Free QR Code Generator
Make a free QR code for a link, Wi-Fi network, email, phone number or text message. Your code never expires, doesn’t need an account and works without our servers.
A QR code that keeps working, for free
Many "free" QR code websites quietly make a dynamic code. Instead of your link, the code holds a short address on the company's own server, which then forwards people to your page. That lets them count scans and change the destination, but it also means the code only works while their service keeps it switched on. Codes made on a free trial are often deactivated when the trial ends, and people find out when their printed menus, flyers or wedding cards suddenly lead to a "choose a plan" page.
LinkCheckNow makes static codes. Your link, Wi-Fi details or message are written directly into the pattern of squares, so a phone reads them straight from the image. There's nothing in between to switch off, no account to keep paying for, and no expiry date. The code is generated by your own browser, so what you type isn't sent to us either.
| Static code (this tool) | Dynamic code (most paid services) | |
|---|---|---|
| Where your link is stored | Inside the QR code | On the company's server |
| Expires or stops working | Never | When the trial or subscription ends |
| Cost | Free | Usually a monthly or yearly plan |
| Change the link after printing | No, make a new code | Yes, while subscribed |
| Scan counts and statistics | No | Yes |
| Privacy for people who scan | Scans go straight to your page | Every scan passes through a third party |
How to make your QR code
- Choose what the code contains: a link, plain text, Wi-Fi login, email, phone call or text message.
- Fill in the details. The preview updates as you type.
- Check the link with "Check where this link goes" before printing, especially if you copied it from somewhere else. It opens our Link Expander, which shows the full path and final page.
- Download it. Use PNG for screens, documents and most printing, and SVG for professional printing or very large signs, since SVG stays sharp at any size.
- Test before you print many copies. Scan the printed proof with two different phones, at the distance people will actually stand.
Choosing the right options
Error correction
QR codes contain backup data so they still scan when part of the code is dirty, scratched or covered. Higher levels survive more damage but make the code denser.
| Level | Can recover from | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Low (L) | About 7% damage | Screens and clean indoor prints where a small code matters |
| Medium (M) | About 15% damage | Most uses: menus, flyers, business cards |
| Quartile (Q) | About 25% damage | Packaging, stickers and surfaces that get handled |
| High (H) | About 30% damage | Outdoor signs, floors and anything that wears |
Print size
A common rule of thumb is that the code should be at least one tenth of the scanning distance, and not smaller than about 2 cm (0.8 in) across for short links. Long links and high error correction make denser codes, so print those larger.
| Where it's scanned | Typical distance | Minimum width |
|---|---|---|
| Business card, label | 15–20 cm (6–8 in) | 2 cm (0.8 in) |
| Menu, flyer, table card | 30 cm (1 ft) | 3 cm (1.2 in) |
| Poster on a wall | 1 m (3 ft) | 10 cm (4 in) |
| Window or shop sign | 3 m (10 ft) | 30 cm (12 in) |
Colours
Phones read QR codes by contrast. Use a dark code on a light background: black, navy or dark green on white or cream all work well. Reversed codes (light on dark) and pale colours fail on many phones, and the tool warns you if your colours are risky. Keep the quiet white border around the code, because cameras use it to find the edges.
Tips for the different code types
- Wi-Fi: type the network name exactly, including capitals and spaces. iPhones and most Android phones join the network straight from the camera app. Anyone who sees the code can join, so use your guest network for codes on display.
- Links: shorter links make simpler codes that scan more easily. Remove tracking codes with our URL Cleaner first. If you might need to change the destination later, point the code at a page on your own website that you can update.
- Email and text message: the code opens a ready-to-send message. The person still has to press send, so nothing is sent automatically.
- Phone: include the country code (for example +1) if people from other countries might scan it.
If a code you made elsewhere has stopped working, our guide why did my QR code stop working? explains the usual causes and how to fix them.
Frequently asked questions
Do QR codes made here expire?
No. The content is stored inside the code itself, so it keeps working for as long as the printed or saved image exists. Nothing passes through our servers, and there is no account or subscription to run out.
Can I change the link after printing the code?
Not with a static code: changing the content changes the pattern, so you would make and print a new code. If you think the destination may change, point the code at a page on your own website and update that page instead.
Is it free for business use?
Yes. You can use the codes on menus, packaging, signs, business cards and anything else, commercial or personal, at no cost and without credit.
Can you see who scans my code?
No. Scans go straight from the person's phone to your link, so we never see them. That's better for privacy, but it also means there are no scan statistics.
Is what I type sent to LinkCheckNow?
No. The code is made by your own browser. Your link, Wi-Fi password or message isn't uploaded or stored. The only time anything reaches our server is if you choose to check a link with the Link Expander.