Frequently asked questions

Photon QR is a dynamic QR code platform built by Mind Vision Software Solutions. It lets you create QR codes for 23 different use cases — URLs, business cards, menus, PDFs, UPI payments, and more — and edit them any time after printing. Every QR code comes with built-in scan analytics so you can see exactly how it performs.

A dynamic QR code encodes a short redirect URL (like photonqr.com/r/abc123) instead of your final destination directly. When someone scans it, they are sent through our redirect — which you control from your dashboard. This means you can change where the QR points at any time, without changing or reprinting the physical QR code.

Static QR codes encode the destination directly in the pattern. Once printed, you can never change where they point — if your link changes, you need a new QR code. Dynamic QR codes from Photon QR let you edit the destination any time, track every scan with city-level data, set expiry dates, password-protect scans, and pause codes. Static QR codes offer none of that.

Yes — the free plan includes 3 dynamic QR codes, 500 scans per month, basic analytics, and PNG download. No credit card required. Paid plans start at ₹79/month (or $2.99/month) and unlock more QR codes, unlimited scans, SVG/PDF export, advanced analytics, and team features.

Photon QR is designed for any business or individual that uses QR codes in the real world — restaurants replacing paper menus, retailers adding QR to product packaging, event organisers managing schedules, marketers running print campaigns, freelancers networking with smart business cards, and developers building QR-driven products.

Sign up at photonqr.com (free, no credit card), click "Create QR" in your dashboard, choose one of the 23 QR types, fill in your content (URL, contact details, menu PDF, etc.), and click Publish. Your QR code is live within seconds and available to download as PNG, SVG, or PDF.

The free plan includes 3 active dynamic QR codes. Basic gives you 5, Pro gives 25, and Business gives unlimited. Deleting a code frees the slot. There is no archive yet, so a deleted code cannot be brought back and its printed QR stops working.

Yes — you can choose the foreground and background colours, add a logo or icon to the centre, round the corners of the data modules, and pick from several dot styles. High-error-correction mode is used by default so the QR remains scannable even with a logo overlay.

PNG is available on all plans. SVG (vector — infinitely scalable, ideal for large format print) is available on Basic and above. PDF (print-ready, with crop marks and quiet zone) is available on Pro and Business. All downloads include the correct quiet zone border for reliable scanning.

Yes — upload any PNG or SVG logo and it will be embedded in the centre of the QR code. We automatically use high error correction (30% redundancy) so the QR remains scannable with up to 30% of the pattern obscured by your logo. We recommend keeping the logo under 25% of the QR area.

Yes — that is the core feature of Photon QR. Log in to your dashboard, find the QR code, click Edit, change the destination URL, upload a new PDF, update your contact details, or modify any other content, then save. The change propagates in under 3 seconds — all existing prints immediately reflect the new destination.

Pro and Business edit as often as they like. Free is 3 content edits per code per month, at least a week apart, and one design edit. Basic is unlimited edits, at most one a day per code. Every edit is recorded, and Pro and Business can open that history and roll a code back.

No — the QR pattern never changes. The pattern encodes a fixed short link (e.g. photonqr.com/r/abc123). Editing the destination only changes what that short link points to, not the QR code itself. This is what makes it safe to print once and edit forever.

Yes — toggle a QR code to "Paused" from your dashboard. While paused, anyone who scans it sees a customisable message (e.g. "This QR code is temporarily inactive") instead of being redirected. Unpausing restores normal redirect instantly. This is useful for seasonal campaigns or when a page is being updated.

If you set an expiry date on a QR code, scans after that date show an expiry message instead of the destination. The QR code pattern still works — it just redirects to the expiry page. You can extend the expiry date at any time from your dashboard, or remove it to make the QR permanent again.

Every scan is logged with: timestamp (date and time), city and country (derived from IP — no personal data stored), device type (iOS, Android, or Desktop), browser name and version, and operating system. Pro and Business can export the whole scan log as CSV.

No — and this is by design. We log the approximate city (not street-level location), device type, and browser, but we never store personal identifiers, phone numbers, or email addresses of scanners. Analytics are aggregated and anonymised to protect the privacy of people scanning your QR codes.

Yes — CSV export is available on Pro and Business plans. The export includes all scan records with timestamp, city, country, device type, browser, and OS. You can filter by date range before exporting. Free and Basic plan users can view analytics in the dashboard but cannot export.

Scan data appears in your dashboard within 2–5 seconds of a scan. The total scan counter updates in real time. Chart data (trends, device breakdown) refreshes every 60 seconds on the dashboard. There is no manual refresh needed — the dashboard polls automatically.

All plans — including the free plan — get basic analytics: total scans, device type, and timestamp. City-level location is included from Basic upward (it is redacted on the free plan). City-level breakdowns are available on Basic and above. CSV export of analytics requires Pro or Business.

3 active dynamic QR codes, 500 scans per month, scan counts, PNG download, 20 of the 23 QR types (including restaurant menus, Link-in-Bio, events and notes, alongside URL, WhatsApp, Wi-Fi, Location, Email, SMS, UPI Payment, Business Card, App Download and the social links — only PDF, feedback forms and Smart Review need a paid plan), and no time limit. The free plan is not a trial — it stays free indefinitely. The QR code image itself is clean on every plan; on the free plan the hosted landing pages (menu, Link-in-Bio and the like) carry a small "Powered by Photon QR" footer, which any paid plan removes.

Go to your dashboard → Billing → Upgrade. Select a plan (Basic, Pro, or Business) and a billing period (monthly or annual). Payments are processed via Razorpay — PCI-compliant and supporting all major debit and credit cards, UPI (GPay, PhonePe, BHIM), and net banking.

Yes — go to Billing → Change Plan at any time. Downgrades take effect at the end of your current billing cycle. A downgrade never deletes a code that has been scanned — anything already printed and in use keeps redirecting. Codes that have never been scanned are given 30 days before they expire.

Yes — we offer a 7-day money-back guarantee on your first subscription payment. Email billing@photonqr.com within 7 days of your first charge with your registered email address and we will process a full refund, no questions asked. After 7 days, refunds are evaluated case by case. See our full Refund Policy for details.

Yes — annual billing is available for all paid plans and costs about ten months instead of twelve (roughly 16% off). Basic annual: ₹799/year (vs ₹948 monthly). Pro annual: ₹1,999/year (vs ₹2,388 monthly). Business annual: ₹5,999/year (vs ₹7,188 monthly).

All standard QR code scanners — including the built-in camera apps on iOS (13+) and Android (9+), Google Lens, and all third-party scanner apps. No special app is needed to scan a Photon QR code. The QR pattern conforms to the ISO/IEC 18004 standard and is compatible with every compliant reader.

Each dynamic QR code gets a unique short link in the format qrzap.link/[code] where [code] is a randomly generated 6-character alphanumeric string. That short link is what is encoded in the QR pattern. Running your codes on your own domain (e.g. qr.yourbrand.com/[code]) is in development and not available yet.

Yes — the Business plan includes a REST API that lets you create, read, update, and delete QR codes programmatically. Generate a key from Settings → API keys and see the full documentation at photonqr.com/docs. Webhooks post every scan and form answer to your own server as it happens — see photonqr.com/docs. Everything else on the Business plan — unlimited QR codes, unlimited scans, unlimited edit history, up to five team members and top-priority support — is available today.

Redirects are served from Vercel's global Edge Network with sub-50 ms latency in most regions. Scan analytics logging is asynchronous — it does not add any latency to the redirect. The redirect itself is a simple HTTP 302 response with no JavaScript, so it works in every browser and embedded WebView.

Yes. All data is encrypted in transit via TLS 1.3. Data at rest is encrypted in Supabase (AES-256). We use row-level security so users can only access their own QR codes and analytics. Passwords are never stored — we use email OTP and OAuth for authentication. We are GDPR-aware and compliant with India's DPDP Act.

Yes — Photon QR generates UPI QR codes that open any UPI app (Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm, BHIM, and others). You enter your UPI ID (VPA), an optional pre-filled amount, and a transaction note. The QR encodes a standard UPI deep link (upi://pay?...) compatible with all UPI apps. Scan analytics work the same as any other QR type.

Yes — INR payments are the default for Indian users and are processed via Razorpay. You can pay with any Indian debit or credit card, UPI (GPay, PhonePe, BHIM), net banking, or Razorpay wallet. The price shown is the price charged — no tax is added at checkout. You receive a receipt for every payment.

The Photon QR interface (both the app and the web dashboard) is currently in English. Your QR content can still be in Hindi, though — for example, a Restaurant Menu QR renders Devanagari/Hindi text in your uploaded PDF or linked menu.

Yes — the Restaurant Menu QR type is built with Indian restaurants in mind. You can upload a PDF menu (supports Devanagari/Hindi text), link to your Zomato or Swiggy menu, set your cuisine type and FSSAI number, display vegetarian/non-vegetarian markers, and update the menu any time. Printing table tents is supported with a printable template.

Yes — Photon QR is a web and mobile platform accessible from anywhere with internet. It is built by Mind Vision Software Solutions, a team based in Punjab, India. Pricing is in INR, support is in IST (10 AM – 6 PM, Mon–Fri), and the product is specifically designed for Indian SMEs, restaurants, and professionals.

Yes — Photon QR is available on Android via Google Play, with the iOS app coming soon. The app lets you create and manage all 23 QR types, scan any QR code using your camera, view real-time scan analytics, and manage your subscription — all from your phone. The app syncs with the web dashboard in real time.

The app is free to download. It uses the same plan as your web account — so if you are on the free plan, you get 3 QR codes and 500 scans/month. You can upgrade to Basic, Pro, or Business directly within the Android app via Google Play In-App Purchases, or from the web dashboard. The iOS app is coming soon.

QR code creation and editing requires an internet connection (to save to our servers and go live). However, you can view your existing QR codes, download them for sharing, and scan QR codes using the built-in scanner while offline. Analytics and dashboard data require a connection to refresh.

Open the app and go to the QR Codes tab. Tap any code to edit, view analytics, download, pause, or delete it. Tap the + button to create a new QR. You can search and filter your QR codes by type and status (active, paused, or expiring). All changes sync to the web dashboard instantly.

The Android app supports Android 8.0 (API 26) and above — covering 98% of active Android devices — and is optimised for both phone and tablet. An iOS app is coming soon. The web dashboard works on any modern browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge) on desktop and mobile.