How to create a free QR code
- Choose the type: link, text, Wi-Fi network, contact, email, phone or WhatsApp.
- Fill in the fields: the preview updates as you type.
- If you like, change the colours or the margin, or add your logo.
- Download it as PNG (for the web and social media) or as SVG (for printing, scalable without losing quality).
Do the QR codes created here expire?
No, never. This tool creates static QR codes: the content (the link, the Wi-Fi password, the contact) is written directly inside the code. It does not go through any intermediate server, so it will keep working as long as the page or the data it points to exists.
Watch out instead for sites that offer "free" QR codes but create dynamic QR codes: the code points to one of their redirect addresses. Often, after a trial period, they ask you for a subscription, and if you don't pay the QR code stops working — even the one already printed on business cards, menus or flyers. A static QR code does not have this problem.
Static or dynamic QR code: which one to choose?
A static QR code is free, does not expire and does not track who scans it; however, you cannot change its content after printing it. A dynamic QR code lets you change the destination and count the scans, but it depends on an external service (often paid) and collects data on the people who use it. A trick to get the flexibility without subscriptions: make the static QR code point to a page on your site, which you can update whenever you want.
How to make a QR code for Wi-Fi
Choose Wi-Fi, enter the network name and password and select the security type (almost always WPA/WPA2). Guests point their camera at the code and connect without typing anything. Handy for homes, B&Bs, offices and venues. The password is put into the QR code only on your device: it is not sent anywhere.
How big should it be for printing?
Rule of thumb: the side of the QR code should be at least one tenth of the distance from which it will be scanned, and never below 2 × 2 cm. A QR code on a poster read from 2 metres away should be at least 20 cm wide. For printing use the SVG format or the 2048/4096 px PNG, leave the white margin around it and keep a good contrast (dark code on a light background).
Can I put my logo in the centre?
Yes. When you add a logo, error correction is automatically set to the maximum (30%): the QR code stays readable even if part of it is covered. Use a simple, not too large logo, and always test the result with your phone before printing it.
How do you read a QR code?
On iPhone and almost all Android phones you just open the camera and point it at the code: a notification with the content appears. Alternatively, Google Lens or an open source QR reader app.
Are QR codes safe?
A QR code is just a different way of writing a link, so it can also lead to scam sites: this is called quishing (phishing through QR codes). Before opening a link from a QR code found in the street, in a car park or in an email, look at the address shown in the preview and never enter passwords or payment details unless you are sure of the site.
Other tools
- Secure password generator — for your Wi-Fi password
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- Binary converter
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