QR Tiger charges $15+/month — and if you stop paying, your printed codes die. Scantrail generates dynamic QR codes that route through your own domain, so you can swap the destination any time without reprinting a single menu, poster or business card. Every scan lands in a SQLite file you own.
If you've searched for a QR Tiger alternative, Scantrail is the pay-once option worth putting at the top of the list: Scantrail is $24, one time, and covers the same core job QR Tiger charges $15/mo for.
What makes Scantrail the pick for 2026
- Dynamic codes — The QR encodes /q/your-slug on your domain and 302-redirects to an editable destination. Reprint nothing, ever.
- Scan analytics — Total + unique scans, scans-over-time chart, device/OS/browser breakdown, country, hour-of-day heatstrip and a recent-scan log.
- Every QR type you need — URL (dynamic + tracked), vCard (serves a .vcf download, also tracked), WiFi, plain text, email and phone.
- Design studio — Foreground/background colors, square / rounded / dots module styles, error-correction level, center logo upload, live preview.
- Print-ready export — PNG at 512 / 1024 / 2048 / 4096 px and true vector SVG.
Scantrail vs QR Tiger, at a glance
| Scantrail | QR Tiger | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $24 once | $15/month, forever |
| Dynamic (editable) QR codes | Unlimited | Capped by plan |
| Codes if you stop paying | Always work — you host them | Die with your plan |
| Scan analytics | Included | Included |
| Custom colors, dot styles, logo | Included | Included |
| Batch CSV generation | Included | Higher tiers |
| Redirect domain | Yours | Theirs (qrco.de) |
| Scan data | Your SQLite file | Their cloud |
Under two months of QR Tiger pays for Scantrail — and your printed codes can never be held hostage again.
Common questions
Is it really free on GitHub?
Yes — MIT source at github.com/bensblueprints/qr-tracker-mvp. $24 buys the signed installer, 1-click setup and updates.
Why do dynamic codes need a server?
Because the QR encodes a URL on your domain that redirects to the real destination — that's what makes it editable after printing. A $5 VPS covers it; desktop mode is fine for designing, testing and static codes.
What happens to my codes if I stop using Scantrail?
Nothing — they point at your domain, not ours. As long as your server answers, every printed code keeps working. That's the whole difference from hosted services, where codes die with your plan.
The bottom line
Scantrail won't out-feature QR Tiger on every axis — no subscription tool with a bigger team and a bigger roadmap loses on everything. But for the core job, $24 once against $15/mo forever is a trade most people should at least look at. Scantrail is part of OneTimeSuite, a catalog of pay-once apps that replace subscription SaaS.
Try Scantrail — $24, once
Self-hosted dynamic QR codes with scan analytics, a design studio and batch CSV generation.