- 2015
- Free generator online
- QR codes never expire
- The generated code never expires, and there are no hidden costs.
- 16
- QR payload types
- 34
- Barcode formats
QR codes show up in everyday places
Menus, packaging, posters, and handouts. Pick the payload type that matches the job.
Restaurant menus
Product packaging
Events and check-in
Posters and flyers
Guest WiFi
Business cards
Property listings
Campus handouts
Start with a URL code. WiFi and vCard sit beside it.
QR codes for every use case
Pick a category, open the generator, and download a branded code in minutes.
URL
Open a link from print or packaging
Text
Show any message after a scan
WiFi
Join a network without typing the password
Vcard
Save a contact to the phone
Phone
Dial a number without typing it
SMS
Pre-fill a text message
Email
Open a draft with subject and body
WhatsApp
Start a chat with a preset number
Facetime
Launch a FaceTime call
Create a QR code in three steps
Choose the type
URL, WiFi, vCard, PDF, payment string, or plain text.
Customize the design
Set colors, add a logo, and pick a frame before you generate.
Download and print
Export PNG, SVG, PDF, or EPS. Scan the preview before you print.
How people use the codes they make
Short notes from common setups. No names, just the context.
We put a PDF menu link on table tents. When the seasonal menu changes, staff swap the file without printing a new code.
Café menu
A vCard on a booth badge lets visitors save our contact details in one scan instead of typing from a card.
Trade show booth
The URL on our product label points to the manual page. We update that page after launch without changing the printed code.
Product label
What is a QR code?
A QR code (Quick Response code) is a two-dimensional matrix barcode. Denso Wave, a DENSO company in Japan, published the format in 1994. Version 40 can hold up to 7,089 numeric digits or 4,296 alphanumeric characters.
The pattern is a grid of dark modules on a light background, plus finder squares in three corners so a camera can lock orientation. Encoding a URL, WiFi login, or vCard changes that grid.
Phones read QR codes with the built-in camera on iPhone and with Google Lens or a reader app on Android. Hold the whole square in view until the link or data appears.
Static vs dynamic QR codes
| Trait | Static | Dynamic |
|---|---|---|
| What is stored | The payload sits in the pattern itself. | The pattern points at a short URL you can change later. |
| After printing | You cannot change the content. Generate a new code. | Update the destination if you control the redirect. |
| Scan counts | None. The file is just an image. | Yes, if you use a tracked link from an account. |
Where QR codes get used
Businesses put QR codes on flyers, posters, packaging, menus, and product labels. Common payloads are a website, WiFi password, vCard, event, or checkout link (PayPal, UPI, PIX, EPC). ForQRCode also generates linear barcodes (EAN-13, UPC-A, Code 128) for retail and inventory.
On iPhone, open Camera and point it at the code. On Android 8 or later, use Google Lens or the camera if QR scanning is on. Cover the full square, not a strip of it.
Guides and generators
Questions about QR codes
What is a free QR code generator?
A free QR code generator is a website that turns a URL or other payload into a scannable image. ForQRCode does this in the browser and exports PNG, SVG, PDF, and EPS. Static codes from this tool have no scan limit.
What can a QR code store?
A QR code can store a URL, plain text, email, WiFi login, geo location, phone number, SMS, vCard, WhatsApp, FaceTime, calendar event, PayPal, crypto address, UPI, EPC, or PIX payment.
How do I scan a QR code?
Open the phone camera (or Google Lens on Android), point it at the square until all four corners are in frame, then tap the banner that appears.
Is there a scan limit?
No. Static QR codes from ForQRCode do not expire and are not capped by scan count.
Can I put my logo on a QR code?
Yes. Upload a logo in the branding panel. Raise error correction (Q or H) so the code still scans with a logo in the center.
Is it safe to use a QR code?
A QR code only stores the data you put in it. Treat unknown codes like unknown links: scan them only from a source you trust, and check the URL before you open it.
What is QR code marketing?
QR marketing puts a code on print or packaging so a phone can open a page, coupon, or menu. The code is usually a URL. Test contrast and size before a large print run.
Why is my QR code not scanning?
Keep the dark modules darker than the background. Avoid low contrast, a logo that covers finder squares, and a print smaller than about 2x2 inches for close viewing. Test a proof before you print.
What is the minimum print size?
For small print, about 2x2 inches is a safe starting size. For posters viewed from farther away, go larger. Quiet space around the code helps cameras lock on.
How can I track QR scans?
Static downloads have no analytics. For scan counts you need a dynamic code or a tracked short URL from a ForQRCode account.
