Online QR Code Generator
Create a QR code with custom error correction, size, margin and colors. Download as PNG or SVG. Everything runs in your browser. The Print button lays the code out as a single label or a grid of copies with a caption, then prints it or saves it as a vector PDF.
Any text: URL, plain text, Wi-Fi string, vCard, mailto: or sms: link.
Files are generated on your device — nothing is uploaded.
Common QR Payloads
QR codes are just text — these are the formats most scanners recognise as actionable.
About the online QR code generator
The ReadBarcode online QR code generator turns any text — a URL, Wi-Fi credentials, contact card, plain message — into a scannable QR code right in your browser. Pick an error correction level, set the size, tweak the quiet zone and colors, and download the result as a PNG for screens or an SVG for print.
Encoding runs entirely on your device with the open-source qrcode library — no account, no upload, no tracking pixel. The QR code you generate is yours, and we never see it.
When to Use It
- Sharing a URL on a poster, business card or product packaging.
- Adding a Wi-Fi join QR to the wall of a café or rental.
- Linking a printed menu, leaflet or signage to its online version.
- Encoding a vCard so people can save your contact in one scan.
- Generating a deep-link QR for an app onboarding flow.
- Producing a quick QR for a payment link, mailto: or sms: action.
How It Works
- Enter the data Paste a URL or type the text, Wi-Fi string, mailto: or sms: link you want to encode.
- Pick error correction L for clean digital use, M as a default, Q or H if it'll be printed or overlaid with a logo.
- Choose size and margin Bigger is friendlier for distant scans. Keep at least 4 modules of quiet zone.
- Set the colors Pick a dark foreground and a light background — strong contrast keeps it scannable.
- Download PNG or SVG PNG for screens and slides. SVG for print, packaging and design tools.
What to Avoid
- Inverting the colors (light on dark) — many scanners reject inverted QR codes.
- Using low contrast colors — pastel-on-white often fails on mid-range phone cameras.
- Removing the quiet zone (margin: 0) — scanners need a clear border around the symbol.
- Cramming too much text into one QR — long URLs make it dense and hard to scan.
- Resizing a downloaded PNG up in a design tool — re-generate at the target size instead.
Tips & Tricks
- If you'll overlay a logo, use H error correction and keep the logo under ~20% of the area.
- Test the QR with a few different phones before printing it on packaging.
- For URLs, shorten them first — fewer characters means a less dense, more reliable code.
- Always download SVG for print artwork — it stays crisp at any DPI.
- Use the Barcode Reader on this site to verify the QR decodes correctly.
Private by Default
QR codes are rendered locally in your browser with the open-source qrcode library. The value you enter and the PNG or SVG you download never touch our servers.
Free QR Code Generator With No Expiration
QR codes made on this page never expire, because the text or URL is stored in the pattern itself, not on a server. The code works for as long as the print survives.
Codes that stop working are usually dynamic codes: they hold a short link on a provider's domain, which stops redirecting when the subscription ends.
The trade-off is that a static code cannot be edited once printed. If the destination may change, encode a URL you control and update that page instead.
This free online QR code generator needs no sign-up and adds no watermark. As a custom QR code generator it sets colors, size, margin and error correction, but it does not add a logo.
Make a QR Code From a URL
To make a QR code from a URL, paste the full address, including https://, into the Text or URL box. The preview updates as you type and is ready to download.
- Paste the address into Text or URL, replacing the sample.
- Pick M error correction for most links, or Q or H for print that may get scuffed.
- Set the size, and raise the quiet zone to 4 modules if the code will be printed.
- Scan the preview with your phone, then click PNG, SVG or Print.
Some payloads follow a strict format: the Wi-Fi QR code generator and the vCard QR code generator build them from form fields, and the GS1 Digital Link generator builds a product URL carrying a GTIN.
Turn a Link Into a Scannable Code
Keep the https:// prefix so every scanner treats the text as a web address rather than plain text.
Every character adds modules, so a shorter link scans from further away. Drop tracking parameters you do not need before generating.
Used as a QR code generator from URL text, this tool accepts up to 2,000 characters. The QR Code standard defines 40 symbol versions, from 21 × 21 to 177 × 177 modules.
Before printing, scan the preview with the QR code reader on another device to confirm the link opens.
PNG or SVG: Which QR Code Download to Use
Download a PNG for screens and email, and an SVG for anything that will be printed or resized. Both hold the same code and settings.
| Feature | PNG | SVG |
|---|---|---|
| File type | Raster image made of pixels | Vector image made of shapes |
| Size | Fixed by the Size slider, 128 to 1024 px | Scales to any size without blurring |
| Best for | Websites, slides, chat apps and email | Print, packaging, signs and design tools |
A PNG blurs when stretched beyond its pixel size. For a larger PNG, move the Size slider and download again rather than enlarging the file.
Without design software, the Print button places the code on A4 or US Letter paper, as one label or a grid of copies with a caption, and can save a vector PDF.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Can I Encode in a QR Code?
Anything that fits as text: a URL, plain text, Wi-Fi credentials (WIFI:T:WPA;S:MySSID;P:mypassword;;), a vCard, an email link (mailto:you@example.com) or an SMS (sms:+15551234567). The generator encodes the literal string you enter.
Which Error Correction Level Should I Use?
L (~7%) for clean digital use, M (~15%) is the default and a good general choice, Q (~25%) for printed labels that may get scuffed, and H (~30%) if you plan to overlay a logo or expect heavy damage. Higher levels make the QR denser.
Is My Data Uploaded Anywhere?
No. Generation happens fully in your browser using the qrcode library. The value you type and the PNG/SVG you download never touch our servers.
PNG or SVG — Which Should I Download?
Use PNG for screens, slides and email. Use SVG for print and packaging — it stays sharp at any size and produces the smallest, cleanest files for vector design tools.
Will Custom Colors Still Scan?
Yes, as long as there is strong contrast between the dark modules and the background. Keep the background light and the modules dark, and avoid inverting them — many scanners reject light-on-dark codes.
Can I Generate a QR Code for Free?
Yes. This generator is free, needs no account and puts no watermark or branding on the PNG, SVG or PDF you save. Because the code is static, it also never stops working when a subscription ends.
How Many QR Codes Can Be Generated?
There is no limit on this page: change the text and a new code is drawn, then download it and start the next one. Codes are made one at a time, so for a long list it is quicker to keep the settings fixed and only replace the text between downloads.
Are QR Code Generators Safe?
This one is safe for your data, because the code is drawn in your browser and the text you enter is never sent to a server. With services that make dynamic codes, the provider controls where the code redirects, so the destination can change or disappear later. Whatever generator you use, scan the finished code yourself to confirm it opens the page you expect.