QR Codes for Churches
Print one QR code on your weekly bulletin template and change where it points each week: this Sunday's sermon audio, next week's sign-up form, the giving page in December. The printed code never changes, so the template never changes. That needs a dynamic (editable) code; at Honest QR, 12 of them cost $48 once for 12 months, which never renews, or $5 a month with a 7-day free trial. A link that never changes, such as a fixed giving page, can use a free static code instead.
One Code on the Bulletin, a New Link Each Week
The usual problem: the bulletin template has a QR code for the sermon, and every week someone has to make a new code, swap the image, and hope the old one is not still on the noticeboard. A dynamic code removes that step. It is printed once, and each week whoever prepares the bulletin opens the dashboard and pastes the new sermon link. Everyone who scans the bulletin, this week's or a copy from a month ago, lands on the current link.
The link is changed by hand; Honest QR does not switch it on a schedule. Changing it takes a minute, so most churches make it part of the same job as uploading the recording.
A tip for the template: put a short line under the code that says what it opens, such as "Scan for this week's sermon". People scan more when they know what they will get.
What Churches Put Behind a Code
| Where it is printed | Where it goes | Code to use |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly bulletin | This week's sermon audio or video | Dynamic: change it each week |
| Pew card or welcome card | A connect or newcomer form | Dynamic, so the form can be replaced |
| Giving envelope or noticeboard | Your online giving page | Static if the address never changes |
| Event poster | Registration for the retreat, dinner or course | Dynamic: point it at the next event when this one ends |
| Volunteer sign-up sheet | The rota or sign-up form | Dynamic |
| Hall or foyer | Guest Wi-Fi | Static Wi-Fi code, free |
If one code should open several things at once (sermon, giving, events, contact), a multi-link page holds them all behind a single code, and you edit the page instead of the code.
What It Costs, and What Happens If the Budget Stops
Static codes are free on Honest QR, up to 10 with a free account, and they never expire. Editable codes need a paid plan. Starter covers 12 editable codes for $48 once for 12 months, which never renews, or $5 a month with a 7-day free trial, so a church can pay for the year in one go and has nothing to cancel later. Current prices are at honestqr.net/pricing.
If the plan ends, the printed bulletins and posters do not die. The codes keep redirecting as normal for a 7-day grace period; after that, a scan shows a short Honest QR notice and then continues to the last page you set. Editing and scan counts pause until you pay again, and nothing is deleted. The full policy, compared with 14 other providers, is at honestqr.net/guides/qr-codes-that-dont-expire.
When You Do Not Need Us
- If every link you print never changes, use free static codes and pay nothing.
- If you need one editable code and will never need a second, some providers include a few editable codes on a free plan; we do not. Our comparison guide lists which ones, each linked to its own terms.
- If the person who makes the codes changes, there is no shared team login on Starter, so keep the account email on a church address rather than a volunteer's own inbox.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the same QR code on every week's bulletin?
Yes, with a dynamic QR code. The printed code stays the same on the template, and each week you change where it points, for example to the new sermon recording. Anyone who scans an old bulletin lands on the current link.
Does the QR code change to next week's sermon automatically?
No. Honest QR does not switch links on a schedule; someone changes the link in the dashboard each week. It takes about as long as pasting the new link.
How much does a church QR code cost?
A static code, for a link that never changes, is free. Editable codes need a paid plan: Starter covers 12 editable codes for $48 once for 12 months, which never renews, or $5 a month with a 7-day free trial. Current prices are at honestqr.net/pricing.
What happens to our printed bulletins if we stop paying?
The codes keep working. After a 7-day grace period, a scan shows a short Honest QR notice and then continues to the last page you set. Editing and scan counts pause until you pay again, and nothing is deleted.
How big should the QR code be on a bulletin?
About 3 cm (1.2 inches) across for a bulletin held in the hand, with a clear white margin around it; 2 cm is the absolute floor. Test a printed copy with two or three different phones before the full print run.
Ready to create your QR code?
Free static QR codes with a free account. Go dynamic with scan tracking and a 7-day free trial.