How to make a QR code (that never expires)

QR codes are everywhere — on menus, posters, packaging, and business cards. Making one is free and takes seconds, but there's a catch most people don't know about: some "free" QR generators create codes that expire or quietly track every scan. Here's how to make a code that works forever, and how to design it so it actually scans on the first try.

Static vs dynamic — the difference that matters

There are two kinds of QR code:

Static — the information (the link, the text, the Wi-Fi details) is encoded directly into the pattern. It works forever, needs no account, and tracks nothing. Once it's printed, it just works.
Dynamic — the code points to a short redirect URL owned by the generator, which then forwards to your real link. Handy if you need to edit the destination later, but it stops working if that company shuts the link off or moves it behind a paywall — and it can log every scan.

For most uses — a menu, a poster, a card — a static code is what you want. The QR Generator makes static codes, so the code you download is yours and won't expire.

Make one in seconds

Open the QR Generator.
Pick what to encode (see the list below) and fill in the details.
Adjust the size, colours, and quiet zone if you like.
Download as PNG (for screens) or SVG (for print — it scales to any size without going blurry).

It all runs in your browser, so nothing is uploaded.

What you can put in a QR code

The generator supports more than just links:

URL — open a website or landing page.
Text — any plain message.
Wi-Fi — guests connect by scanning, no password typing.
Email / SMS / Phone — start a message or call pre-filled.
Contact card (vCard) — save your full contact details in one scan.

Design tips so it actually scans

A QR code is only useful if a phone can read it. Keep these in mind:

Keep strong contrast — dark pattern on a light background. Avoid light-on-dark or low-contrast colour pairs; many scanners struggle with inverted codes.
Leave the quiet zone — the empty margin around the code is part of the spec. Don't crop it tight or place text right against the edges.
Raise the error correction if you'll add a logo — higher levels (Q or H) let the code still scan with a small logo or some damage over it.
Use SVG for print — vector stays razor-sharp whether it's on a business card or a billboard.
Mind the size and distance — a code scanned from across a room needs to be much bigger than one on a flyer held in hand.
Always test before you print — scan it with two or three different phones first. A reprint is expensive; a 10-second test is free.

Make your QR code now

The free QR Generator makes a static code — for a link, Wi-Fi, contact card and more — that never expires and tracks nothing, with PNG and SVG downloads and full control over size and colour. No account, no watermark, nothing uploaded.