Free QR Code Generator
Type a link or any text and the QR code updates live. Free codes carry the ZestyTools logo and a "zestytools.com" caption — unlock a $2.99 one-time upgrade to brand it with your own logo instead.
Free codes are branded with the ZestyTools logo and a "zestytools.com" caption.
What's actually happening inside a QR code
The three bold squares in three of a QR code's corners are "finder patterns" — their specific 1:1:3:1:1 proportion of black and white is unlikely to occur naturally in random image content, which lets a scanner instantly locate the code and work out its orientation even if the code is rotated, printed at an angle, or partially in shadow. The rest of the grid encodes your data using Reed-Solomon error correction, a mathematical scheme that adds redundant information so the code remains fully readable even if a meaningful chunk of it is damaged, dirty, or — as covered in the FAQ below — deliberately covered by a logo.
The grid also isn't a fixed size: a QR code has 40 defined "versions," growing from a compact 21×21 module grid up to a much larger one, and this tool automatically picks the smallest version that fits your text at the error-correction level you've chosen. That's why pasting a very long URL or a large block of text visibly produces a denser, larger-looking code — it needs more modules to hold the extra data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do QR codes have three squares in the corners?
Those are finder patterns — a distinctive black-and-white ratio unlikely to appear by accident in normal image content — which let a scanner instantly locate the code and determine its orientation, even if the code is rotated or viewed at an angle.
What's the maximum amount of text a QR code can hold?
The format technically supports several thousand characters at its largest size, but very dense codes need a large module grid and a high-quality scan to read reliably. For a link or a business card, staying well under a few hundred characters keeps the code compact and easy to scan from a normal distance.
Do these QR codes expire?
Never. The code encodes your text directly — there's no redirect service in the middle, no account, and nothing that can be turned off. It works as long as whatever it points to exists.
Can I use the QR codes commercially?
Yes, freely — on menus, flyers, packaging, business cards, anything. There's no attribution requirement and no license fee. Free codes do carry the ZestyTools logo and caption; unlock the $2.99 upgrade to replace it with your own logo and no caption.
What does the error correction level do?
Higher levels add redundancy so the code still scans when partially damaged, dirty, or printed small. M suits most uses; choose H for codes that will be laminated over, printed tiny, or exposed to wear.
PNG or SVG — which should I download?
PNG works everywhere and is ready for documents and web use. SVG is a vector format that scales to any size without blurring — ideal for professional printing and design software.
Why does the free version put a logo in the middle of my QR code?
Free codes are branded with the ZestyTools logo and a "zestytools.com" caption baked into the image — that's how the free tier is supported. A one-time $2.99 unlock removes that and lets you put your own logo in the center instead.
Does a logo in the middle stop the code from scanning?
Not if there's enough error correction. Whenever a logo is present, error correction is automatically locked to level H (30% redundancy), which comfortably tolerates a centered logo covering up to roughly a quarter of the code. Scanners route around covered areas using that redundancy.