A free QR code generator for codes that look like your brand and scan every time

A QR code generator is a tool that encodes data into a QR (Quick Response) code, a square two-dimensional barcode that any modern phone camera can read. You type or paste the content, the generator builds the pattern, and you download an image to print or display.

QR codes were invented by Denso Wave in 1994 to track automotive parts, and the symbology is defined by the international standard ISO/IEC 18004. Because the format is open and standardized, a code made in CardDeck scans in the default camera app on iPhone and Android without any extra software.

What a QR code can hold

A QR code stores text. Phones look at that text and decide what to do with it:

• A URL opens in the browser. This is the most common type.
• A WiFi string (starting with WIFI:) offers to join a network.
• A vCard (starting with BEGIN:VCARD) offers to save a contact.
• A wa.me link opens a WhatsApp chat.
• Plain text is simply shown on screen.

The largest QR code, version 40, is 177 × 177 modules and holds up to 7,089 digits or 2,953 bytes at the lowest error-correction level. In practice you want far less data than that. Short content makes a simpler pattern with bigger modules, which scans faster and from further away.

Where CardDeck fits

Most QR tools stop at the image. CardDeck connects the code to the thing behind it: a digital business card you can update, a short link you can re-target, or a whole batch of codes made from a spreadsheet.

Create a static QR code when the content will never change, and a dynamic QR code when it might change or when you want to count scans. Both scan the same way; the difference is what is stored inside.

Static QR codes

A static code stores the data itself, for example the full URL or the WiFi password. Nothing sits between the scan and the content.

• Works forever, with no account or subscription needed.
• Cannot be edited once printed. A typo means a reprint.
• No scan tracking.
• Gets denser as you add more data.

Dynamic QR codes

A dynamic QR code stores a short CardDeck redirect link. When someone scans it, the link forwards to the destination you set, which you can change at any time.

• Edit the destination after printing.
• See scan counts by date, device type and approximate region.
• Stays simple because the stored link is short.
• Depends on the redirect staying active on your plan.

A quick rule

1. Is the code going on something expensive or slow to reprint, such as signage, packaging or a vehicle? Use dynamic.
2. Do you want to measure which flyer or booth works? Use dynamic.
3. Is it a WiFi login, a one-off event slide or plain text? Static is fine.

Some types only work as static codes. A WiFi QR code, for example, has to carry the network details itself, because the phone reads them directly rather than opening a web page. For a deeper comparison, read static vs dynamic QR codes.

You can create a QR code in under a minute: choose a type, enter the content, style it and download. The free tools need no sign-up; an account adds dynamic codes, saved designs and bulk generation.

Step by step

1. Choose the type. Pick URL, digital card, vCard, WiFi, WhatsApp, PDF, menu or text.
2. Enter the content. Paste the link or fill in the fields. For WiFi, that is the network name, password and security type.
3. Choose static or dynamic. Dynamic is available when you are signed in and counts toward your plan's dynamic QR allowance.
4. Style it. Pick a foreground color, add a logo and choose corner shapes. Keep the background light.
5. Check the warning panel. CardDeck flags low contrast, an oversized logo or too much data.
6. Download. Choose SVG for print and PNG for screens.
7. Test it. Scan the exported file on at least two phones before anything goes to print.

Tips for the content itself

• Link to a page that works on a phone. A desktop-only page wastes the scan.
• Use HTTPS links so the page loads securely.
• For people, link to a digital card rather than a raw vCard, so the details can change later. See the vCard QR code generator for when each makes sense.
• Keep URLs short. Remove tracking parameters you do not need, or use a dynamic code so the stored link stays short anyway.

Pick the type by what you want the person to do after the scan: open a page, join a network, start a chat or save a contact. Each type below has its own page with the exact format and best practices.

Common types and where they work

• Website / URL. Product pages, booking forms, reviews, sign-up pages. Use dynamic if the page might move.
• Digital business card. Opens your card with one-tap save to contacts. Ideal on paper cards, badges and the last slide of a talk.
• WiFi. Guests join your network without typing the password. Use the WiFi QR code generator for cafes, offices, rentals and events.
• WhatsApp. Opens a chat with your number and a pre-filled message. Good for shops, agents and service businesses. See the WhatsApp QR code page.
• vCard. Saves name, phone, email and company straight to contacts, even offline.
• PDF. Opens a brochure, manual or price list on the phone.
• Menu. Opens your restaurant menu and stays current when prices change.
• Plain text. Shows a short message, serial number or instruction. No internet needed.

When to use a barcode instead

If an existing scanner at a till, library desk or access gate needs to read a number, use a barcode generator instead. QR codes are for phone cameras and for people; 1D barcodes are for dedicated scanners and for systems.

A branded QR code scans reliably when it keeps strong contrast, a clear quiet zone and a logo small enough for error correction to cover. CardDeck checks all three before you download.

Contrast and color

• Use a dark code on a light background. Some scanners cannot read inverted codes (light on dark), so avoid them for print.
• Aim for strong contrast. Dark navy, deep green or your darkest brand color all work; pale yellow or light gray do not.
• Avoid gradients that fade to light colors inside the pattern.

The quiet zone

ISO/IEC 18004 specifies a quiet zone (a clear margin) at least four modules wide on every side. A module is one small square of the pattern. Do not let text, borders or images run into that margin. Many failed scans on flyers come from a code printed too close to the edge of a colored panel.

Logos and error correction

QR codes include Reed-Solomon error correction, which lets a scanner rebuild missing or damaged parts. There are four levels:

• L recovers roughly 7% of the data.
• M recovers roughly 15%.
• Q recovers roughly 25%.
• H recovers roughly 30%.

A center logo covers part of the pattern, so it uses up some of that recovery capacity. CardDeck raises error correction when you add a logo and warns you if the logo grows past about 20% of the code area. Higher error correction adds modules, which is one more reason to keep the content short.

Print a QR code at least 2 × 2 cm (about 0.8 × 0.8 in) for close scanning, and make it roughly one-tenth of the expected scanning distance for anything further away. Always include the four-module quiet zone around that size.

The 10:1 rule

Divide the scanning distance by ten to get the minimum code width:

• Business card held in hand (about 20 cm): 2 cm minimum.
• Table tent or counter sign (about 50 cm): 5 cm.
• Poster read from 1 m: 10 cm.
• Window sign read from 3 m: 30 cm.

This is a rule of thumb, not a guarantee. Dense codes with a lot of data need to be larger than the rule suggests, and poor lighting or glossy lamination make scanning harder. A short dynamic link lets you print smaller with confidence, because the pattern has fewer, larger modules.

File format for print

• SVG is vector, so it stays sharp at any size, from a business card to a banner.
• PNG is fine for websites, email and slides. For print, export at a high resolution and never upscale it.

Test before the full run

1. Print one proof at the real size on the real material.
2. Scan it from the expected distance with an iPhone and an Android phone.
3. Check the destination loads quickly on mobile data, not just office WiFi.

CardDeck's print sizing guide shows the minimum size for the distance you pick, so the check happens before you export rather than after the printer delivers.

Yes. Upload a CSV or Excel file with one row per code and CardDeck creates a unique QR code for every row, ready to download as individual files or a print-ready sheet. It is the fastest way to make codes for inventory, tickets, staff badges or product labels.

How bulk generation works

1. Put one row per code in your spreadsheet, with a column for the content (for example a URL) and a column for the file name or label.
2. Upload the file and map the columns.
3. Choose static or dynamic, and a single style for the whole batch.
4. Review flagged rows, such as empty cells or duplicates.
5. Download a ZIP of files or a PDF sheet for printing.

Row limits per job

Each plan has a per-job row limit for the batch generator: 25 rows on Free, 500 on Pro, 2,000 on Team and 25,000 on Business. Static codes are unlimited in number. Dynamic codes made in bulk count toward your plan's dynamic QR allowance.

The bulk QR code generator page covers spreadsheet layout, file naming and printing sheets in detail. If your batch is really a set of ID cards or event badges with a QR code on each, use the batch generator to produce the finished cards in the same job.

Static QR codes are free and unlimited on every plan, and they never expire, because the data is stored in the code itself. Dynamic codes are included in each plan up to a limit, and they work while the redirect is active on your account.

What each plan includes

• Free ($0): unlimited static QR codes and barcodes, 2 dynamic QR codes, batch jobs of up to 25 rows.
• Pro ($8/month, or $6/month billed yearly): 50 dynamic QR codes, basic analytics with CSV export, 500 rows per batch job.
• Team ($6 per seat/month, or $5 billed yearly, minimum 3 seats): 200 dynamic QR codes, team analytics, 2,000 rows per batch job.
• Business (from $199/month, or $149 billed yearly): unlimited dynamic QR codes, advanced analytics, 25,000 rows per batch job, custom domain and API.

See CardDeck pricing for the full comparison, including INR prices.

What happens to dynamic codes if you change plan

If you downgrade below your number of active dynamic codes, CardDeck shows which codes are affected and lets you choose which stay active before anything changes. Static codes are never affected.

Privacy

The free tools generate static codes in your browser; nothing you type is stored unless you create an account. Dynamic code analytics are aggregated: counts, dates, device type and approximate region. No personal data is collected unless a visitor chooses to share it.