Bitly fits teams that want QR Codes, branded short links, landing pages, and one set of reports in one platform. Scanova fits teams that want a QR Code-first generator with many content types and deep design controls.
That difference matters when campaigns move fast. A QR Code-only workflow handles a menu, an event page, or a PDF today. A connected workflow also covers the short links in social posts, the landing pages behind print ads, and the reports that prove what worked. It keeps everything easily accessible in a single place, for as long as you need those connections to last.
This comparison article covers QR Code features, analytics, link management, pricing, and team readiness. It ends with simple, clear guidance on determining which platform best matches your workflow.
Note: The brands and examples discussed below were found during our online research for this article.
Key takeaways
- Bitly combines QR Codes, branded short links, landing pages, and analytics in one platform. Scanova focuses on QR Code generation across 24 content categories.
- Scanova offers more QR Code content types and starts at $5 per month for 3 Dynamic QR Codes. Bitly’s free plan costs $0 and includes unlimited clicks and scans, 2 QR Codes and 5 short links each month, and 2 landing pages.
- Bitly includes QR Code design controls with custom logos, colors, frames, and patterns on paid plans. Download options support PNG, JPEG, and SVG on every plan.
- Both platforms support Dynamic QR Codes with editable destinations, scan analytics, and custom domains on paid plans.
- Bitly offers enterprise features including SSO, group permissions, an uptime service level agreement (SLA), and pre-built integrations.
- Bitly is the stronger choice for most teams. It combines QR Codes with branded links, landing pages, and one set of reports, and helps ensure your team does not have to migrate when campaigns grow.
Bitly vs. Scanova at a glance
Bitly treats QR Codes as one part of a wider marketing platform. Scanova treats QR Codes as the product. That difference shapes workflow depth and long-term value.
|
Category |
Bitly |
Scanova |
|
Best for |
Teams that manage QR Codes with short links, landing pages, and campaign analytics |
Teams that want a QR Code-first generator with many destination content types |
|
Core focus |
Link management platform with QR Codes as a core product |
Dedicated QR Code generator |
|
QR Code types supported | Dynamic QR Codes for any URL, plus direct connection to no-code landing pages |
24 QR Code categories listed |
|
Dynamic QR Codes |
Yes, on the free plan, with redirects on paid plans |
Yes, on paid plans only |
|
QR Code customization |
Logos, colors, gradients, patterns, frames, corners, and text on eligible plans |
Logos, colors, frames, patterns, templates, AI-generated designs, and Smart Design |
|
Branded short links |
Yes, with custom domains on Growth plans and above |
No link management system |
|
Landing pages |
Yes, with no-code landing pages |
Mobile landing pages for QR Code content |
|
Analytics scope |
Link clicks, QR Code scans, and page engagement in one dashboard |
QR Code scan analytics |
|
Bulk creation |
Growth plan and above |
Standard plan and above |
|
Integrations | 60+ pre-built integrations in the Bitly Marketplace |
Google Analytics, Meta Pixel, Google Tag Manager, Zapier, webhooks, and ad platforms |
|
Enterprise features | SSO, group permissions, high-volume API access, and an uptime SLA |
SSO, APIs, custom permissions, and onboarding |
|
Free plan |
Unlimited clicks and scans on every link and QR Code; 5 links and 2 QR Codes each month, 2 landing pages |
Static QR Codes work at no cost; Dynamic QR Codes need a paid plan after a trial |
|
G2 rating |
Bitly gives teams more than a basic generator. You can create branded, trackable QR Codes for everyday campaigns and for large programs.
Paid plans support custom logo uploads, so every code matches your brand on packaging, signs, business cards, and other materials. Bitly also offers custom colors, frames, patterns, and corner styles. The precise options depend on your plan.
Bitly Analytics shows how people engage with your QR Codes and short links. You can review scan activity over time and compare performance by city and country. That data connects offline touchpoints to campaign results.
Bitly supports bulk QR Code creation from a CSV or XLSX upload. That setup helps teams who produce codes for packaging, events, direct mail, retail displays, and multi-location campaigns.
You can download QR Codes as high-resolution PNG, JPEG, or SVG files. SVG keeps a code crisp and scannable in print at any scale. PNG and JPEG fit common digital and design workflows.
How Bitly and Scanova compare on QR Code features
QR Code types and content categories
Scanova gives QR Code-first teams a guided menu of content types. The list covers website URLs, products, documents, images, audio, business cards, maps, feedback forms, events, coupons, and GS1 options. Teams that want a separate setup flow for each destination type may like that structure.
Bitly takes a more flexible route. A Bitly QR Code can point to any URL: A webpage, a hosted PDF, a menu, a product page, a form, or an event page. You can also pair a code with a Bitly Pages landing page when you need a fast mobile destination that costs you zero developer time.
Here is the useful distinction: A QR Code-first platform organizes content types inside the code builder. A link management platform with QR Codes connects each scan to a larger system. The second model matters when you want one workflow for codes, short links, landing pages, and reports.
QR Code customization and design
Both tools give you control over the look of your codes. Bitly covers colors, gradients, dot patterns, frames, corners, logos or images, and supporting text on eligible plans. Downloads come as PNG, JPEG, or SVG on every plan.
Customized QR Codes see a 3.8x increase in scans versus uncustomized codes, so they’re worth the additional design time.
Scanova adds more production file options. Its design tools cover logos, images, frames, color edits, eye patterns, data patterns, background images, AI-generated designs, transparent codes, and templates. It exports as PNG, JPEG, SVG, EPS, PS, and PDF.
That variety gives Scanova an edge for print teams that need EPS or PDF files. Bitly covers the formats most marketers use, and it keeps design in the same place as links and campaign reports.
Dynamic vs. Static QR Codes
A Dynamic QR Code lets you change the destination URL after you print or publish the code. A Static QR Code holds one fixed destination inside the code, so its target cannot change. Our guide to Static vs Dynamic QR Codes explains the difference in campaign terms.
Both Bitly and Scanova support Dynamic QR Codes. Bitly reports scans in the same dashboard as short link clicks, so your team can compare the two side by side. Scanova supports both types of code: Static QR Codes work in its free generator, and a paid plan keeps Dynamic QR Codes live after the trial period.
For marketing teams, Dynamic QR Codes usually win. With them, you can fix a broken destination, swap a seasonal offer, extend a campaign, or reuse printed material.
Compare analytics, tracking, and campaign visibility
QR Code analytics only help when your team can turn scan data into decisions. Bitly and Scanova both track scans, but they organize the data differently.
Bitly tracks clicks and scans in one dashboard with Bitly Analytics. Data history retention grows with your plan tier: 30 days on Core, 120 days on Growth, 1 year on Premium, and 2 years on Enterprise. Country data starts on the Growth tier, with city and device type data added on Premium.
Scanova focuses its analytics on QR Code campaigns. It tracks scans by date, time, city, country, GPS location (on select plans), and device type. Like Bitly, it provides exports, reports, Google Analytics integration, ad platform integrations, and UTM parameter management.
The difference comes down to campaign visibility. Scanova gives QR Code depth. Bitly gives cross-channel context. When your code, your social link, and your email all point at one promotion, Bitly shows that activity in one view.
Beyond QR Codes: links, pages, and scope
This is where Bitly pulls ahead for most marketing teams. Scanova gives you a QR Code platform. Bitly gives you a marketing platform with QR Codes, branded links, landing pages, analytics, and integrations.
Short links in Bitly let teams use custom domains, create mobile deep links, and generate links in bulk from a CSV or Excel file. You can also add UTM tracking to keep campaign data consistent. Those features matter when a QR Code campaign also needs social posts, influencer links, SMS links, and partner tracking.
Bitly Pages gives your team no-code destinations for promotions, bios, events, and post-scan experiences. You build the page and the QR Code in the same place, instead of stitching separate tools together.
Our platform also scales with larger organizations. Enterprise teams get group permissions, high-volume API and webhook access, and SSO. They also get link and QR Code creation at scale, deeper performance tracking, and an uptime SLA.
Scale matters too. Bitly handles 100B+ clicks and scans annually across links, QR Codes, and landing pages. When a campaign grows past a single print asset, that infrastructure gives your team the confidence to iterate and innovate relentlessly.
Standards and accessibility also shape QR Code quality. The W3C WAI resource helps teams plan inclusive digital experiences, and the ISO QR Code standard covers technical requirements for perfect scans every time. Good execution of any QR Code strategy rests on clear placement, strong contrast, a helpful call to action, and a destination that works for every visitor.
How pricing and plans compare
Pricing looks simple at first. The real value sits in what each plan gives your team beyond code creation.
|
Feature |
Bitly |
Scanova |
|
Free plan details |
Unlimited click and scan tracking for every link and QR Code at $0 per month. Includes 5 links and 2 Dynamic QR Codes each month, plus 2 landing pages |
Static QR Codes work for free; Dynamic QR Codes require a paid plan after a short trial |
|
Entry paid plan |
Core tier costs $10 per month and includes 5 QR Codes and 100 links each month, 5 landing pages, and 30 days of scan history |
Basic tier costs $5 per month with annual billing and includes 3 QR Codes, 16 categories, and 30 days of basic analytics |
|
Mid-tier plan |
Growth tier costs $29 per month and includes 10 QR Codes and 500 links monthly, branded links, one free custom domain, and 120 days of data retention |
Standard tier costs $35 per month with annual billing. It includes 50 QR Codes, all 24 categories, mobile landing pages, and no time limit on basic analytics. |
|
Premium or pro plan |
Premium costs $199 per month. It includes 200 QR Codes and 3,000 links each month, 20 landing pages, 1 year of data, city data, device data, and mobile deep linking. |
Pro costs $75 per month with annual billing. It includes 500 QR Codes, 5 users, 1 custom domain, GPS scan data, folders, and bulk operations. |
|
Enterprise |
Custom pricing with custom volumes, group permissions, SSO, advanced API access, and an uptime SLA |
Custom pricing with unlimited QR Codes, users, domains, permissions, APIs, SSO, and onboarding |
|
Pricing model |
Plans bundle QR Codes with links, landing pages, analytics, and integrations |
Plans center on QR Code volume and QR Code features |
Bitly gives cross-channel teams more value, because every plan combines QR Codes with links, landing pages, and analytics. Scanova starts at a lower price for a small number of Dynamic QR Codes.
A QR Code-only tool can push teams toward paying for extra platforms when they need branded links, campaign pages, or wider reporting.
Which platform fits your workflow?
Choose Bitly for bigger campaigns
Bitly fits teams that manage QR Codes across print, digital, social, SMS, retail, events, and partner campaigns. It works best when you want one dashboard for clicks and scans, not separate reports from separate tools.
Bitly also fits teams that want brand control. Branded short links and custom domains make each URL look trustworthy, and QR Code design keeps every scan on brand.
Larger teams should look closely at Bitly. SSO, role-based controls, group permissions, bulk creation, high-volume API access, and integrations help marketing operations scale without losing governance oversight.
Choose Bitly for QR Code-first work
Even when QR Codes drive your search today, Bitly gives you room to grow. Our free plan includes unlimited scans. That matters when you print a code on packaging, signs, direct mail, or event materials and cannot predict scan volume.
Most marketing QR Codes point to a URL, and Bitly handles that natively. If you need a destination, a Bitly landing page can cover common cases like event announcements, menus, bios, promotions, and feedback forms.
Scanova still offers more built-in categories and more export formats. That suits teams that want a QR Code-only tool with guided flows and print-ready files. Many QR Code-first teams later need branded links, campaign pages, and cross-channel reports. Using Bitly from the get-go saves you the platform switch.
Pick the platform that matches your campaigns
Scanova brings QR Code depth. Its 24 content categories, design tools, analytics, and export formats fit a QR Code-first team.
Bitly is the marketing platform that helps businesses of all sizes see what’s working. Simply and clearly. QR Codes, branded short links, landing pages, analytics, and integrations work together from day one. You can start with a QR Code campaign, add branded links next, then connect landing pages, and keep every result in one place.
Campaigns rarely stay still. Print becomes digital. Events become follow-up journeys. One QR Code becomes a full-funnel workflow. Choosing Bitly now saves your team a migration later.
Link your marketing. Start with Bitly for free and create your first Dynamic QR Code.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Scanova better than Bitly for QR Codes?
Scanova offers more built-in content types. Bitly covers most of the same cases, because a Bitly QR Code can point to any URL. Bitly also connects QR Codes with branded short links, landing pages, and one set of reports, which Scanova does not offer. For QR Codes inside a wider marketing workflow, with unlimited scans on every plan, Bitly gives more long-term value.
Does Bitly support QR Code customization with logos?
Yes. Bitly supports QR Code design with custom logos, brand colors, frames, and patterns on Core plans and above. You can download codes as PNG, JPEG, or SVG on every plan. Some competitor content states that Bitly does not support logo design. That is not correct.
How does Scanova pricing compare to Bitly?
Bitly’s Free plan includes unlimited clicks and scans on every link and QR Code. You also get 5 links and 2 QR Codes each month, and 2 landing pages. Scanova’s Basic plan starts at $5 per month with annual billing for 3 Dynamic QR Codes. Bitly’s Core plan costs $10 per month and includes 5 QR Codes, 100 links, and 30 days of data. Bitly bundles QR Codes with links, pages, and analytics that Scanova charges for separately or does not offer.
Can Bitly track QR Code scan locations?
Yes. Bitly shows country-level scan data on Growth plans and above, and city-level data on Premium plans and above. Scan data appears in the same dashboard as link clicks, so your team sees clicks and scans together.
Does Scanova offer branded short links?
No. Scanova is a dedicated QR Code generator, with no link management system and no branded short link tool. Bitly includes branded short links with custom domains on Growth plans and above, plus QR Codes, landing pages, and central reporting.
What is the best Dynamic QR Code generator?
Bitly is the strongest choice for Dynamic QR Codes. It combines editable destinations, scan analytics, branded links, landing pages, and campaign tracking in one platform.
Scanova also supports Dynamic QR Codes across many content categories. It does not include the link management and shared reporting that show the full impact of a QR Code campaign.
What is a good alternative to Scanova?
Bitly is the top Scanova alternative for teams that want more than a QR Code tool. G2 rates Bitly 4.5 out of 5 and describes it as easier to set up and administer than Scanova. Bitly also covers branded short links, landing pages, and campaign analytics, so the platform grows with your marketing.
Can Bitly be trusted for QR Code campaigns?
Yes. Bitly encrypts every link with HTTPS and uses patented threat detection and abuse prevention. With 99.99% uptime, Bitly provides the reliability brands need to stay connected with their audiences. Bitly also supports compliance standards, including GDPR and CCPA.
