Bitly vs QR TIGER vs a Dedicated Shop QR Tool
Bitly’s own comparison is two columns: link platform vs QR suite. Indian counters need a third column — WiFi, WhatsApp, menu, reviews. Figures from vendor pages on 26 Oct 2026.
QR Junction Team
We build QR tools that restaurants actually print and use.
Bitly published Bitly vs QR TIGER. It is a good page for Bitly. It says they unify clicks, scans, and landing pages, and that TIGER has more QR types. Both true. Neither column is a sweet shop in Rajkot trying to open a WhatsApp chat from a standee without mixing it up with UPI.
So this is a three-way: Bitly QR code generator (link platform), QR TIGER (QR-first SaaS), dedicated shop tool (QR Junction). Vendor claims below were read on 26 October 2026. If you only needed TIGER’s scan cap, use the QR TIGER alternative post. This one is about product shape.
Three products that all draw squares
Bitly: you already shorten URLs. A QR is a sticker on that short link. Analytics stay in the Bitly graph. Free plan (their vs page): 2 QR codes per month, 5 short links, 2 landing pages, unlimited scans. Core from about US$10/month billed annually. Codes are URL-based. No WIFI: payload. No wa.me builder. Leave Bitly and the historical scan graph stays behind.
QR TIGER: the square is the product. 20+ types on paid (vCard, WiFi, PDF, multi-URL, app store). Free: 3 dynamic, 500 scans, logo popup. Regular US$7/month: 12 dynamic, unlimited scans. Bulk and HubSpot as you climb. Campaign software that happens to print well.
Shop QR tool: types a counter uses every day, plus a menu that is a page, plus a review form, plus scan logs you can explain to an owner who does not have a RevOps team. That is us. We are worse at bulk 3,000 and worse at Salesforce. We are better at “the tent on table 4.”
Bitly vs QR TIGER vs shop QR (the missing column)
The internet’s two-column tables hide the job.
| Bitly | QR TIGER | Shop tool (QR Junction) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Link + page platform with QRs attached | QR campaign suite | Generator + menu/review/WhatsApp for local business |
| Free QR | 2 / month, unlimited scans | 3 dynamic, 500 scans each, popup | Static on /qr; account for dynamic |
| Payloads | URL (short link) | Many types on paid | URL, WiFi, WhatsApp, vCard, menu, reviews |
| Analytics | Clicks + scans + pages, together | QR scans, GA on higher plans | Scan dashboard + UTMs on dynamic |
| WiFi join sheet | No | Yes, as a type | Yes — WiFi guide |
| Restaurant menu | A URL to whatever you hosted | A type / file, not a kitchen workflow | HTML menu + table codes — menu guide |
| India counter | Works, USD, global support | Works, USD | Built for the counter: IST, WhatsApp-first habits |
| You should pick it if | Marketing already runs on Bitly links | You buy QR campaigns in bulk | You print tents, bags, bills, standees |
When Bitly should win
Your ads team already tags everything in Bitly. The QR is one more offline source in the same report. You do not need WiFi. You will not print 40 unique table codes. You can live with a handful of QRs per month on lower plans. Then buying TIGER is a second analytics silo. Stay.
Do not use Bitly as a free QR factory. Two codes a month is a quota, not a shop. And URL-only means your business card still needs a vCard or a hosted page sitting behind that URL.
When QR TIGER should win
Agency energy: 200 SKUs, CSV, multi-URL by country, HubSpot, a designer who likes their frames. Pay Regular or Advanced. Do not print the free plan onto packaging. The 500-scan story is in the alternative guide.
When the dedicated shop tool should win
The brief is a physical place. Counter. Bill. Bag. Tent. The destinations are WhatsApp, WiFi, Google review, Instagram, a menu that changes at 4 pm. You want scan counts per placement without a RevOps hire. That list is QR codes for small businesses, not a link-management RFP.
Stop forcing a two-horse race
Bitly vs QR TIGER is a real comparison if you are a marketer choosing a vendor. It is the wrong comparison if you are trying to stop spelling the WiFi password. Add the third column. Pick the shape. Then print one proof.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bitly or QR TIGER better for QR codes?
Bitly if QR is a sticker on links you already manage. TIGER if QR types, bulk, and campaign features are the product. A shop that needs WiFi and WhatsApp often wants a third, dedicated tool.
Does Bitly have a QR code generator?
Yes. Each Bitly QR sits on a Bitly short link. Free: 2 QR codes per month with unlimited scans, URL-only, per Bitly’s 2026 comparison page.
Can Bitly make a WiFi or WhatsApp QR?
Not as native payloads. You can shorten a wa.me URL. You cannot encode a WIFI: join sheet. Use a type-aware generator for those.
QR TIGER vs Bitly — who has better analytics?
Bitly unifies clicks, scans, and landing pages. TIGER is stronger on QR-only scan features and types. “Better” is which report your team already opens on Monday.
Which is cheaper for a small shop?
Static codes on a free generator cost ₹0 and cannot be edited. Bitly and TIGER free tiers are tight (2/month vs 3×500 scans). A shop with five placements usually outgrows both free plans in a week of testing.
Can I use Bitly and a shop QR tool together?
Yes. Bitly for ad and SMS links. Shop tool for tents and bags. Do not print two different QRs for the same physical object.
Related guides
QR TIGER Alternative: When the 500-Scan Free Plan Is the Whole Problem
QR TIGER is a real dynamic suite. The free plan is not a shop plan. Three codes, 500 scans each, logo popup. Paid dynamic can go dark if you cancel. Pricing page read 26 Oct 2026.
How to Track QR Code Scans (And Stop Guessing Which Poster Worked)
If the code encodes the website itself, Google Analytics will call every scan Direct. Tracking only exists when the square hits a short link you control first.
QR Codes for Small Businesses: 10 Uses That Actually Work
You already have counters, bags, and walls. Ten ways to turn those into a review, a menu, a chat, a WiFi join, or a number you can trust — without a marketing team.
Create shop QR codes (WiFi, WhatsApp, menu)
Create custom vector patterns, integrate dynamic redirection endpoints, and view details.