Free Online QR Code Generator

Create QR codes instantly with our free generator. You don't need to register, no tracking, your data is 100% private. Our tools allow you to create QR codes for your URLs, share a WiFi code, your digital business cards, vCards, to share a geolocated address, a calendar event or 2FA authentications.

Why choose our QR code generator?

Our QR code generator shines through its simplicity and respect for your privacy, like few online tools. We don't store your data on our servers and we don't use cookies for tracking.

What does our free tool offer you?

Instant server-side QR code generation, no need to download an app. Nine types of QR codes are possible. Export in high quality to PNG format, vector SVG format or WebP format. Simply copy the generated QR code to share it wherever you want. Adjust the desired colors and customize the size of your generated QR code, from 150 to 500 pixels. Compatible with all QR code readers, everything from iPhone iOS 11 and up, Google Lens or Android Scanner.

Our generator is built on the open source library endroid/qr-code which ensures safe and auditable code. No malware or hidden redirects in our code.

Available QR code types

URL QR code

The most used is our URL encoder. You can encode any web address so that your users or the people you share the code with can scan it and access the website directly, whether it's yours or someone else's, a home page or a specific web page.

Most of the time, it's used for business cards with a portfolio, an advertising poster, a menu in a restaurant, product labels, often printed on objects that serve marketing purposes.

WiFi QR code

Share your WiFi network without having to write out the password. It's very convenient for your guests who can very simply scan the QR code and connect autonomously to the WiFi network.

There are several supported parameters: the network name (SSID), the security type (WPA, WPA2, WPA3, WEP, Open Network, etc.), the password, hidden network options.

vCard QR code (digital business card)

Create a complete digital business card, which allows when the code is scanned for your contact who scans it to save all the information about you at once on their mobile phone: your first name, your last name, your company, your email, your phone and website.

This effective solution advantageously replaces or complements paper business cards and allows you to instantly share your contact details.

Email QR code

Pre-fill an email with the recipient, subject and message. It's convenient for a solution that allows you to make a simple contact form, a marketing campaign or provide customer support. The user simply scans the QR code to open their mail software with all the elements that will be pre-filled in their interface.

SMS QR code

Same principle as email but adapted this time for SMS. The generated QR code creates an SMS that is addressed directly to the user's phone number with a pre-recorded message.

Phone QR code

The simplest to use. A scan allows you to directly call the phone number encoded in the QR code. It's convenient for customer support, emergencies or quick contacts. The code generates a phone link that is compatible with all mobile phones.

Geolocation QR code

Allows you to encode GPS coordinates or a Google Maps link to guide users to a specific location. Scanning it opens the default Navigation app, whether it's Google Maps, Apple Maps or Waze. You can enter the coordinates directly or copy an existing link from Google Maps.

Event QR code (iCal)

You can create an event for your users. This way, it's automatically added to their calendar. This type of QR code is compatible with most calendars like Google Calendar, Apple Calendar or the Outlook standard.

You just need to enter the title, the start and end date with times, the location and the event description. This kind of QR code is super convenient for your invitations, conferences or any event that requires the user not to forget it like an appointment for example.

2FA / TOTP QR code

The target of this type of QR code is for developers and system administrators. This type of generated QR code is compatible with authentication applications such as Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator, Authy and all TOTP managers that are known on the market.

You enter the service name, username and secret key in Base32. This way, our generator can create a secure random key.

Easily customize your QR codes

Visual style

Our generator currently offers two simple but effective rendering options for your QR codes:

Square style: A classic style with small square modules that offer the best possible reading and compatibility with a maximum of scanners and QR code readers.

Rounded style: With rounded borders, as the name suggests, for a slightly more modern style. Also has excellent readability on most devices, plus produces a nicer visual touch.

Custom color

Customize the appearance of your QR codes with two color parameters:

• Module color: Black by default, like on most QR codes, you can choose your color.
• Background color: White by default, but you can choose whichever suits you best.

I advise you to always maintain a high contrast between the two colors, whether it's the module color or the background color, to make sure it's readable simply and quickly by most scanners. And I'd avoid for example choosing combinations like yellow and white, or a light blue with a light color also in the background. If you yourself have trouble seeing it, it'll be the same for your QR code reader.

Size and margin

You can adjust the dimensions of QR codes to your usage:

Size: You can stretch it from 150 to 500 pixels. For display on a screen, 200 to 300 pixels are sufficient. For printing, I recommend 400 pixels or perhaps more a vector SVG format for example.

Margin: You can go from 0 to 30 pixels around the QR code. A small margin zone around the QR code improves detection by scanners.

Error correction and redundancy

The advanced settings of our QR codes allow you to add redundancy to the system. That means even if the code is poorly scanned or partially damaged or a little dirty or something like that, the generator offers 4 correction levels:

Low level: Corrects about 7% of errors. It's ideal for digital QR codes that are displayed on screens where the risk of visual degradation is low.

Medium level: Corrects about 15% of errors. Perfect in most cases. A good balance between code size and its resilience.

Quartile level: Corrects about 25% of errors. It's recommended for QR codes that would be printed on standard supports like flyers, posters.

High level: Corrects about 30% of possible errors. It's essential to select this for difficult environments, textured surfaces or if you want to integrate a logo for example in the center of the code manually.

By default, our generator uses the high level to ensure maximum readability whatever the conditions.

Available export formats

PNG (Portable Network Graphics)

Standard bitmap format, compatible with most software and platforms, ideal for display on screen or inserting it in a document such as PowerPoint or Word or even sharing this PNG on social media or to be printed simply from your printer.

SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics)

Vector format perfect for editing professionals. The advantage of SVG is that it can be enlarged infinitely without quality loss. It's an indispensable format when you're going to have to print on large formats like posters, banners or any other format or support that requires high resolution. You can easily edit it in graphic software like Illustrator or Inkscape which is open source.

WebP

A fairly modern format optimized for the web that offers excellent image quality while reducing file size to the maximum. It's ideal for being integrated on a website or mobile application.

Privacy and security

Your privacy is our priority. Our QR codes follow a strict privacy policy:

No data is stored on our servers: The information you encode is never saved on our servers. Generation is simply done in memory and the result is transmitted directly to your browser.

No tracking: Whether it's cookies or hidden analytics or data resale.

No account needed: You don't need to create an account to use our utility immediately. We don't need your personal data.

Open source code: Our generator uses the endroid/qr-code library which is an open source project auditable on GitHub. You have the guarantee of code transparency without backdoors or malicious features that would be hidden.

Local generation: Sensitive information such as your WiFi passwords or contact information is done server-side ephemerally and is not logged in our database.

How does a QR code work?

A QR code (Quick Response Code) is a two-dimensional barcode that was invented in Japan in 1994 by the company Denso Wave. Unlike traditional barcodes that store information in a single horizontal dimension, the QR code uses an entire grid of black and white square modules to encode data both horizontally and vertically, which allows encoding more data.

Structure of a QR code

Each QR code consists of several distinct zones:

Finder patterns: These are the three large squares located on the image corners that will allow your scanner to detect the position and orientation of the code, regardless of your device's reading angle. Thanks to this, you can scan a QR code in any direction, whether it's tilted or flipped, doesn't matter.

Alignment patterns: For codes that are large in size, there are slightly smaller squares that will help correct distortions that can be created due to perspective, especially if you capture, you photograph the code at an angle.

Data zone: Contains the rest of the grid, with information that is encoded in binary format. Each square module will represent a bit. When this square is black, it represents 1, when the square is white, it represents 0. These bits are organized into groups of 8 bytes that form the message characters.

Error correction codes: Part of the visible data on the QR code is reserved for the Reed-Solomon algorithm, whose role is to allow reconstructing information, even if part of the code is damaged or missing.

How the smartphone reads your QR code

When you point your phone's camera at a QR code, here's what happens in a few milliseconds:

Image capture: Your camera records images of the code. You should know that modern phones do this detection in real time, without requiring you to press a button to take the photo.

Finder pattern detection: The reading software will search for the three patterns we talked about earlier, which are characteristic. Once the reader finds them, it will then calculate the size, position and angle of the code in the image.

Perspective correction: The image is digitally straightened, based on the first information it retrieved to obtain a perfectly frontal view of the code, as if you had scanned it perfectly in a flatbed scanner.

Module sampling: The software will now divide the data zone into a grid and determine the color of each module in this grid, black or white. Thus, the reader will transform the image into a bit matrix composed of 1s and 0s.

Data decoding: The bits are then grouped into bytes (8 bits) and will be converted into characters according to the encoding model used, whether numeric, alphanumeric, binary or kanji. The error correction algorithm will verify and repair any reading errors.

Automatic action: Depending on the type of content detected, whether it's a URL, phone number, WiFi credentials, etc. There, it's your smartphone that will offer you the appropriate action to perform, whether opening the browser, making a call, connecting to the WiFi network, etc.

On a recent phone, all this happens in less than a second, which explains the fluidity of the user experience that appreciates using QR codes.

Why are QR codes so reliable?

There are several reasons that can explain why the QR code is robust. We talked about error correction, the famous data redundancy that allows recovering up to 30% of missing information depending on how the QR code is made. Finder patterns guarantee detection even when lighting conditions or photo angle are not optimal. Finally, we told you about it before, but the QR code contrast is essential to offer a good clear distinction between states 0 and 1. All this to minimize reading errors. You understand better why quality contrast is important.

Scanner compatibility

Our generated QR codes are tested and compatible with all current code readers:

• The cameras of different smartphones or modern iPhones
• Google Lens on all Android devices
• Samsung Camera with automatic detection
• Dedicated scan apps (QR Code Reader, ScanBot, etc.)
• Google Authenticator and Microsoft Authenticator for 2FA/TOTP codes
• Professional barcode readers like Zebra, Honeywell, Datalogic
• Webcams with specific decoding software

Maximum compatibility of our QR codes is ensured through strict compliance with the ISO/IEC 18004 standard which clearly defines QR code specifications.

Professional use cases

Restaurants and bars

Establishments use QR codes to offer digital menus that are accessible from the table. They can share their WiFi network with their customers. This allows direct menu orders without even sometimes using servers. Thanks to the QR codes you can find on their flyers, it also allows you to make online reservations for a table for example.

Retail stores

These stores often integrate QR codes in their marketing material to create links to their product pages. This also allows them to manage their loyalty program, collect user reviews on Google, TripAdvisor or that kind of thing.

Events

Event organizers use QR codes for their electronic tickets and make their program accessible with a scan of the event poster. This also allows sharing the event location and date.

Marketing and communication

Marketing campaigns leverage QR codes by creating a link between physical support and the digital universe. This allows them to track the effectiveness of their different campaigns by adding tracking elements to their QR code in order to create targeted promotional pages.

Tips for effective QR codes

Systematically test your QR codes on several different devices before distributing them or printing them on your materials. Check the scan on many devices and apps to verify that the content is encoded correctly and that redirects work.

Use a high level of error correction, especially if the QR codes are intended to be printed and exposed to real conditions that can make reading difficult, whether lighting, scanning at multiple angles, average print quality. All of this can affect readability.

Always maintain sufficient contrast between modules and background. I recommend a contrast ratio of at least 4 to 1 to be read by most scanners.

Add an adequate margin around the code. It's a quiet zone that allows the reader to more easily detect the QR code borders. A margin of 10 to 20 pixels is generally quite appropriate.

Prefer short URLs if you're sharing them. You can use a URL shortener to generate a QR code that is less dense and easier to scan.

Choose the right export format based on final use. PNG for web use and standard printing and SVG for printing on high resolution or large format supports.

Frequently asked questions

Can I generate a QR code for free?

Of course, if you use our online generator, you select the desired code type (URL, WiFi, contact or other), you enter the information, you customize colors and size if necessary, and you click the generate button. Then you download the result as an image, either in PNG or a vector image in SVG or WebP format. No registration or payment is required.

Do QR codes expire?

No absolutely not, a QR code is a visual representation of data, it contains no concept of duration. As long as the encoded content remains valid, for example that the website exists or the phone number is active, the QR code will continue to work indefinitely.

Can I modify the content of a QR code after creation?

Unfortunately no, the data is encoded permanently in the graphic. To change the content, you must regenerate a new QR code. That's why it's important to verify all the information you enter in the QR code before distributing it.

What print size do you recommend?

The minimum size will depend on the distance at which the scan will take place. For a distance of 30-40 cm at arm's length, a 2 cm sided QR code is recommended. Now for posters that should be scanned from a greater distance, you need to enlarge the size proportionally. I recommend using SVG format for this to ensure perfect quality, regardless of the final content size.

Do colors affect readability?

Yes indeed, scanners perfectly detect contrasts between dark modules and light modules. Follow these simple rules: modules should always be darker than the background, a minimum of 40% contrast and avoid similar colors like yellow and beige or light blue on white.

How can I scan a QR code?

On iPhone, you simply open the camera and point at the code. On Android, you can use either Google Lens which is accessible from the camera or from Google App. Some recent smartphones automatically detect QR codes without installing additional apps.

Technology used

Our QR code generator is built on proven and transparent technology. The generation engine uses endroid/qr-code, an open source library actively maintained by a community for over 10 years.

This open source approach allows:

• Anyone who wants to verify the absence of malicious code to audit it
• Regular updates to maintain compatibility with the evolution of QR code standards
• A community of developers who continuously contribute to improving the project
• Complete documentation to share best practices in this area

Compliance with the ISO/IEC 18004 standard ensures our QR codes have maximum compatibility with all QR code readers on the market.

Create your first QR code now with our free generator. It's simple, fast and respects your privacy.