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2026-07-23

How to create a QR code for free (and what to avoid)

QR codes moved from novelty to everyday tool. Restaurant menus, event tickets, WiFi passwords, business cards. Making one takes seconds — but there is one trap worth knowing about first.

Static versus dynamic codes

A static QR code contains the link itself, permanently. A dynamic one points to a redirect service, so the destination can be changed later — but only while that service keeps running, and many charge a subscription after a trial. If your code is printed on something permanent, static is safer: it will still work in ten years, with nobody in the middle.

Choosing the right size

For screens, 256 pixels is plenty. For a printed flyer, use 512 or larger so the code stays crisp. For posters or anything scanned from a distance, go as large as possible — a blurry code simply will not scan.

Test before you print

Scan your own code with a phone before committing it to print. Check the link opens correctly. Keep good contrast — dark code on a light background — and leave white space around the edges, because scanners need that margin to find the code.

QR Code Generator

Free, no sign-up, runs in your browser.

Try the tool