QR guides5 min read
How to generate free QR codes
Make a free QR code for a link or a message, check that it scans, and download it.
A QR code is text drawn as a grid of black and white squares. Whatever you put in it, a web address or a short message, is stored in the pattern itself. The code also carries some spare data, which is why a phone can still read one that's smudged, creased or partly covered.
This means a normal QR code, often called a static code, is permanent. It doesn't expire, it doesn't report scans to anyone, and you can't change it after it's printed. That last part sounds like a drawback, but it also means nobody else can change where your code points later on.
Many free QR websites don't work this way. Their codes go through the site's own link first, so they can count scans. If that site closes, or decides you now need to pay, your printed codes can stop working.
So with a static code, there are really only two things to get right: what you put in it, and how big you print it.
When you might need this
- People can open a web page by pointing their camera instead of typing a long address.
- You want to share contact details, Wi-Fi details or a short note quickly.
- Posters, menus and packaging can link to more information online.
- A slide, name badge or shop window needs a link people can scan.
- You want to give someone a link in person without swapping numbers.
How to do it
- Open the QR Code Generator.
- Type or paste your link or text. The shorter it is, the simpler the pattern, and the easier it is to scan.
- Change the colors and shape if you like. The plain defaults scan best, so don't go too far.
- Watch the preview. It changes as you type, and what you see is what you'll download.
- Download the code at a size that suits where it's going.
- Scan the downloaded file with at least two different phones before you print or share it.
Free, with no account. Open it in a new tab and follow along.
Open QR Code GeneratorTips
- Stick to dark on light. A white code on a black background can look nice, but some phones won't read it.
- Leave empty space around the code. That blank border is part of the code, and cropping right up to the edge can stop it from scanning.
- Test it at the size you'll print it. A code that scans fine on your monitor can fail on a business card, and you won't find out until the cards arrive.
- Think about how far away people will stand. A poster across a room needs a much bigger code than a menu on the table.
- Short links make simpler codes, and simple codes still scan when they're printed small.
- Put a few words next to the code saying what it does, like 'Scan for the menu'. People scan more when they know what they'll get.
Common mistakes
- Putting a code where nobody can get close enough to scan it, like high up on a billboard or on the side of a bus.
- Printing it too small for the amount of data in it.
- Using pale colors, or placing the code on top of a busy photo.
- Skipping the test and finding the problem after 500 flyers are already printed.
- Linking to a page that's hard to use on a phone. Nearly everyone who scans will be on one.
How this compares to Smallpdf, iLovePDF and Adobe
A lot of free QR generators are really sign-up funnels. The code they give you points to their own short link, which lets them count your scans and, in some cases, switch the code off unless you pay. If they shut down, your printed codes stop working too.
Smallpdf and iLovePDF are mainly PDF tools, so they aren't really in this race. Most sites that only do QR codes use the redirect approach described above.
Our generator puts your content straight into the code. There's no redirect, no scan tracking, and nothing that can be switched off later.
| 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
- Do free QR codes expire?
- A static code doesn't. The content is stored in the pattern, so it keeps working for as long as the thing it points to exists.
- Can I use one on printed material?
- Yes. Just test the printed version, at the real size and on the real paper, before you print a lot of them.
- Can I change where the code points after printing?
- Not with a static code. If you think the address might change, put a link you control in the code, such as a short link on your own website, and change where that link goes instead.
- Does the tool track my scans?
- No. The code is made in your browser and holds your content directly, so there's nothing in between to count scans.
- How much text can a QR code hold?
- A few thousand characters in theory. In practice the pattern gets crowded fast, so keep it short if you want it to scan easily.