How to Generate a QR Code for Free Online

QR codes have made a full comeback. After years of being considered a failed technology, the pandemic normalised scanning them for restaurant menus, and they never went back out of fashion. Today they're on business cards, product packaging, event tickets, museum exhibits, and marketing materials of every kind. Creating one takes about 10 seconds and costs nothing.

What QR codes can contain

A QR code is essentially a scannable container for data. The most common use is encoding a URL — someone scans the code, their phone opens the link. But QR codes can contain much more: plain text, contact information (vCard format), Wi-Fi network credentials, email addresses, phone numbers, and location coordinates.

For most practical uses, the URL format is what you want. It gives you full flexibility — you can point it at any webpage, document, video, or online resource. The link can be changed later if you use a URL shortener or redirect, giving the QR code a longer useful life than printing a direct URL.

Static vs dynamic QR codes

A static QR code encodes the destination directly in the pattern. It's free to generate, works offline, and never expires — but the content can't be changed after printing. If the link changes, the code becomes useless.

A dynamic QR code stores a redirect URL that you control. Scan it and it redirects to wherever you've set the destination. You can update the destination any time without reprinting. Dynamic codes also track scans — showing you how many times, when, and from where the code was scanned. Dynamic codes typically require a paid service subscription.

For most personal and small business uses, static codes are the right choice. For large print runs, marketing campaigns where you'll want to update the destination, or situations where tracking matters, dynamic codes justify the cost.

How to generate one

Enter the URL or text you want to encode into our free QR code generator. Choose a size appropriate for how it will be used — larger if it will be scanned from a distance, smaller for business cards. Download the image as PNG or SVG.

Always test the code before printing or publishing. Scan it with your phone camera, and then with a second device if possible. Cameras can occasionally struggle to read codes that are too small, have insufficient contrast, or have been saved at low resolution.

Print size and placement tips

A QR code needs to be large enough for a phone camera to read reliably. The minimum practical size for a code meant to be scanned at arm's length is about 2cm × 2cm (roughly 0.8 inches square). For posters or signage meant to be scanned from further away, scale up proportionally.

Leave clear space (called the "quiet zone") around the code — no other graphics or text within at least 4 module widths of the code border. Crowding the code with surrounding elements causes scan failures. High contrast between the code and background (black code on white background) gives the highest scan reliability.