Free QR code generator
Scanou creates your QR codes online, with nothing to install: paste a link or pick a content type, customize the design, then download a file ready for screen or print. The free plan lets you create up to 50 codes a month, no credit card required.
How it works
- 1
Choose the content
A link, a contact card, a Wi-Fi network, a restaurant menu, an email or a text message: eleven content types, each with its own form.
- 2
Customize the design
Colors, module and eye shapes, a logo in the center, a call to action under the code. Scanou checks the contrast and reads every code back before you download it.
- 3
Download and print
PNG for the web, SVG or PDF for your printer. As an SVG, the code is vector-based: it stays sharp at any size, from a business card to a poster.
What is a QR code?
A QR code ("Quick Response") is a two-dimensional barcode invented in 1994 by the Japanese company Denso Wave to track car parts. Where a regular barcode holds a few digits, a QR code can store thousands of characters: a web address, a full contact card or Wi-Fi credentials.
It includes error correction: even when damaged or partly covered by a logo, it stays readable. Today, every recent smartphone reads it straight from the camera, with no app to install.
What can you put in a QR code?
Scanou’s generator supports eleven content types, each encoded in the format phones recognize:
- A link to your website, a product page or a form.
- A contact card (vCard) that is added to the address book in one scan.
- Wi-Fi access, without typing the password.
- Your restaurant menu, hosted by Scanou.
- A pre-filled email or text message.
- An event to add to the calendar.
- An app download page that sends each visitor to the App Store or Google Play.
- A GS1 Digital Link for your products.
Static or dynamic QR code: which one?
A static QR code holds the information itself. It is free, works forever and even without Scanou’s servers, but it cannot be edited once printed and its scans are not counted.
A dynamic QR code holds a short Scanou address that redirects to your destination. You can change that destination at any time, even after printing, and track every scan: date, country, device. Dynamic codes are included from the Starter plan.
QR codes that actually scan
A broken QR code is costly once it is printed on hundreds of labels. Scanou reads back every code it generates before letting you download it, flags poor contrast between modules and background, and raises the error correction level when you add a logo.
For print, keep one simple rule: the code should be at least 2 cm wide, and about one tenth of the distance it will be scanned from. Scanou shows the recommended size for each code, based on how much data it holds.
Frequently asked questions
Is the QR code generator really free?
Yes. The free plan lets you create up to 50 codes a month, QR codes and barcodes combined, and download them without a watermark. Static QR codes created this way work forever. Dynamic QR codes and scan analytics are included from the Starter plan.
Will my QR code expire?
A static QR code never expires: its content is written into the symbol and depends on no server. A dynamic QR code works as long as your subscription is active; after a cancellation, it stays active for another 30 days.
Which file format should I use for print?
SVG or PDF, which are vector formats: they scale up without losing sharpness. PNG is best for screen use: websites, social media, presentations.
What is the minimum size for a printed QR code?
Plan for at least 2 × 2 cm for close-range scanning, and about one tenth of the scanning distance: a code scanned from 2 meters should be around 20 cm wide.
Can I add my logo in the middle of the QR code?
Yes. Scanou automatically raises the error correction level when a logo is added, so the code stays readable despite the covered area, and checks that it scans before download.
Ready to create your codes?
Create a free account in under a minute, no credit card required.
Create my QR code for free