QR code generator

QR codes have firmly settled into the offline world: menus, payments, tickets, business cards, packaging. A good QR code needs no app and no explanation — point the camera, tap, done. Here is a short guide to how it works under the hood and how to make a code that scans reliably.

How a QR code is built

QR (Quick Response) is a two-dimensional barcode: your text is encoded as a matrix of dark and light modules that a camera reads in a fraction of a second. The three large squares in the corners help the scanner locate the code and work out its orientation; the rest of the area carries the data. The crucial detail is built-in error correction (Reed–Solomon codes): some modules duplicate the information, so the code stays readable even when it is partly scratched, smudged or covered by a logo. The higher the correction level, the denser the pattern — and the more damage the code survives. A QR code itself is static: it is simply a way to write text into a picture. There is no server behind it — whatever you encode is exactly what the scanner gets.

What you can encode

• A link — https://…: the phone opens it in the browser.
• Plain text — a note, a serial number, a promo code.
• A phone number — tel:+447732729492: scanning offers to place a call.
• An email — mailto:[email protected]: opens the mail client.
• Wi-Fi — a string like WIFI:T:WPA;S:NetworkName;P:password;; lets guests join your network without typing the password.

Printing tips

• Size. 2×2 cm is enough for a business card; for a poster, work from the scanning distance: the code's side should be roughly one tenth of it (a 10 cm code reads comfortably from a metre away).
• Contrast. A dark code on a light background is the classic for a reason: that is what scanners handle most reliably.
• Margins. Leave a clear "quiet zone" around the code, at least four modules wide. Don't squeeze it against text or the edge of the layout.
• Test. Before the print run, scan a proof with several phones under different lighting. One minute of testing saves reprinting the whole batch.

Common mistakes

The most common one is an overly long URL: an address with two hundred characters of UTM tags makes the matrix fine-grained and fussy in print. Shorten the link and the code becomes larger and more robust; our ecosystem has Urlik (urlik.xyz) for exactly that — shorten the address, then encode the short link. The second mistake is inverted colours: many scanners simply refuse to read a light code on a dark background. Finally, go easy on the "branding" — gradients, inserts and stylised modules eat into the error-correction margin, and the code stops scanning in less-than-perfect conditions.

Is it free?

Yes, completely. No sign-up, no watermarks, no limits, no "premium sizes". Create and download as many QR codes as you need, commercial projects included.

Does a QR code expire?

No. A QR code is a static image with your text encoded into it — not a record on our server. It never expires, needs no subscription and keeps working forever, as long as whatever it encodes (for example, the link itself) stays available.

Can you see my data?

No. The code is generated right in your browser: neither the text nor the links are sent to a server or stored anywhere. You can safely encode a Wi-Fi password or internal links.

What size should I choose for print?

Pick 600×600 — extra resolution never hurts. For the physical size, work from the scanning distance: the code's side should be roughly one tenth of it. 2×2 cm is enough for a business card; for a poster across the room, start at 25 cm.

Can I use the code commercially?

Yes. The downloaded PNG is entirely yours: put it on packaging, ads, menus and slides — no attribution and no restrictions.