QR guides5 min read
How to create a free QR code online
Make a QR code for a link, text, email, phone number or Wi-Fi network, add your colors and logo, and download it. No account needed.
You've seen QR codes everywhere: on menus, business cards, packaging and posters. Point a phone camera at one and it opens a website, shows a phone number, starts an email, joins a Wi-Fi network, or just shows some text, depending on what's inside.
Making one takes about thirty seconds. Put in what you want the code to open, change the colors to match your brand if you like, add a logo in the middle if you want, and download it. No account, no subscription.
Before you print one, two things are worth knowing. First, QR codes aren't private. Anyone who scans it can see what's in it. So don't put sensitive information straight into a code. Link to a page that asks for a password instead.
Second, a normal (static) QR code can't be changed after you make it. If the web address changes, you'll need a new code. 'Dynamic' codes can be pointed somewhere else later, but they depend on a tracking service and usually a subscription. For most people, a static code is all you need.
When you might need this
- A menu, flyer or poster needs to link to your website.
- You want people to save your contact details from a business card.
- A product needs a link to its instructions or product page.
- Guests should be able to join your Wi-Fi without typing the password.
- You want a quick way to get people to an email address or phone number.
How to do it
- Open the QR Code Generator.
- Choose what the code is for, such as a link, text, email, phone, SMS or Wi-Fi.
- Enter the details you want in the code.
- Change the colors if you want it to match your brand. Keep plenty of contrast between the code and the background so it scans reliably.
- Add a logo in the middle if you like. Keep it small, around 30 percent of the code or less, so the code still scans.
- Download the code. SVG is best for printing because it stays sharp at any size. PNG is fine for screens.
Free, with no account. Open it in a new tab and follow along.
Open QR Code GeneratorTips
- Always scan the finished code with your phone before you print it. Reprinting costs money.
- Keep the dots dark and the background light. Dark on white scans most reliably.
- Use SVG for anything printed. PNG is fine for websites and slides.
- Test the code at the smallest size it'll be printed. If it scans at that size, you're fine. Most codes need at least 2 by 2 cm to scan well at arm's length.
- On menus and business cards, add a short line under the code like 'Scan to visit our website' so people know what it's for.
Common mistakes
- Using a light code on a dark background. The QR standard allows it, but some phone cameras have trouble reading it.
- Making the logo too big. Once it covers more than about 30 percent of the code, scanning gets much less reliable.
- Making a code for a web address that's going to change. If that might happen, use a short link you control and point that somewhere else later.
- Not testing before printing. It's the mistake that costs the most on printed materials.
- Using a small PNG for print. Use SVG, or a PNG that's at least 1000 by 1000 pixels for normal print sizes.
How this compares to Smallpdf, iLovePDF and Adobe
There are QR code generators everywhere, and most of the simple ones are free. The real differences are how much you can customize, and whether the tool adds a watermark or tracks your scans.
QR Code Monkey and Adobe Express are popular and have good design options. Adobe needs an account. QR Code Monkey is free for basic use but makes the code on its server. Smallpdf has a QR generator alongside its PDF tools too, which is handy if you already use it.
Google Charts used to be a popular free option, but that feature has been retired. Canva includes QR codes in its free plan, though it's built for design work, not quick codes.
Ours makes the code in your browser, with no server, no account and no watermark. You can change the colors, background, logo and corner style, which covers what most people need.
| Criterion | Smallpdf | iLovePDF | Adobe Acrobat online | Easy File Tools |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Where your file is processed | On their servers, after you upload it | On their servers, after you upload it | In Adobe's cloud, after you upload it | In your browser, on your own device |
| Account or sign-in | Asked for early, and needed once you pass the free allowance | Optional for small jobs, needed for bigger ones | Most online tools need an Adobe ID | Never needed |
| Usage limits | A few free tasks, then an upgrade prompt | Daily task and file limits on the free plan | The free web tools are mostly a preview of the paid plan | No task counters and no daily limits |
| File size ceiling | The free plan limits upload size | The free plan limits upload size | Cloud upload limits apply | We don't set one. Your device's memory is the practical limit |
| Works without a connection | No, their server does the work | No, their server does the work | No, the cloud does the work | Yes for the browser tools, once the page has loaded |
| Cost | Paid subscription for full access | Paid subscription for full access | Paid Acrobat subscription for full access | Free. Every tool is open to everyone |
Other services change their plans and limits often, so treat this as a rough picture and not a price list. Check their websites for the current details.
Frequently asked questions
- What can a QR code link to?
- A web address, plain text, an email address, a phone number, a text message or Wi-Fi details. A web address that opens in the phone's browser is by far the most common.
- Do QR codes expire?
- Static codes don't. A code with a web address keeps working as long as that address works. If the page is taken down, the code still scans but leads to an error page.
- Can I edit a QR code after I make it?
- No. A static code holds fixed content. To change where it goes, make a new code and replace the old one.
- Which file type should I download?
- SVG for printing, since it stays sharp at any size. PNG for screens.
- Does the code work on all phones?
- Pretty much. Modern iPhone and Android cameras scan QR codes on their own. Some older phones need a scanner app.
- Is there a limit on how many codes I can make?
- No. There's no account, no credits and no daily limit.