This QR code generator makes a free static QR code for a link or text (up to 1,000 characters here) with your choice of error correction (L, M, Q or H), and lets you download it as PNG or SVG. A static QR code holds the data itself, so it never expires, needs no account and is not tracked.
How to make a QR code
- Type or paste a link or text.
- Choose the error correction level and the size.
- Download the PNG or SVG file and scan it with your phone to test it.
What is a QR code?
A QR code (Quick Response code) is a square 2D barcode developed by Denso Wave in 1994 and defined in ISO/IEC 18004. It is made of black and white modules and three large position squares in its corners, which let a phone camera find and read it from any angle.
Design your QR code
Every design option is free, with no account and no watermark. The design is drawn in your browser, and your logo is not uploaded.
- Dots: square, rounded or round dots.
- Corners: square, rounded or circle finder patterns, in the code color or a color of their own.
- Colors: any code color and background color. The generator warns you when the contrast is too low or the code is lighter than the background.
- Logo: add a PNG, JPG, WebP or SVG logo in the middle. Error correction switches to level H, so up to about 30% of the code can be covered and it still scans.
- Frame: a bar under the code with your own call to action, such as SCAN ME or MENU, up to 20 characters.
- Downloads: SVG for print at any size, or PNG at 512, 1,024 or 2,048 pixels.
Every style on this page was tested with a barcode reader before release. Still scan your own design with two or three phones before you print it.
QR codes for WiFi, contacts, WhatsApp and more
Choose the content type and fill in the form; the generator writes the text in the format phones expect.
| Content | What it holds | When someone scans it |
|---|---|---|
| Link | A web address | The phone offers to open the page |
| WiFi | Network name, password and security type (WIFI: format) | Most phone cameras offer to join the network |
| Contact card | Name, company, phone, email, website, address (vCard 3.0) | The phone offers to save the contact |
| Address, subject and message (mailto:) | An email opens, ready to send | |
| SMS | Number and message (SMSTO:) | A text message opens, ready to send |
| Phone call | A number (tel:) | The phone offers to call it |
| A wa.me link with a number and message | WhatsApp opens a chat with the message | |
| Location | Latitude and longitude (geo:) | A maps app opens at that place |
The encoded text is shown under the preview so you can check it. A WiFi QR code contains the password, so print it only where you are happy for anyone to join.
Static vs dynamic QR codes
- Static (this generator): the link or text is stored in the code itself. It works for as long as the link works, with no account and no subscription.
- Dynamic (sold by QR services): the code holds a short link to the service, which forwards to your page. You can change the target and count scans, but the code stops working if the service or subscription ends.
If you need to change the destination later, point the QR code at a page you control and change that page.
QR code error correction levels
| Level | Share of the code that can be restored | Use when |
|---|---|---|
| L | About 7% | The code is large and clean, and you need maximum data |
| M (default) | About 15% | Most printed codes |
| Q | About 25% | Codes on surfaces that may get dirty or scuffed |
| H | About 30% | Harsh conditions, or a logo placed over the code |
Higher levels make the code denser for the same data.
QR code capacity
QR codes come in 40 versions, from 21×21 to 177×177 modules. The largest, at level L, holds 7,089 digits, 4,296 letters and digits, or 2,953 bytes. Short data makes a smaller code that scans faster, so keep links short.
QR code vs Data Matrix
Phone cameras read QR codes without an extra app, which makes QR the choice for anything shoppers scan. For tiny parts and industrial marking, the Data Matrix generator is more common.
Is it private?
Yes. The QR code is drawn in your browser. Your link or text is not sent to our server, and scans are not tracked.
Tips for QR codes that scan
- Print the code larger when it will be scanned from a distance, such as on a poster.
- Keep a blank margin of about four modules around the code.
- Use dark modules on a light background.
- Use a short link; long text makes a dense code.
- Scan the printed code with two different phones before you print a full run.
Related tools
Frequently asked questions
Do these QR codes expire?
No. A static QR code holds the data itself and works as long as the link it contains works.
Is the QR code free for business use?
Yes. There is no fee, account or watermark.
Can I change the link after printing?
No. A static code cannot be edited. Point it at a page you control if the target may change.
Can I see how many people scanned it?
No. Static codes are not tracked. Add tracking parameters to your link and read them in your website analytics.
Can I make many QR codes at once?
Yes. The bulk barcode generator makes one QR code per line of a list.