Bitly fits teams that want QR Codes, branded short links, landing pages, and unified analytics in one connected workspace. Scanova is for teams that want a QR-first generator with many content categories and deep QR Code design controls.
That difference matters when campaigns move fast. A QR-only workflow can handle a menu, event page, or PDF today. A connected campaign workflow can also support the short links in social posts, the landing pages behind print ads, and the analytics your team needs to prove what worked.
In this comparison, you’ll see how Bitly and Scanova stack up across QR Code features, analytics, link management, pricing, and team readiness. You’ll also get a clear call on which platform matches your marketing 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 into a single platform, while Scanova focuses exclusively on QR Code generation across 25+ content categories.
- Scanova offers more QR Code content types (PDF, vCard, event, restaurant menu, feedback forms) and starts at $5/month for 3 Dynamic QR Codes; Bitly starts at $0/month with 2 QR Codes and unlimited scans.
- Bitly includes QR Code customization with logos, colors, frames, and patterns on paid plans, plus high-resolution downloads in PNG, JPEG, and SVG formats on all plans.
- Both platforms support Dynamic QR Codes with editable destinations, scan analytics, and custom domains on paid plans.
- Bitly offers enterprise-ready features such as SSO, group permissions, a 99.9% uptime SLA, and dozens of integrations that Scanova does not offer.
- Bitly is the stronger choice for most teams because it combines QR Codes with branded links, landing pages, and unified analytics on a single platform, eliminating the need to migrate later as campaigns grow beyond QR-only workflows.
Bitly vs. Scanova at a glance
Bitly approaches QR Codes as one part of a broader connection strategy. Scanova approaches QR Codes as the core product. That positioning shapes everything from workflow depth to long-term value.
| Category | Bitly | Scanova |
| Best for | Teams that manage QR Codes alongside short links, landing pages, and campaign analytics | Teams that want a QR-first generator with many content categories |
| 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 destination, plus Bitly Pages | 26 QR Code categories listed |
| Dynamic QR Codes | Yes, available on the free plan, with redirects available on paid plans | Yes, with 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 tier plans and above | Does not include a link management system |
| Landing pages | Yes, with no-code Bitly Pages | Includes 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 tier plan and above | Standard tier plan and above |
| Integrations | Dozens of 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 99.9% SLA uptime | SSO, APIs, custom permissions, and onboarding |
| Free plan | $0 with 2 QR Codes, 5 links, 2 landing pages, and unlimited scans per month | Static QR Codes can work at no cost; Dynamic QR Codes require a paid plan after a trial period |
| G2 rating | 4.5 out of 5 | 4.6 out of 5 |
Bitly gives teams more than a basic QR Code generator. With Bitly Codes, you can create branded, trackable QR Codes that support both everyday campaigns and scaled marketing workflows.
For branding, paid Bitly plans support custom logo uploads, so teams can create QR Codes that match their visual identity across packaging, signage, business cards, and other marketing materials. Bitly also offers design controls such as colors, frames, patterns, and corners, with available options depending on the plan.
For reporting, Bitly Analytics helps teams understand how people engage with QR Codes after they scan. You can review scan activity over time and analyze performance by location (city/country). These insights help connect offline touchpoints to real campaign performance.
For scale, Bitly supports bulk QR Code creation through CSV or XLSX upload. This setup helps teams streamline QR Code generation for product packaging, events, direct mail, retail displays, and multi-location campaigns.
For creative production, Bitly lets users download QR Codes in high-res PNG/JPEG/SVG formats. SVG downloads help keep QR Codes crisp and scannable across printed materials, while PNG and JPEG formats support common digital and design workflows.
How Bitly and Scanova compare on QR Code features
QR Code types and content categories
Scanova gives QR-first teams a guided menu of content categories. Its category list includes website URL, product, document, image, audio, business card, Google Maps, social media, real estate, custom page, feedback, event, wedding, app store, restaurant, coupon, and GS1 options. Teams that want a dedicated setup flow for each destination type may like that structure.
Bitly takes a more flexible route. You can create a QR Code that links to any URL, so you can send people to a webpage, a hosted PDF, a menu, a product page, a form, an app link, an event page, or a promotion. You can also pair a Bitly QR Code with a Bitly Page when you need a fast, mobile-friendly destination without spending any developer resources.
Here’s the useful distinction: A QR-first platform organizes content types inside the QR Code builder, while a link management platform with QR Code capabilities connects each scan to a larger marketing system. That second model matters when your team wants one workflow for QR Codes, short links, landing pages, and analytics.
QR Code customization and design
Both tools give you plenty of control over your brand. Bitly lets you customize QR Codes with colors, gradients, dot patterns, frames, corners, brand logos or images, and supporting text on eligible plans. You can download QR Codes as PNG, JPEG, or SVG files on all plans, which support common digital and print needs.
Scanova adds more production-focused file flexibility. Its design tools include features for logos, images, frames, color edits, eye patterns, data patterns, background images, AI-generated QR Code designs, transparent QR Codes, and templates. It also exports QR Codes in PNG, JPEG, SVG, EPS, PS, and PDF formats.
That gives Scanova an edge for print teams that need EPS or PDF exports inside a production workflow. Bitly still covers the formats most marketers need while keeping QR Code design connected to the same workspace as links and campaign analytics.
Dynamic vs. Static QR Codes
Dynamic QR Codes let you change the destination URL after you print or publish the code. Static QR Codes do not offer the same flexibility because they have the final destination’s address embedded in the code itself. For a deeper refresher, our guide to Static vs Dynamic QR Codes explains the difference between the two in campaign terms.
Both Bitly and Scanova support Dynamic QR Codes. Bitly connects Dynamic QR Codes to the same analytics dashboard as Bitly Links, so your team can compare scan and click performance side by side. Scanova supports static and dynamic flows. Static QR Codes can work through its free generator, and paid subscriptions keep Dynamic QR Codes running after a free trial period.
For marketing teams, Dynamic QR Codes usually win. They help you fix a broken destination, swap a seasonal offer, extend a campaign, or reuse printed materials without having to start over from scratch.
Compare analytics, tracking, and campaign visibility
QR Code analytics only help when your team can turn scan data into smarter campaign decisions. Bitly and Scanova both support scan tracking, but they organize insights differently.
Bitly tracks clicks and scans in a single dashboard via Bitly Analytics. Data history scales by plan: Core tier includes 30 days, Growth includes 120 days, Premium includes 1 year, and Enterprise includes 2 years. Bitly also includes country-level data on Growth tiers and above, plus city-level and device-type data on Premium and above.
Scanova focuses analytics on QR Code campaigns. It tracks scan activity by day, date, time, city, country, GPS location (on select plans), device information, and post-scan activity via event tracking. It also supports exports, reports, Google Analytics integration, ad platform integrations, bot traffic filtering, and UTM parameters.
The key difference comes down to campaign visibility. Scanova gives QR-specific depth. Bitly gives cross-channel context. When your QR Code links to a landing page, your social link links to the same promotion, and your email signature links to a related offer, Bitly helps you view that activity through a single marketing lens.
Beyond QR Codes: Link management, landing pages, and platform scope
This section shows where Bitly pulls ahead for most marketing teams. Scanova gives you a QR Code platform. Bitly gives you a connection platform that includes QR Codes, branded links, landing pages, analytics, and integrations.
Bitly Links help teams create branded short links, use custom domains, add UTM tracking, create mobile deep links, and generate links in bulk through CSV or Excel uploads. Those features matter when your QR Code campaign also needs social posts, influencer links, SMS links, paid media links, and partner tracking.
Bitly Pages gives teams no-code landing pages for promotions, bios, events, and quick post-scan experiences. That means you can create the destination and the QR Code within the same ecosystem, rather than stitching together separate tools. Bitly helps teams track and manage performance across connections, not just scans.
Our platform also scales with larger organizations. Enterprise teams get multiple users and group permission management, at-scale link and QR Code generation, advanced performance tracking, high-volume API and webhook access, 99.9% SLA uptime, and SSO logins.
Scale matters too. We help brands manage engagement across links, QR Codes, and landing pages in more than 200 countries, handling billions of clicks and scans every month. When campaigns grow beyond a single print asset, that infrastructure can give your team confidence.
Accessibility and standards also shape QR Code quality. The W3C WAI resource helps teams think about inclusive digital experiences, while the ISO QR Code standard gives technical credibility to QR Code implementation. Strong QR Code execution needs readable placement, clear contrast, helpful calls to action, and a destination that works for every visitor.
How pricing and plans compare
Pricing may look simple at first, but the real value lies in what each plan offers your team beyond code creation.
| Feature | Bitly | Scanova |
| Free plan details | $0 per month with 2 Dynamic QR Codes, 5 links, 2 landing pages, and unlimited scans | Static QR Codes can work for free; Dynamic QR Codes require a paid plan after a brief free trial |
| Entry paid plan | Core tier costs $10 per month and includes 5 QR Codes, 100 links, 5 landing pages, and 30 days of scan history data | Basic costs $5 per month annually and includes 3 QR Codes, 14 categories, and 30-day basic analytics |
| Mid-tier plan | Growth tier costs $29 per month and includes 10 QR Codes, 500 links, branded links, a complimentary custom domain, and 120 days of data | Lite costs $9 per month annually and includes 10 QR Codes, all 26 categories, mobile landing pages, and no time limit on basic analytics |
| Premium or pro plan | Premium tier costs $199 per month and includes 200 QR Codes, 3,000 links, 20 landing pages, 1 year of data, city-level data, device data, and mobile deep linking | Pro costs $75 per month annually and 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 99.9% SLA uptime | 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-specific features |
Bitly delivers more value for teams that manage campaigns across channels 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, but a QR-only tool can push teams toward additional platforms when they need branded links, campaign pages, or broader reporting.
Which platform fits your workflow?
Choose Bitly when QR Codes are part of a bigger campaign
Choose Bitly when your team manages QR Codes across print, digital, social, SMS, retail, events, and partner campaigns. It works especially well when you need a single dashboard for clicks and scans, rather than separate analytics from separate tools.
Bitly also makes sense when your team wants brand control. Branded short links and custom domains help each URL feel trustworthy, while QR Code customization ensures each scan points to your campaign’s look and feel.
Larger teams should also look closely at Bitly. SSO, role-based controls, group permissions, bulk creation, high-volume API access, integrations, and SLA uptime help marketing operations teams scale without losing governance.
Choose Bitly when QR Codes are your primary need
Even when QR Codes drive your immediate search, Bitly gives you room to grow. Our Free plan includes unlimited scans, which matters when you print a code on packaging, signage, direct mail, or event materials, and cannot predict scan volume.
Most marketing QR Codes link to a URL. Bitly handles that workflow natively. If you need a destination, a Bitly Page can recreate common content-type experiences like event pages, menus, bios, promotions, and feedback forms.
Scanova still offers more built-in QR Code categories and more export formats. That matters for teams that want a QR-only tool with guided creation flows and production-oriented downloads. But many QR-first teams eventually need branded links, campaign pages, and cross-channel analytics. Bitly helps you avoid switching platforms when that moment arrives.
Pick the QR Code platform that matches your campaign needs
Scanova brings QR-specific depth. Its 26 content categories, design tools, analytics, and export formats make it a capable fit for teams that want a QR-first generator. Bitly gives marketers a stronger long-term platform. QR Codes, branded short links, landing pages, analytics, and integrations work together from day one. You can launch a QR Code campaign now, add branded links next, connect landing pages after that, and keep all performance data in one place.
That matters because campaigns rarely stay still. Print becomes digital. Events become follow-up journeys. One QR Code becomes a full-funnel workflow. Choosing Bitly now helps your team grow without having to migrate later.
Ready to see how Bitly can power your QR Code campaigns and beyond? Get started today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Scanova better than Bitly for QR Codes?
Scanova offers more built-in QR Code content types, but Bitly covers most of the same use cases by pointing QR Codes to any URL destination. Bitly also connects QR Codes with branded short links, landing pages, and unified analytics tools that Scanova does not offer. For teams that want QR Codes as part of a broader marketing workflow with unlimited scans on every plan, Bitly provides more long-term value.
Does Bitly support QR Code customization with logos?
Yes. Bitly supports QR Code customization, including custom logos, brand colors, frames, and patterns on Core plans and above. QR Codes can be downloaded in PNG, JPEG, and SVG formats on all plans. Some competitor content incorrectly states that Bitly does not support logo customization.
How does Scanova pricing compare to Bitly?
Bitly’s free plan includes 2 QR Codes, 5 links, and 2 landing pages per month at no cost, with unlimited scans. Scanova’s Basic plan starts at $5/month (annual) for 3 Dynamic QR Codes. At the paid level, Bitly’s Core plan ($10/month) includes 5 QR Codes, 100 links, and 30 days of analytics data retention. Bitly delivers more value per dollar because each plan bundles QR Codes with links, pages, and analytics tools that Scanova charges separately for or does not offer.
Can Bitly track QR Code scan locations?
Yes. Bitly provides country-level scan data on Growth plans and above, and city-level data on Premium plans and above. Scan analytics are displayed in the same dashboard as link-click data, giving teams a unified view of engagement across QR Codes and short links.
Does Scanova offer branded short links?
No. Scanova is a dedicated QR Code generator and does not include a link management system or branded short link tool. Bitly includes branded short links with custom domains on Growth plans and above, as well as QR Codes, landing pages, and centralized analytics.
What is the best Dynamic QR Code generator?
Bitly is the strongest choice for Dynamic QR Codes because it combines editable destinations, scan analytics, and a connected ecosystem of branded links, landing pages, and campaign tracking on a single platform. Scanova also supports Dynamic QR Codes with many content categories, but it lacks the link management and unified analytics that help teams measure the full impact of their QR Code campaigns.
What is a good alternative to Scanova?
Bitly is the top Scanova alternative for teams that want more than a QR-only tool. G2 rates Bitly 4.5/5 based on 918 reviews (June 2026) and describes it as easier to set up and administer than Scanova. Bitly extends beyond QR Codes into branded short links, landing pages, and unified campaign analytics, giving teams a connected platform that grows with their marketing needs.
Can Bitly be trusted for QR Code campaigns?
Yes. Bitly encrypts all links with HTTPS, uses patented Threat Detection and Abuse Prevention technology, and offers a 99.9% uptime SLA on Enterprise plans. Bitly processes 10+ billion clicks and scans monthly across 200+ countries and supports compliance standards, including GDPR, CCPA, and Privacy Shield.
