QR Code Generator

What is a QR code?

A QR (Quick Response) code is a 2D image that encodes text: a URL, phone number, WiFi credentials or any string up to a few thousand characters. Invented in 1994 in Japan for automotive tracking, it exploded globally during the pandemic: bar menus, payments, event check-ins — everything ran through a QR.

Types of QR and when to use each

• Static QR (what you generate here): data lives inside the image. Never expires, no internet needed on the creator's end, can't be modified after printing.
• Dynamic QR: redirects via a server that decides where to send the user. Expires when the subscription ends. Useful when you need to change the destination without reprinting, or want scan analytics. Not what we offer — for that, look at a dedicated service.

Tips for a scannable QR

1. Minimum physical size: ~1 inch (2.5 cm) for printed materials, 1.5 inches if it'll be scanned from across a room. Smaller and phones won't focus.
2. Strong contrast. Black on white is ideal. If you invert (light on dark), many apps fail.
3. Quiet zone (white margin). Leave at least 4 modules of white margin. Without it, scanners miss the boundary.
4. Don't stretch. The QR must be a perfect square.
5. Test before printing. Scan with multiple phones (iPhone, Android, different apps) before sending to print.

Error correction levels

QR codes include redundancy so they keep working even if part of the image is covered or damaged. Four levels:

• L (7%): for digital QR that won't get smudged or torn.
• M (15%): default — balances density and robustness.
• Q (25%): for QR printed in risky places (tables, outdoor signs).
• H (30%): when you want a logo in the center or the QR will be heavily exposed.

Common use cases

• Marketing: cards, flyers, packaging that lead to a landing page.
• Restaurants: digital menus on every table.
• Events: tickets, attendee check-in.
• WiFi: guests connect by scanning, no password sharing (format WIFI:T:WPA;S:redName;P:pass;;).
• Contact cards: vCard in MECARD format.
• Payments: most apps (Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, PayPal, Apple Pay) generate their own QR — those embed a closed payload and you don't need a generator for them.