Link
Short links scan more reliably than long tracking URLs. https:// is added automatically if you leave it off.
Scanning the code joins the network automatically - perfect for guests, cafés, and rentals. The password is only stored inside the code you print.
Scanning adds the contact straight to the phone's address book (vCard 3.0 format).
Scanning opens the dialer with the number ready to call. Include the country code (like +1) so it works abroad.
Options
Keep the margin at 4 and use dark modules on a light background - both are part of the QR standard, and scanners rely on them.
Your QR code
Test with your phone camera before printing - it should recognize the code instantly.
These are static codes: your content lives inside the pattern itself, not on some company's redirect server. No subscription can lapse, no service can shut down, no code can die.
Links, Wi-Fi passwords, and contact details are encoded entirely in your browser. Nothing is uploaded, logged, or tracked - ever.
No sign-up, no watermark, no download limits, no paywalled SVG. It even keeps working offline once the page has loaded.
Static vs. dynamic QR codes - and why these never expire
Every "my QR code stopped working" story has the same cause: it was a dynamic code. Dynamic codes don't contain your link - they contain a short link to the provider's server, which then redirects to yours. The moment the free trial ends, the subscription lapses, or the provider shuts down, every printed copy of that code is dead.
A static code encodes your actual content directly in the black-and-white pattern. It needs no server and no account, which is why it can't expire. That is the only kind of code this tool makes.
| Static (this tool) | Dynamic (subscription tools) | |
|---|---|---|
| Can it expire? | Never | Yes - when the service or plan ends |
| Works without a middleman? | Yes, fully self-contained | No - every scan hits their server |
| Scans tracked? | No | Yes - that's the business model |
| Cost | Free | Usually a monthly subscription |
| Destination editable later? | No - print a new code instead | Yes |
How to create a QR code
- Choose the type. URL for websites and menus, Wi-Fi to let guests join your network with one scan, vCard to share your contact details, or email / SMS / phone to pre-fill a message or call.
- Enter your content. The preview updates live as you type - what you see is exactly what will be downloaded.
- Style it. Adjust size, margin, and colors if you need to. Keep strong contrast and dark-on-light colors.
- Download and test. PNG for documents, slides, and the web; SVG for professional print at any size. Scan it once with your own phone before you publish it.
What size should a QR code be printed?
The rule of thumb is 10:1 - the code should be at least one tenth of the scanning distance. A code scanned from arm's length can be small; a code on a banner must be big. Minimum print size is about 2 × 2 cm (0.8 × 0.8 in) - below that, phone cameras struggle.
| Where it's used | Scanning distance | Minimum code size |
|---|---|---|
| Business card, menu, flyer | ~25-50 cm | 2-2.5 cm (0.8-1 in) |
| Product packaging | ~50 cm | 2.5-5 cm (1-2 in) |
| Poster indoors | 1-2 m | 10-20 cm (4-8 in) |
| Storefront window | 2-3 m | 20-30 cm (8-12 in) |
| Billboard | 10 m+ | 1 m+ (3.3 ft+) |
For print, download the SVG - it is a vector file that stays perfectly sharp at any size, and print shops prefer it.
QR code error correction levels explained
QR codes carry redundant Reed-Solomon data so they still scan when partly dirty, damaged, or covered. Higher levels survive more damage but make the code denser:
| Level | Recoverable damage | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| L | ~7% | Clean screens, maximum data capacity |
| M | ~15% | The default - right for most uses |
| Q | ~25% | Outdoor use, small prints, rough handling |
| H | ~30% | Industrial settings, codes with a logo on top |
This tool automatically upgrades to a stronger level when your content is short enough that the upgrade costs nothing - the meta line under the preview shows the level actually used.
Frequently asked questions
Do QR codes expire?
Static QR codes - the kind this tool makes - never expire. Your content is encoded directly into the pattern itself, so the code works as long as the content works. Codes that "expire" are dynamic codes: they point to a redirect service, and when the provider's trial runs out or the company disappears, every printed code dies. Nothing you create here depends on any service, including this one.
Is this QR code generator really free?
Yes - completely. No sign-up, no watermark, no trial, no limit on how many codes you create, and full-resolution PNG and SVG downloads. The codes are static, so there is no subscription to keep them alive either.
Is my link or Wi-Fi password uploaded to a server?
No. The QR code is computed by JavaScript running in your browser and drawn onto a canvas on your device. Nothing you type is transmitted, logged, or stored anywhere. You can verify it: load the page, disconnect from the internet, and the generator keeps working.
Can I use these QR codes commercially?
Yes. The codes you generate are yours to use anywhere - packaging, menus, posters, business cards, products. QR Code is an open ISO standard (ISO/IEC 18004) and the word "QR Code" is a registered trademark of Denso Wave, which permits free use of the code itself.
What size should a printed QR code be?
Use the 10:1 rule: the code should be at least one tenth of the expected scanning distance. Scanned from 30 cm (a hand-held phone), it should be at least 3 cm wide; a poster scanned from 3 meters needs a 30 cm code. Never print smaller than about 2 × 2 cm (0.8 × 0.8 in), and keep a white margin around it.
Which error correction level should I choose?
M (15%) is the right default for most uses. Choose Q (25%) or H (30%) if the code will be printed small, placed where it may get dirty or damaged, or overlaid with a logo. Higher levels make the code denser, so codes with lots of data may need to be printed larger. L (7%) is only worth it when you must squeeze a very long text into a small code.
Why won't my QR code scan?
The usual causes: too little contrast between the code and its background, inverted colors (scanners expect dark modules on a light background), printing it too small for the scanning distance, cutting off the quiet zone (the empty margin around the code), or too much data making the modules tiny. Fix the colors and margin, print it larger, or shorten the content - and always test with a phone before mass printing.
How much data fits in a QR code?
Up to 2,953 bytes at the lowest error correction level - roughly 2,900 characters of plain text. But more data means a denser code that is harder to scan, so keep the content short. For URLs, a short link scans far more reliably than a long tracking URL, especially when printed small.