Custom Domains for QR Codes: Build Trust with Branded QR Links

When someone scans your QR code, the first thing their phone shows is the link behind it. If that link reads qr2go.eu/scan/a1b2c3, it works perfectly — but it says nothing about who you are. If it reads qr.your-brand.com/a1b2c3, it does something a generic link never can: it tells the person, before they tap, exactly whose code they are about to open.

That is what a custom domain delivers. This guide explains what custom domains are, why they matter for businesses, how QR2GO implements them, how the add-on is priced, and — just as importantly — how billing works when you add or remove a domain. Everything here reflects how the feature actually behaves today, so there are no surprises later.

What Is a Custom Domain for QR Codes?

A dynamic QR code does not encode your destination URL directly. Instead, it encodes a short scan link that points at a redirect service, which then forwards the visitor to your real destination. That indirection is what lets you change the destination, track scans, and add analytics without reprinting the code.

By default, that scan link uses the QR2GO host: qr2go.eu/scan/.... A custom domain lets you replace that host with a subdomain you own — for example qr.your-brand.com or scan.acme.eu. The QR code still routes through QR2GO and keeps every dynamic feature; only the visible host changes.

A few important specifics about how QR2GO handles this:

• You connect a subdomain (such as qr.your-brand.com), not a bare top-level domain (such as your-brand.com). This keeps your root domain free for your main website and your email.
• One custom domain can be assigned to many QR codes. You do not need a separate domain per code.
• Your existing default links keep working. Custom domains are an enhancement layered on top of the standard, reliable qr2go.eu redirect.

Why Businesses Use Custom Domains

Trust before the tap

Years of phishing warnings have made people cautious about QR codes. A scan link on your own domain is the single clearest signal that a code is legitimate and yours. When a customer sees qr.your-restaurant.com instead of an unfamiliar host, the decision to scan becomes easy.

Consistent branding everywhere

Every QR code you print is a brand touchpoint — on packaging, posters, receipts, business cards, table tents, and shop windows. A branded scan link keeps your identity consistent across all of them, including the channels most companies forget about.

A more professional impression

Branded short links look intentional. Whether you are a solo consultant or a regional chain, a custom domain signals that the details matter to you — and that impression carries over to everything else the customer experiences.

Better suited to print

Printed materials live for months or years. A branded host on a flyer, menu, or product label reads as part of a deliberate identity rather than a throwaday link, and it stays recognisable for the entire life of the print run. (If you are preparing artwork for print, see our guide on preparing QR codes for print.)

Useful across many industries

Custom domains earn their place in a wide range of European businesses:

• Restaurants and cafés — menu.your-bistro.com on every table.
• Events and conferences — branded check-in and agenda links.
• Agencies — a clean, client-ready domain for each campaign.
• Local shops and SMEs — trustworthy links on receipts and shelf labels.
• Medical and dental practices — reassuring, recognisable links for forms and instructions.
• Real estate — branded links on window cards and property signs.

How QR2GO Handles Custom Domains

Custom domains are a paid add-on available only to active Premium subscribers. They are not bundled into Premium, and they are not sold on their own. You first need an active Premium subscription, then you add one or more custom domain slots on top of it.

Here is how the pieces fit together:

• Premium subscription — 5.99 € / month. This unlocks the platform's advanced features and is the prerequisite for custom domains.
• Custom Domain slot — 10 € / month per slot, billed recurring monthly alongside your Premium subscription.
• One slot = one connected domain. Each additional slot adds another 10 € / month.

So a typical setup of Premium + one Custom Domain slot is 15.99 € / month, before or depending on how VAT applies to your account. Two slots would be 25.99 € / month, and so on. There are no one-time fees and no separate checkout — slots ride on your existing subscription, and the quantity you are billed for always matches the number of slots you hold.

Why Premium is required

Custom domains depend on the dynamic redirect infrastructure, analytics, and verified-ownership handling that come with Premium. Requiring Premium keeps the feature aligned with the accounts that actually use dynamic, trackable QR codes — and it keeps the billing model simple and honest: one subscription, with add-on slots that mirror real usage.

Why it is an add-on rather than included

Most Premium users do not need a custom domain, and bundling its cost into every subscription would mean charging everyone for a capability only some people use. Pricing it as an add-on keeps Premium affordable for the majority while letting the businesses that want branded links pay only for what they connect.

How Billing Works — Clearly and Honestly

This is the part most platforms leave vague, so we want to be precise.

A Custom Domain slot is billable for as long as the domain stays configured in your account. Keeping a domain connected in your settings is what keeps the slot — and its 10 € / month — active. That is by design: an active slot reflects an active, maintained domain.

Billing for a slot stops only after you remove the domain and the billing update succeeds. When you delete a domain from your settings, QR2GO removes it from the routing platform, then reduces your Custom Domain add-on quantity by one. If that was your last domain, the add-on is removed entirely (quantity zero). The change is reflected on your subscription, and your next invoice reflects the new quantity.

A few guarantees that follow from how this is built:

• Nothing stops silently. If the billing update fails after you start a deletion, QR2GO keeps your domain in place and tells you billing is unchanged, rather than leaving you in an unclear state. You can retry safely.
• Your subscription quantity always mirrors your domains. The number of slots you pay for tracks the number of domains you keep connected.
• You stay in control. You decide when a domain — and its billing — ends, by removing it from your settings.

Why removing a domain is what stops billing

We bill for active slots because we actively maintain every connected domain: ownership records, DNS verification, SSL certificates, and routing all have to stay healthy. If domains lingered after customers stopped using them, the result would be DNS clutter, stale verification records, abandoned mappings, and unclear infrastructure state — which degrades reliability for everyone.

Tying billing to an explicitly configured domain keeps the system clean and structured. QR2GO maintains only the domains customers genuinely use, which protects service quality, support clarity, and operational reliability across the whole platform. It is an infrastructure-hygiene decision first, and the billing simply follows the real state of your account.

Setting Up a Custom Domain, Step by Step

You manage everything from your Custom Domain settings. The flow is a short guided wizard:

1. Make sure Premium is active and you have a slot. If you do not have a free slot yet, you will be prompted to add a Custom Domain add-on from your billing page. The slot is what a new domain attaches to.

2. Enter the subdomain you own — for example qr.your-brand.com. It must be a subdomain, not a bare top-level domain.

3. Add the TXT record to prove ownership. QR2GO shows you a TXT record to add at your DNS provider. This proves you control the subdomain. DNS changes can take a few minutes to propagate.

4. Add the CNAME record for routing. Once ownership is verified, you add a CNAME record so your subdomain serves QR redirects through QR2GO. An SSL certificate is provisioned automatically once the record resolves.

5. Assign the domain to your QR codes. From the QR editor, choose your verified custom domain as the short-link host. Newly downloaded copies of the QR image will encode your branded URL.

A note on Cloudflare DNS: if your DNS is hosted on Cloudflare, set the proxy status for these records to DNS only (the grey-cloud icon). Orange-cloud (proxied) mode blocks verification and SSL provisioning. This applies whenever your DNS lives at Cloudflare, regardless of where the rest of your stack runs.

Common DNS setup mistakes

• Using the wrong record name or host. Copy the values exactly as shown in the wizard; a trailing dot or an extra subdomain segment will break verification.
• Leaving Cloudflare proxy on. As above, switch the affected records to DNS-only.
• Expecting instant propagation. DNS changes are not always immediate. Set the TTL to your provider's minimum and give it a few minutes before re-checking.
• Pointing a bare domain instead of a subdomain. QR2GO connects subdomains; use qr.your-brand.com, not your-brand.com.

Removing a Domain — What to Check First

Removing a domain is straightforward, but because it affects both your printed materials and your billing, it is worth a moment of care.

Before you delete a domain, check:

• Which QR codes use it. The settings screen shows how many QR codes are assigned to each domain. When you remove the domain, those QR codes revert to the default qr2go.eu/scan/... host. Already-printed materials showing the branded URL will keep pointing at that branded host until you reprint, so plan around any live print runs.
• Whether you intend to stop billing. Removing the domain is exactly what reduces (or ends) the Custom Domain add-on. If you only want to reassign a QR code to a different host, you may not need to delete the domain at all.
• That you have confirmed the change. The deletion dialog asks you to type the domain name and acknowledge the reprint implication, precisely because the action touches real-world materials and billing.

Once you confirm, QR2GO removes the domain from the routing platform, reduces your add-on quantity (or removes it if it was your last domain), and clears the domain from any attached QR codes. You will see a clear success message — or, if the billing update could not complete, a clear message that nothing was changed so you can retry.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need Premium to use a custom domain? Yes. Custom domains are a paid add-on available only to active Premium subscribers. They are never sold on their own.

How much does a custom domain cost? Each Custom Domain slot is 10 € / month, billed monthly on top of your 5.99 € / month Premium subscription. Premium plus one slot is therefore 15.99 € / month, before or depending on how VAT applies. Each additional slot adds another 10 € / month.

Can I use one domain for several QR codes? Yes. A single custom domain can be the host for as many of your QR codes as you like. One slot covers one connected domain, not one QR code.

What happens to billing if I delete a domain? Removing a domain reduces your Custom Domain add-on by one slot. If it was your last domain, the add-on is removed entirely. Billing stops only after the removal and the billing update both succeed — nothing stops silently, and nothing is left in an unclear state.

What happens to my QR codes if I remove a domain? They revert to the default qr2go.eu/scan/... host and keep working. Any material already printed with the branded URL will continue pointing at the branded host until you reprint, so consider live print runs before removing a domain.

Can I connect a bare domain like acme.com? No — QR2GO connects subdomains such as qr.acme.com. This keeps your root domain available for your main website and email.

Does my DNS have to be on a specific provider? No. Any DNS provider works. If your DNS is hosted on Cloudflare, set the relevant records to DNS-only (grey cloud) so verification and SSL can complete.

Ready to Brand Your QR Codes?

A custom domain turns every scan into a branded moment — and it takes only a few minutes to set up.

• New to QR2GO? Create your account and explore the platform.
• Compare plans and the Custom Domain add-on on the pricing page.
• Already on Premium? Head to your Custom Domain settings to connect your first domain.
• Want the bigger picture first? See all QR2GO features.

Branded links are one of the simplest ways to look more professional and earn a little more trust on every single scan. When you are ready, your subdomain is waiting.