Choosing the domain that goes on your packaging

Updated July 2026

The domain cannot be changed on inventory that has already been printed. That makes domain ownership an early architecture decision.

Use a domain you own

Use a subdomain of the brand's own domain when possible. id.yourbrand.com is a common pattern. It gives the brand direct control of the printed address:

• Consumers see your brand in the URL, which matters for trust when a QR code is involved.
• You can change resolver providers by changing DNS, with no reprint.
• If a vendor fails, is acquired, or raises prices beyond what you will pay, your printed inventory is unaffected.

What using a vendor's domain costs you

If the code says vendor.example/01/..., the vendor controls the printed address. An acquisition, closure, or product change can then affect inventory that still carries that domain.

Questions worth asking any resolver vendor

1. Which plans allow me to use my own domain?
2. If I leave, what happens to codes already printed? Get the answer in writing.
3. Can I export every product record and every route in one call, in a documented format?
4. Do you serve application/linkset+json and support link types, or is this a redirect service with GS1 branding?
5. What is your commitment on link lifetime, and what happens to it if I stop paying?

A vendor who cannot answer question 2 directly has told you the answer.

Practical setup

Create the subdomain before the artwork is finalized and point it at the chosen resolver. DNS can be changed later, while the URL printed on existing inventory cannot.