Updated 1 Nov 2026 by the Inditap team, Mumbai.
The short answer
A QR code is a square barcode that phone cameras read. It holds a piece of text, usually a web link. This tool builds the code inside your browser from what you type, so nothing is sent to us, and the code keeps working forever because the link is stored in the code itself, not on a server that could switch it off.
How to use it
1. Choose what the code should open: a website, a UPI payment, a WhatsApp chat or plain text.
2. Fill in the details. For UPI, use the exact UPI ID from your payment app, such as name@okaxis.
3. Pick a dot style, corner style and colours. Add a short label like 'Scan to pay' if it will be printed.
4. Scan the preview with your own phone camera. Then download PNG for WhatsApp, Instagram and normal printing, or SVG for designers and large banners.
Which type of QR code to choose
Website or link: menus, catalogues, Google review pages, Instagram, YouTube or a Google Form.
UPI payment: shop counters, invoices, delivery parcels and stalls. It opens Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm or any UPI app with your ID filled in. Add an amount only for fixed-price items, otherwise leave it blank.
WhatsApp chat: opens a chat with your number, with a message already typed. Good for 'Order on WhatsApp' signs.
Plain text: Wi-Fi notes, serial numbers or short instructions.
How to make sure it always scans
Contrast matters more than colour. Keep dots dark and the background light; never reverse them. Print at least 2 cm wide for a card, 3 to 4 cm for a counter sign, and roughly one tenth of the reading distance for posters (a poster read from 2 metres needs a 20 cm code). Keep the white border around the code. Shorter links make simpler codes that scan faster, so avoid long tracking links. Test on one iPhone and one Android before printing many copies.
Printing tips
Use the PNG at 1200 pixels for anything up to A4. Use SVG for banners and standees, because it stays sharp at any size. On glossy laminated stands, check that light reflection does not hide the corners. On fabric and textured paper, choose square dots instead of fluid ones for sharper edges.
Static vs dynamic (changeable) QR codes
This tool makes static codes: what you type is inside the code. They are free and never expire, but if your link or UPI ID changes you must reprint. Dynamic codes point to a short link that you can change later, and some show scan counts. Many paid dynamic QR services stop working when the subscription ends, so check before printing thousands. An Inditap page works like a dynamic code: one link that never changes while you update your number, offers and links, and the page shows how many people opened it.
QR code or NFC tap?
A QR code needs the camera app and steady hands; an NFC card or stand opens with a tap when the phone is held close. Most businesses use both: NFC for speed, the QR printed next to it for phones without NFC. Our cards and stands come with both on the same product.
Is it safe?
Codes are made in your browser and we do not store what you type. For customers: only scan codes from places you trust, and check the payee name in your UPI app before paying. For shop owners: glance at your counter QR now and then to make sure no one has pasted a different code over it.
Related guides
- NFC vs QR code business cards
- How to get more Google reviews
- A link-in-bio page made for India
- NFC card vs paper visiting cards: the real cost
Questions people ask
Is this QR code generator really free?
Yes. No sign-up, no watermark, no limits on downloads, and the codes never expire, because the content is stored inside the code.
Can I make a UPI QR code for my shop?
Yes. Choose "UPI payment", enter your UPI ID and the name customers should see. It opens any UPI app with your details filled in. Leave the amount blank so customers can type it.
Does a UPI QR code from here work with Google Pay, PhonePe and Paytm?
Yes. It uses the standard UPI link format that all UPI apps read.
Can I add my logo in the middle?
Not in this free tool yet. Logo QR codes are available on Inditap pages, in the QR style settings of your page.
Do you track scans?
No. Static QR codes cannot be tracked. If you want to know how many people opened your link, point the QR to your Inditap page, which shows visits.
What size should I print a QR code?
At least 2 cm wide on visiting cards and 3 to 4 cm on counter signs. For posters, use about one tenth of the distance people will scan from.
Why is my QR code not scanning?
Usually low contrast, a code printed too small, a missing white border, glare from lamination, or a light code on a dark background. Make it larger and darker and try again.
PNG or SVG: which should I download?
PNG for WhatsApp, social media and normal printing. SVG for designers, banners and standees, because it stays sharp at any size.
Does a QR code expire?
The codes made here do not expire. A QR code only stops working if the link inside it stops working, or if it points to a paid service you have cancelled.