How to Make a QR Code for Free (Links, Wi-Fi and Text)
Make a free QR code for a link, Wi-Fi network or plain text. Learn static vs dynamic codes, pick size, colors and error correction, and test before printing.
QR codes are everywhere: on menus, posters, business cards, product packaging and the little sign by a café counter that shares the Wi-Fi password. If you want people to open a web page, join a network or read a short message without typing anything, a QR code is the simplest way to get them there.
The good news is that you don’t need an account, a subscription or design software to make one. This guide explains the main types of QR codes, the difference between static and dynamic codes, how to create one in your browser, and how to make sure it actually scans once it’s printed.
What a QR code can hold
A QR code is just a pattern of black and white squares that stores a small amount of text. What makes it useful is how a phone’s camera interprets that text. Most phones recognize a few common formats and offer a matching action.
| Type | What it stores | What happens when scanned | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| URL (link) | A web address | The phone offers to open the page | Websites, menus, forms, portfolios |
| Wi-Fi | Network name, password and security type | The phone offers to join the network | Homes, offices, cafés, rental properties |
| Plain text | Any short message | The text is shown on screen | Serial numbers, short notes, instructions |
A few practical notes:
- Links work best when they’re short. A long address with tracking parameters creates a denser code with smaller squares, which is harder to scan.
- Wi-Fi codes save guests from typing a long password. Keep in mind that anyone who can scan the code can join the network, so think about where you put it.
- Text codes are shown as-is, and nothing is opened automatically. That makes them handy for information you just want people to read.
Static vs dynamic QR codes
You’ll often see two kinds of QR codes offered online, and the difference matters more than it first seems.
A static QR code stores your content directly in the pattern. If it holds a link, the link itself is inside the code. It works forever, without depending on any company or server, but you can’t change the content after printing. If the link changes, you make a new code.
A dynamic QR code stores a short redirect address owned by a service. When someone scans it, they first go to that service, which then sends them to your real destination. This lets you change the destination later and often see scan counts, but the code only keeps working as long as the service stays active and your account remains in good standing. If the service shuts down or the plan ends, printed codes can stop working.
| Static | Dynamic | |
|---|---|---|
| Content stored in the code | Yes, directly | No, just a redirect link |
| Works without a third-party service | Yes | No |
| Can change destination after printing | No | Yes |
| Scan statistics | No | Usually yes |
| Long-term reliability | Depends only on your link | Depends on the service staying active |
For most everyday uses, such as a Wi-Fi sign, a link to your own website or a product label, a static code is the safer and simpler choice. If you think your destination might change, one workaround is to point a static code at a page on your own website that you control, and update that page instead.
How to make a QR code with Deftivo
The Deftivo QR code generator creates static QR codes directly in your browser. What you type isn’t sent to a server, which is useful when the code holds something private like a Wi-Fi password.
- Open the QR code generator.
- Under Type, choose what the code should contain: URL, Text or Wi-Fi.
- Enter your content. The code appears in the preview as you type. For Wi-Fi, fill in the Network name (SSID), the Password and the Security type (WPA/WPA2, WEP or None) exactly as they’re set on your router.
- Set the Size: 256, 512 or 1024 px. Choose 1024 px if you plan to print the code big or want a crisp image for a document.
- Choose the Error correction level: Low, Medium (the default), High or Max. Error correction adds backup data so the code can still be read if part of it is scratched, smudged or covered. Higher levels are more robust but make the pattern denser.
- Pick the Colour of the code and the Background. Keep a strong contrast between them (more on that below).
- Press Download PNG or Download SVG. PNG is an ordinary image file that works almost everywhere. SVG is a vector format, meaning it stays sharp at any size, which makes it the better choice for print designers and large signs.
- Scan the downloaded code with your own phone before using it anywhere.
Getting the print size and contrast right
A QR code that looks fine on screen can fail on paper. Two things matter most: how big it is and how clearly it stands out.
Size. The farther away people will be when scanning, the larger the code needs to be. A code on a business card is scanned from a few centimeters away, while one on a poster or window might be scanned from across a room. A common rule of thumb is that the scanning distance should be no more than about ten times the width of the code, but it’s always worth testing at the real distance. Denser codes, such as long links or high error correction, need even more room.
Quiet zone. Leave an empty margin around the code, ideally in the same color as the background. Deftivo’s downloads already include this margin, so don’t crop it off. Text or graphics placed right up against the pattern can confuse scanners.
Contrast. Scanners look for dark squares on a light background. Dark on light almost always works; light on dark or two similar colors often doesn’t. Pastel codes, gray on white, or codes printed on busy photos are common causes of failed scans.
| Choice | Usually scans well | Often causes problems |
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black or dark navy on white | Light yellow on white, inverted colors |
| Background | Plain, solid | Photos, patterns, gradients |
| Surface | Matte paper or sticker | Glossy or curved surfaces that reflect light |
| File format for print | SVG or high-resolution PNG | Small, stretched or blurry image |
Tips and pitfalls
- Always test-scan before printing. Try at least two different phones, at the actual size and distance. Then check the printed proof again before running hundreds of copies.
- Double-check Wi-Fi details. A single wrong letter in the password, or the wrong security type, means the code will look fine but won’t connect. Network names and passwords are case-sensitive.
- Use short, permanent links. If the page behind a static code is deleted, the code becomes useless. Point it at an address you expect to keep.
- Don’t stretch the image. Resize it proportionally, or the squares can become uneven.
- Add a short label. A line like “Scan to join Wi-Fi” or “Scan for the menu” tells people what to expect and makes them more likely to scan.
- Be careful with public placement. Codes placed in public can be covered by look-alike stickers. Check your signs from time to time.
FAQ
Do free static QR codes expire?
No. A static code stores its content directly in the pattern, so there’s nothing to expire. It keeps working as long as the content itself is still valid, for example as long as the linked web page exists.
Can I change where a QR code points after printing it?
Not with a static code, since the destination is built into the pattern. If you need flexibility, point the code to a page on your own website and update that page whenever things change.
Which error correction level should I choose?
For clean indoor printing, a low or medium level usually works well and keeps the code simple. If the code may get worn, wet or partly covered, such as on packaging or outdoor signs, a higher level gives it a better chance of still scanning.
Should I download PNG or SVG?
Use PNG for websites, messages, slides and quick printing at a modest size. Use SVG when the code will be printed large or handed to a designer, because it stays perfectly sharp at any size.