QR codes are everywhere — restaurant tables, product packaging, business cards, event posters. And for good reason: a single scan bridges the physical world with the digital, sending users exactly where you want them without typing a single character. If you haven't added QR codes to your marketing toolkit yet, this guide covers everything you need to know.
What Is a QR Code?
A QR (Quick Response) code is a two-dimensional barcode that stores information — a URL, contact details, WiFi credentials, a message — in a pattern of black and white squares. Smartphone cameras can read them natively, no app required. Unlike a regular barcode which holds around 20 characters, a QR code can store up to 4,000 characters.
7 Types of QR Codes (and When to Use Each)
1. URL QR Codes
The most common type. Encode any website address — your homepage, a landing page, a product listing, or a campaign page. Ideal for print ads, flyers, billboards, and direct mail.
2. WiFi QR Codes
Encode your network name (SSID), password, and security type. Guests scan the code and connect instantly — no password required. Perfect for cafes, hotels, offices, and event venues.
3. vCard QR Codes
Encode your full contact details: name, job title, company, phone, email, and website. When scanned, the user is prompted to save you as a contact. Put one on your business card.
4. Email QR Codes
Pre-fill a recipient address, subject line, and body text. When scanned, it opens the user's email app with everything already filled in. Brilliant for customer feedback requests.
5. Phone QR Codes
Encode a phone number. One scan and the user's phone dialler opens with the number ready to call. Use on print materials to make calling as frictionless as possible.
6. SMS QR Codes
Open the messages app with a number pre-filled and optionally a pre-written message. Useful for opt-in campaigns and support lines.
7. Text QR Codes
Display a plain text message when scanned. No internet connection required — useful for product instructions or offline information.
How to Generate a QR Code in 3 Steps
You don't need design software or a paid subscription. CachePlex QR Generator is completely free — no account needed.
- Choose your QR type — URL, WiFi, vCard, Email, Phone, SMS, or Text.
- Fill in your details — enter the URL, contact info, or message you want to encode.
- Customize and download — pick your QR color, background, size, and error correction level, then download as a high-resolution PNG.
No account · No watermarks · High-res PNG download
QR Code Best Practices
Choose the Right Error Correction Level
QR codes have four error correction levels: L, M, Q, and H. If you plan to place a logo over the centre, use High (H) error correction. For standard use, Medium (M) is the right balance.
Maintain High Contrast
The scanner needs to distinguish dark modules from light ones. Dark QR code on a white or light background is always the safest choice.
Always Test Before Printing
Before sending anything to print, scan your QR code with at least two devices — an iPhone and an Android — and verify the destination is correct.
Minimum Print Size
For reliable scanning, a QR code should be at least 2cm x 2cm. For codes scanned from a distance, scale proportionally to the expected scanning distance.
Use a High-Resolution File
When creating a QR code for print, always download at 512px or 1024px. CachePlex QR Generator exports at up to 1024px — sufficient for any standard print application.
QR Codes and SEO
QR codes don't directly affect search rankings — Google doesn't crawl physical print. But the traffic they drive does. Add UTM parameters to your QR code URLs (e.g. ?utm_source=flyer&utm_medium=print&utm_campaign=q3) to track exactly how much traffic each code drives in Google Analytics.
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