HubSpot integrations on the Pro plan. QR Tiger doesn't have native integrations to either — only Zapier connectivity. QRLynx doesn't natively integrate with Salesforce/HubSpot but its Lead Form QR type captures leads that can be exported via CSV/webhook.
Can I use my own domain for Bitly short links?
Yes, on the Growth plan ($35/mo). Custom branded domains (e.g., links.yourbrand.com) require Pro tier. QR Tiger doesn't offer custom branded short-link domains directly. QRLynx supports white-label custom domains on the Enterprise plan for QR redirects and branded links.
Is Bitly worth $35/mo?
For SMBs that don't manage thousands of links, no — Bitly's pricing is designed for enterprise volume. For a small business that creates 10-50 short links per month, QRLynx Pro at $14/mo or Starter+ at $7/mo covers the same use case at a fraction of the cost. Bitly's value scales with link volume; below 1,000 links/month, alternatives are usually cheaper.
What's the cheapest way to get unlimited QR scans + branded links?
As of April 2026, QRLynx is the only platform offering unlimited scans on the free plan. The closest paid options: Bitly Growth ($35/mo, branded links + QR but limited types), QR Tiger Advanced ($16/mo annual, more QR types but no custom branded link domain). QRLynx Pro at $14/mo gives both — unlimited scans, 300 dynamic QR codes, custom slugs, 49 types.
By Ahmad Tayyem · Last updated: