What can you encode in a QR code?
A QR code is a container for text — anything a phone can act on once the text is decoded. This tool exposes the six most useful patterns:
- URL — a link. When scanned, the phone shows a "Open in browser?" prompt with the URL visible before the user taps. The single most common QR use: menus, posters, packaging, event tickets, WhatsApp Web.
- Wi-Fi — network name, password and security type in a special
WIFI:...string. Modern iPhones and Android phones show a "Connect to Wi-Fi" prompt and join with one tap. Perfect for guest networks, cafes, Airbnbs, offices. - Email — a
mailto:link with optional subject and body pre-filled. Scanning it opens the phone's default mail app with a draft ready to send. - Phone — a
tel:link. Scanning triggers a call-confirm dialog. - SMS — a
sms:link with pre-filled message text. Great for "Text KEYWORD to 1234" campaigns. - Plain text — arbitrary text up to a few hundred characters. Coupon codes, event details, product info.
PNG vs SVG — which download should I use?
PNG is a raster (pixel-based) image. Best for websites, social posts, in-app graphics and anywhere the QR will be displayed on-screen at a known size. Use the largest size the display needs — scaling a PNG up in another tool makes it blurry.
SVG is vector — infinitely scalable without loss. Best for print: business cards, posters, packaging, T-shirts, anywhere the QR needs to be resized after export. If your designer or printer asks for a "vector" file, that's SVG.
Static vs dynamic QR codes — why we do static
Most paid QR code generators sell you dynamic QR codes: the code contains a short URL like qr.example.com/abc123 which their server redirects to your real content. That lets them charge a subscription for "editing" the destination and tracking scans. It also means:
- Your QR stops working the day their service shuts down or you stop paying.
- Every scan goes through their tracking server before reaching you.
- The QR pattern is denser (contains a URL instead of your real content), so it needs more space to print.
This generator creates static QR codes — your content is encoded directly into the pattern. No redirect, no tracking, no expiry, no ongoing cost. The trade-off is that you cannot change the destination without generating a new code and reprinting. For 90% of real-world QR uses (a Wi-Fi password, a stable URL, contact info) static is the right choice.
How to make a QR code that scans reliably
- Keep the quiet zone. The white margin around the QR is not decoration — scanners use it to find the code's edges. Don't crop the QR flush to another element.
- Print at 2 cm minimum for handheld scanning up close, 5 cm+ for signs people scan from 1 metre away, 15 cm+ for posters scanned from 3 metres.
- High contrast wins. Black on white is safest; dark blue / dark green on white also work. Avoid low-contrast pairs (grey on white, yellow on white).
- Pick the right error correction. If the QR might be scratched, folded, wet or partially obscured (product packaging, outdoor signs), use Q or H so it can survive ~25-30% damage. Screen displays are safe at L or M.
- Test before you print in bulk. Print one on plain paper at final size and scan it with 3 different phones (an old iPhone, a new Android, a Samsung camera app). If any fail, increase size or error correction.
Wi-Fi QR codes — how they work and where they don't
A Wi-Fi QR encodes a special format: WIFI:S:NetworkName;T:WPA;P:password;;. When a modern phone camera scans it, the OS recognises the format and offers a one-tap "Connect" button. Supported since iOS 11 (2017) and Android 10 (2019) — anyone with a phone from the last 6 years or so will get the seamless prompt. Older phones decode the QR to plain text; the user has to type the password manually.
Great real-world uses: guest Wi-Fi at a coffee shop or restaurant (stick it on the table), Airbnb welcome page, office visitor network, home guest network (mount it in the hallway). One QR replaces a printed sheet that always gets lost or smudged.
Privacy — nothing is uploaded
The QR generator runs entirely in your browser using the open-source qrcode library. Your URL, Wi-Fi password, email address, phone number and text stay on your device. There is no server call at any point during generation. Open DevTools → Network tab while you generate and download — you will see zero requests carrying your content.
This matters for Wi-Fi QR codes especially: your Wi-Fi password should never touch a stranger's server. It also matters for personal contact QR codes (your phone and email) and internal links (staging URLs, private links).
Works on every device, no signup, no watermark
The generator runs in any modern browser: Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, Brave, Samsung Internet and Opera, on desktop and mobile. There is no account creation, no email required, no watermark on the downloaded QR, no daily generation limit, and no scan tracking. Free means free — this page is supported by unobtrusive display ads, not by upselling a subscription.