Is it worth paying for a QR code?

Paying for a QR code is worth it in exactly two situations: you need to change the destination after printing, or you need to know how many people scan it. Those are dynamic-code features, and for a business they usually pay for themselves the first time a link changes — reprinting 500 flyers costs far more than a month of any QR subscription.

If neither applies — say, a one-off code linking to a website that will never move — use a free static code and keep your money. That's not a downgrade; static codes are just as scannable and never expire. A reasonable setup for a small business: static codes for permanent things, one paid plan for the campaigns you actually want to measure or update.