Tracking QR Code Scans
Every QR code in Brevr is backed by a short link. When someone scans the code, Brevr records the scan as a click event on that link — so all your scan data lives inside your existing link analytics with no separate setup required.
What You’ll Learn
- How scan tracking works automatically
- How to separate QR scan traffic from regular link clicks
- What data you get per scan
How Scan Tracking Works
When Brevr generates a QR code, it appends ?source=qr to the destination URL. Every time someone scans the code, that parameter travels through the redirect and appears in your analytics as a QR scan event — separate from direct short link clicks.
You do not need to configure anything. Tracking is enabled automatically for every QR code you create.
Viewing Scan Analytics
Open the Links list in your dashboard and click on the short link that backs your QR code. The analytics view for that link shows:
- Total scans — the total event count for this link, including both QR scans and direct clicks
- Source breakdown — a chart splitting traffic by source: QR vs. Direct
- Scan volume over time — a trend line showing daily or weekly scan counts
- Countries — where your scans are coming from, by country
- Devices — the device types (mobile, desktop, tablet) scanning your code
📸 Screenshot: Link analytics view showing the source breakdown chart with QR and Direct traffic split, and the scan volume trend line
QR vs. Direct — Why the Split Matters
The source breakdown lets you measure each channel independently:
- QR — scans from the physical QR code (on packaging, signage, print materials)
- Direct — clicks on the short link shared digitally (email, social, messages)
If you distribute the same short link both as a QR code and as a clickable link in your email campaign, the source breakdown tells you which channel drove more traffic without needing separate links for each.
What Data You Get Per Scan
| Data Point | Available |
|---|---|
| Timestamp | ✅ |
| Country | ✅ |
| Device type | ✅ |
| Referrer | ✅ |
| Source (QR vs. Direct) | ✅ |
| City | Pro and above |
| Browser | Pro and above |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do scans count toward my monthly event limit?
Yes. Each QR code scan counts as one event, the same as a short link click. Free plan includes 2,000 events per month across all links and QR codes.
Can I see scan data for a QR code that’s been active for months?
Yes. Brevr retains analytics history based on your plan. All historical scan events are available in the link analytics view for as long as your plan covers.
What if someone opens the short link directly instead of scanning?
It appears as a Direct click in the source breakdown, not as a QR scan. Only traffic coming through the QR code redirect carries the source=qr parameter.
Next Steps
- Analytics Overview — understand the full analytics dashboard
- Share Reports with Clients — share a read-only analytics report
- Creating QR Codes — go back to the creation guide