FAQ
Fair questions.
The things people actually ask us — whether they're printing codes or scanning them.
I opened a goto-now.link address and ended up on a different website. Is that normal?
Yes — that's the product working. Every GotoNow code and link is a short forwarding address. When you scan or click one, we look up where its owner currently points it and pass you along with a standard redirect. The address printed on the page stays the same; the destination behind it is whatever the owner has set it to.
If you ever believe a code is forwarding somewhere it shouldn't — a scam, malware, or anything illegal — send the exact goto-now.link address to abuse@goto-now.link and we'll review and disable it if it breaks our terms.
What's the difference between a static and a dynamic code?
A static code bakes the full destination URL directly into the QR pattern — it can never change, and we never even see it. A dynamic code encodes a short goto-now.link forwarding address instead, so the owner can change the destination at any time without reprinting. Full breakdown here.
Why is the domain so short and plain?
QR density. Every character in a URL adds modules (the little squares) to the code. A shorter address means bigger modules at the same print size — which means codes that scan reliably from farther away, on curved cups, in bad lighting, and at business-card scale. The domain is a tool, not a brand billboard; short and forgettable is exactly the point.
Can I see where a code goes before I visit?
Most phones show the goto-now.link address when you scan, before you tap. Once forwarded, your browser's address bar always shows the true final destination — we never mask or frame it. As with any link on the internet, check that the site you land on is the one you expect before entering any information.
What do you track when someone scans or clicks?
The minimum that makes the analytics useful: a timestamp, the code that was used, a coarse region, and a device family (phone / desktop / tablet). No cookies are set on redirects, we don't build visitor profiles, and we don't sell data to anyone. Details in the privacy policy.
Do codes expire?
Not on their own. A dynamic code keeps forwarding for as long as the plan behind it is active — and for 90 days after a cancellation, so nothing already printed goes dark without warning. Owners can also choose to sunset a code on a date, in which case it forwards to a fallback page they configure rather than a 404.
Is the free generator really free? What's the catch?
Really free, no catch, no watermark, no account. It generates static codes entirely in your browser — your URL is never sent to us, so it costs us almost nothing to offer. We make our money on dynamic codes, and people who start with the free tool tend to come back the first time they need to change a destination after printing.
Can I change where a code points after it's printed?
That's the whole product — yes, if it's a dynamic code. Edit the destination in the dashboard and the very next scan anywhere in the world goes to the new page. Static codes (including ones from our free generator) can never be changed; that's the trade-off for them being free.
Can I use my own domain instead of goto-now.link?
Not yet. Custom domains are on the roadmap for Studio plans. Honest caveat: for QR use specifically, a custom domain is usually longer than ours, which makes the code denser — so it's a branding win and a scannability loss. We'll support it, but we'll also tell you that.
How do I get access to dynamic codes?
Email hello@goto-now.link with a line about what you're printing. We're onboarding in small batches while we scale the forwarding network, and we reply within a couple of business days. See pricing for what the plans include.
How do I report a code or link that's being misused?
Send the full goto-now.link address (the part after the slash matters) to abuse@goto-now.link, along with where it forwarded you if you can. Codes pointing at malware, phishing, or illegal content violate our terms and get disabled.