Do free QR codes expire?

Static QR codes never expire because the information is stored in the code itself. Dynamic codes from some services stop working when a trial or subscription ends.

Can I change a QR code after printing it?

Not a static one. Point it at a page you control and change that page instead.

Can I use a QR code commercially?

Yes. Codes you create are yours to use on products, packaging and advertising.

What format should I download for printing?

SVG. It is a vector format, so it stays perfectly sharp at any size.

Everyday guide

How to Create a QR Code for Free (That Never Expires)

Updated 27 September 2026 · 3 min read

QR codes are on menus, posters, business cards, parcels and shop windows. Making one takes seconds, but a few choices — static or dynamic, colour, size and error correction — decide whether it keeps working years from now. This guide covers all of them.

Open the free QR Code Generator

How to make a QR code, step by step

Open the QR Code Generator.
Choose what the code should contain: a website link, text, Wi-Fi details, an email, a phone number, an SMS or a contact card.
Enter the details. The code updates as you type.
Optionally change the colours, size and error-correction level.
Download it as PNG for screens and documents, or SVG for printing at any size.
Test it with two or three different phones before you print anything.

Static vs. dynamic QR codes

A static QR code stores your information directly in the pattern. It works forever, needs no account and cannot be switched off by anyone. The downside is that you can’t change where it points after printing.

A dynamic QR code stores a short link to a company’s server, which then redirects to your page. You can change the destination later and see scan counts — but if the subscription lapses or the company closes, every printed code stops working. Many “free” QR generators create dynamic codes that expire after a trial.

Useful types of QR code

Wi-Fi: guests scan and join your network without typing the password. Use the Wi-Fi QR Code Generator.
Contact card (vCard): puts your name, phone, email and company into someone’s contacts in one scan. Try the vCard QR Code Generator.
Website: the most common use — menus, flyers, product packaging.
Email and SMS: opens a pre-filled message, handy for feedback or bookings.

How big should a printed QR code be?

A common rule of thumb is that the code should be at least one tenth of the scanning distance. For a business card scanned from 20–30 cm, 2–3 cm is fine. For a poster read from 2 metres away, aim for at least 20 cm. Always leave a clear border (the “quiet zone”) around the code.

Colours and contrast

Keep the code dark on a light background. Inverted codes (light on dark) fail on some phones.
Make the contrast strong — navy on white works, pale yellow on white does not.
Avoid placing the code over photos or patterns.

Error correction explained

QR codes contain backup data so they still scan when partly damaged or dirty. Higher error correction makes the code more robust but also denser. Use Medium for most purposes and High for codes that will be printed outdoors or on curved or textured surfaces.

Keep the content short

The more data you store, the denser and harder to scan the code becomes. Use short, clean links without long tracking parameters where possible.

Stay safe with QR codes

Criminals sometimes stick fake QR codes over real ones on parking meters and posters. When you scan a code, check the web address your phone shows before opening it, and never enter payment details on a page you reached from a sticker you don’t trust.