Question 1

Is this QR code generator free?

Accepted Answer

Yes. There is no account, no watermark, no scan limit, and no expiry - and no upsell waiting once you have made one. The whole thing runs in your browser, so it costs us nothing to give away.

Question 2

Do the QR codes expire?

Accepted Answer

No. Everything you enter is encoded directly into the image, so the code works for as long as its destination does. That is the important difference from services that hand you a short redirect link: those keep working only while the company behind them keeps the redirect alive, and several have started charging to keep old codes working. A code from here has nothing to switch off.

Question 3

Can I edit the destination later, or track scans?

Accepted Answer

Not with a code from this tool, and that is the trade-off for the answer above. Editing and analytics both require the code to point at a redirect that someone operates on your behalf. If you need those, point the code at a link you control - your own short domain or a URL with tracking parameters - so the code stays permanent while the destination stays yours to change.

Question 4

What size should I print a QR code?

Accepted Answer

A rough rule is that the code should be about a tenth of the distance it will be scanned from - so a poster read from two meters wants a code around 20 cm across. For something held in the hand, 2 to 2.5 cm is the practical minimum. Denser codes need more room, so if you are printing small, keep the content short. Always test-scan the printed piece, not just the file.

Question 5

Why will my QR code not scan?

Accepted Answer

Usually one of five things: it is printed too small for the amount of data; the content is long enough to make the code very dense; there is not enough contrast between the two colors; the colors are inverted, with light modules on a dark background, which many scanners reject; or the quiet zone - the blank border - has been cropped away. If you have added a logo, try making it smaller.

Question 6

Can I use these codes commercially?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The codes you generate are yours to use however you like, including on products and paid advertising, with no attribution and no license from us. The QR code format itself is an open standard that its creator, Denso Wave, does not charge to use, though "QR Code" remains their registered trademark.

Question 7

What else can I encode besides a link?

Accepted Answer

This page makes codes for web addresses. There are dedicated pages for plain text, Wi-Fi network details, a contact card, a pre-filled email, and a pre-filled text message - each with the right fields and its own guidance. The links are just below.

QR Code Generator

Content

Design

How it works

What the badges mean

Frequently asked questions

Other QR code types

Text to QR Code Generator

Wi-Fi QR Code Generator

vCard QR Code Generator

Email QR Code Generator

SMS QR Code Generator

Related tools

Image Compressor

Image Resizer

Image Metadata Remover