How to Generate QR Codes and Barcodes Online Free
QR codes are everywhere now. On restaurant tables instead of paper menus. On business cards instead of typed-out contact details. On warehouse boxes, parking signs, package labels, museum exhibits, vaccine cards, wedding invitations, even on tombstones linking to memorial websites. And the barcode, the older cousin, still runs the retail and logistics economy: 13 digits printed under a few black lines on every product in every supermarket, every book, every shipping carton.
iHatePDF QR & Barcode Generator creates both, in one browser tool, free. Encode any URL, text, vCard, Wi-Fi network, or contact into a QR code. Generate any barcode format (Code 128, Code 39, EAN-13, EAN-8, ISBN, ITF-14, MSI Plessey, more) for retail, books, logistics, or inventory. Customise colours, add a logo, set the exact pixel size, and download as JPG for digital use or PDF for print. Everything runs locally in your browser, so your data never leaves the device.
- Open QR & Barcode and pick QR or Barcode at the top
- Enter the data: URL, text, Wi-Fi credentials, vCard, or the barcode number
- For barcodes, pick the format (Code 128, EAN-13, ISBN, etc.)
- Customise dot style (square or rounded for QR), colours, and size
- Download as JPG or PDF, ready to print, share, or embed
How to generate QR codes and barcodes online for free
- Choose QR code or Barcode at the top of the tool, depending on what you need.
- For QR: enter the URL or text you want to encode, a website, contact card, Wi-Fi credentials, or any custom data.
- For barcode: pick the type (Code 128, Code 39, EAN-13, EAN-8, ISBN, ITF-14, MSI Plessey, and more), then enter the data.
- Customise the look: dot style (square or rounded for QR), foreground and background colours, size, bar width and height for barcodes.
- Download your finished code as JPG or PDF, ready to print, share, or embed anywhere.
Why use this generator instead of others
- QR and barcode in one tool. Most generators do one or the other. QR Code Monkey is QR-only. Online Barcode Generator is barcode-only. Beaconstac and Bitly QR are QR-only and paid. This tool covers both, with one click to switch.
- Privacy-first. Generation runs in your browser using JavaScript libraries, not on a server. The URL, Wi-Fi password, contact data, or any other input never leaves your device. Most competitors process server-side, which means your encoded data passes through their infrastructure.
- No watermark, no signup, no trial. The generated code is the actual product, not a sample. No "Pro" version to remove the logo. No 7-day trial requiring credit card. No email gate.
- Logo support, free. Adding a logo to a QR code is a paid feature on most tools (Beaconstac, Bitly, ME-QR). Here it is included.
- PDF export. Most generators only offer PNG or JPG. PDF export matters for print-ready quality at any size, which is critical for product packaging and large-format printing.
- Wide barcode support. Code 128, Code 39, EAN-13, EAN-8, ISBN, ITF-14, MSI Plessey, UPC-A, and more in one tool, vs the typical "Code 128 only" or "EAN-13 only" tools.
What you can encode in a QR code
| Type | What it does when scanned |
|---|---|
| URL | Opens the web link in the phone's browser |
| Plain text | Displays the text content |
| Opens the mail app pre-filled with recipient, subject, body | |
| Phone number | Opens the dialer with the number ready to call |
| SMS | Opens the SMS app pre-filled with number and message |
| vCard contact | Offers to save name, phone, email, address as a new contact |
| Wi-Fi credentials | Connects to the Wi-Fi network with one tap, no manual password |
| Geolocation | Opens map app to the specific coordinates |
| Calendar event | Offers to add the event to the calendar |
| App store link | Opens the App Store or Play Store to the specific app |
| UPI / payment link | Opens payment app (PhonePe, GPay, PayPal) for a transaction |
| Custom string | Anything not covered above, treated as text |
Barcode types and when to use which
| Format | Data | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Code 128 | Alphanumeric, any length | Modern general-purpose. Logistics, asset tagging, shipping labels. |
| Code 39 | Alphanumeric (A-Z, 0-9, limited symbols) | Older standard. Defense, automotive, healthcare. |
| EAN-13 | 13 digits | Retail products sold worldwide. The barcode on every supermarket item. |
| EAN-8 | 8 digits | Compressed EAN for very small items where 13-digit will not fit. |
| UPC-A | 12 digits | North American retail. The US/Canada equivalent of EAN-13. |
| ISBN | 13 digits (starts 978 or 979) | Books. Technically a specialised EAN-13 with the 978/979 prefix. |
| ITF-14 | 14 digits | Shipping cartons containing retail products. Used by warehouses and distributors. |
| MSI Plessey | Numeric only | Inventory and warehouse management. Internal SKUs, asset tracking. |
QR code use cases
- Restaurant menus. One QR code on the table linking to the digital menu. Update prices and items without reprinting.
- Business cards. vCard QR on the back. One scan adds your full contact details to the recipient's phone.
- Wi-Fi sharing. Print the QR and stick it on the wall. Guests connect with one scan, no manual password typing.
- Event tickets. Unique QR per ticket, scanned at entry for instant validation.
- Marketing posters. Scan to visit campaign landing page. Trackable per-poster if each uses a unique short URL.
- Product packaging. Scan for product info, instructions, warranty registration, support contact.
- Real estate signs. Drive past a "For Sale" sign, scan, see the listing on your phone.
- Restaurant payment. Scan to pay via UPI, PhonePe, GPay, PayPal QR.
- App downloads. Single QR works on both iOS and Android by linking to a smart redirect URL.
- Document verification. Scan QR on a printed certificate or contract to verify authenticity.
- Wedding invitations. Scan for venue map, RSVP, gift registry, or live stream link.
Barcode use cases
- Retail POS scanning. EAN-13 or UPC-A on product packaging for checkout scanning.
- Inventory tracking. Code 128 or MSI Plessey on internal SKU labels for warehouse management.
- Library books. ISBN barcodes for cataloguing and check-out systems.
- Shipping cartons. ITF-14 on the outside of cartons containing retail products.
- Asset tags. Code 128 on equipment, IT assets, furniture, fleet vehicles.
- Event admission. Code 128 or Code 39 on printed tickets for scan-and-admit gates.
- ID badges. Code 128 on employee badges for door access logs.
- Membership cards. Code 128 or Code 39 on gym, library, loyalty cards.
Customisation: colours, logos, sizes
QR codes accept significant visual customisation while remaining scannable, thanks to built-in error correction. The tool exposes the controls that matter:
- Dot style. Classic square (the original look) or rounded dots (modern, designer-friendly). Both scan identically.
- Foreground colour. The dots. Default black. Any colour works as long as it is darker than the background.
- Background colour. The squares between dots. Default white. Can be any light colour.
- Centre logo. Upload a logo image (PNG with transparent background works best). Auto-placed in the centre. Error correction is automatically increased to keep the code scannable around the logo.
- Size. Set the exact pixel dimensions, from a small 100x100 icon for digital use up to high-resolution for billboards.
For barcodes, the customisation focuses on bar width and height (which controls scan-ability across different scanner types), plus colours for branded contexts. Default black bars on white background remains the safest combination for retail point-of-sale scanners.
Best practices for printing and displaying
- Quiet zone. Leave at least a 4-module-wide white margin around any QR code, and at least 10x bar-width margin around any barcode. Scanners need this empty space to detect the code boundary.
- Test before printing in volume. Print a single sample at the target size, scan with 3-4 different phones (iOS, Android, older models). If all scan reliably, scale up production.
- Avoid printing on shiny surfaces. Glossy plastic, glossy paper, or laminated surfaces reflect light and can confuse scanners. Matt finishes work better.
- Use PDF for print, JPG for digital. PDF preserves vector-perfect quality at any size, important for product packaging and large-format print. JPG is fine for digital display and small printed labels.
- Vertical orientation for barcodes when possible. Most retail scanners read horizontal bars vertically aligned. Avoid rotating barcodes 45 or 90 degrees unless you know your scanner supports it.
- Test custom-colour QRs especially carefully. Some older Android scanners struggle with non-black foreground colours. If the QR is going on something high-stakes (event ticket, payment), stick to black on white.
iHatePDF QR & Barcode vs other generators
| iHatePDF | QR Code Monkey | Bitly QR / Beaconstac | |
|---|---|---|---|
| QR codes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Barcodes (EAN, Code 128, ISBN) | Yes | No | No |
| Logo overlay | Free | Free | Paid plans |
| Custom colours | Free | Free | Paid plans |
| PDF export | Yes | SVG only | Paid plans |
| Browser-side generation (privacy) | Yes | Server-side | Server-side |
| Account required | No | No | Yes |
Privacy and security
Code generation runs entirely in your browser using client-side JavaScript libraries. The URL, contact data, Wi-Fi password, or any other data you encode never leaves your device. Nothing is uploaded to our server, nothing is logged, nothing is stored. This matters when you are encoding sensitive information like internal company URLs, Wi-Fi credentials with WPA2 keys, payment-related data, or private contact details. The privacy guarantee is stronger than server-side tools where your data passes through their infrastructure. Read more in the privacy and security guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between QR codes and barcodes?
Barcodes are 1D (one-dimensional): parallel vertical lines of varying widths, typically holding 10-25 characters, requiring precise alignment with a laser scanner. QR codes (Quick Response codes) are 2D (two-dimensional): a grid of black-and-white squares, holding up to 7,000+ characters, scannable from any angle with any phone camera. Barcodes for inventory, retail SKUs, books, and shipping. QR codes for marketing, contact sharing, Wi-Fi sharing, restaurant menus, and consumer-facing scan-to-action.
Which barcode type should I use?
Depends on the industry: Code 128 is the modern general-purpose alphanumeric default, ideal for logistics, asset tagging, and mixed letter+number data. Code 39 is the older alphanumeric standard, still common in defense and government. EAN-13 is the 13-digit standard on retail products sold worldwide. EAN-8 is the compressed 8-digit version for very small items. UPC-A is the 12-digit standard for North American retail. ISBN is a specialised EAN-13 for books. ITF-14 is the 14-digit code for shipping cartons. MSI Plessey is numeric-only for inventory and warehousing.
Can I add a logo in the middle of my QR code?
Yes. The tool supports adding a logo or image in the centre of QR codes. QR codes have built-in error correction (up to 30% of the code can be damaged or covered and still scan correctly), which lets you place a logo over the centre without breaking the scan. The tool automatically applies the higher error correction level when a logo is added so the result remains scannable across all standard scanner apps.
Will my custom-colour QR still scan correctly?
Yes, as long as there is enough contrast between the foreground and background. The general rule: foreground (the dots) must be significantly darker than the background. Black on white is the safest combination. Dark colours (navy, dark green, dark red, dark grey) on light backgrounds (white, cream, very light pastels) work well. Avoid pale colours on similar pale colours, and avoid inverting (light dots on dark background) which works on some scanners but fails on others.
What size should I download my code at?
For QR codes, minimum scannable size depends on viewing distance. Rough rule of thumb: 1 cm width for arm-length scans (business cards), 2 cm for table-top scans (restaurant menus, table tents), 5 cm for poster scans at 1-2 metre distance, 20 cm+ for billboards or wall displays. For barcodes, the standard EAN-13 size is 37.29mm x 25.93mm at 100% scale, but retail scanners accept 80-200% of that. When in doubt, scan-test the printed code with multiple phone models before producing in volume.
Can I encode a Wi-Fi network in a QR code?
Yes. The tool supports the WIFI: URI scheme that iPhone and Android automatically recognise. Enter the network name (SSID), the password, and the encryption type (WPA2, WPA3, or none for open networks). When someone scans the QR code, their phone offers to connect to the network with one tap, no manual password entry. Useful for cafes, hotels, offices, AirBnB rentals, and home guest networks. Print the code and stick it on the wall, or display it on a screen for guests to scan.
Are my generated codes kept private?
Yes. Code generation runs entirely in your browser. The URL, text, contact details, Wi-Fi credentials, or any other data you encode never leaves your device, nothing uploaded to our server, nothing logged, nothing stored. Important if you are encoding sensitive information like internal URLs, Wi-Fi passwords with WPA2 keys, or business contact data. The privacy guarantee here is stronger than competitor tools that process server-side.
Is this QR and barcode generator really free?
Yes. No account required. No watermark on output. No limits on the number of codes you can generate. No paid tier for logos, custom colours, additional barcode formats, or PDF export. Many competitors gate these features behind a paid plan (Beaconstac, Bitly QR, Uniqode), this tool includes everything in the free version.
Can I use these codes commercially?
Yes. Codes generated with the tool are yours to use without restriction, including commercial use: product packaging, retail labels, marketing campaigns, business cards, restaurant menus, posters, asset tags, ticketing, and any other use. We do not retain rights over what you generate. For EAN-13 and UPC-A retail barcodes specifically, remember that the underlying number itself must be properly registered with GS1 or your country's equivalent authority if you intend to sell through major retailers, the tool generates the visual barcode but does not assign the underlying number for you.
URLs, Wi-Fi, vCard, EAN-13, Code 128, ISBN, more. Custom colours, logos, PDF export. Free.
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