Four popular tools, one checklist: does the code expire, do you need an account, what can you download, and what is actually paid?
Short answer: if you want a permanent QR code with no account and no subscription, Make My QR Code and QRCode Monkey both do that for free. Choose QRCode Monkey if you need vector files (SVG, PDF, EPS) or a logo in the middle of the code. Choose Make My QR Code if you want the simplest possible path and only need a high-resolution PNG. Choose QR Code Generator (Bitly) or Bitly only if you need to change the destination after printing or track scans — both of those are paid features.
Almost every "free QR code generator" is free in the same narrow sense: you can make a static code at no cost. The real differences show up in four places, so those are the criteria we used:
| Criteria | Make My QR Code | QRCode Monkey | QR Code Generator (Bitly) | Bitly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price for a static QR code | Free | Free | Free | Free plan, limited |
| Account required | No | No | No for static, yes for dynamic | Yes |
| Free trial that later expires | None | None | 14-day trial on paid plans | No |
| Do the codes expire? | No | No | Static: no. Dynamic: stops if unpaid | Dynamic: stops if unpaid |
| Scan limit | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited on static | Limited on free plan |
| Watermark on download | No | No | No | No |
| Export formats | PNG, SVG | PNG, SVG, PDF, EPS | PNG, SVG | PNG, SVG |
| Logo in the middle of the code | Yes, upload or preset | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Custom colours | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Edit destination after printing | No | No | Yes, paid | Yes, paid |
| Scan analytics | No | No | Yes, paid | Yes, paid |
| QR content types | URL, text, email, phone, SMS, vCard, Wi-Fi, location, event, crypto | 14+ types | 22 types | URL-focused |
| Bulk creation / API | No | API available | Paid | Paid |
| Adverts on the site | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Feature details reflect each provider's public pages in October 2026. Pricing and plan limits change — always confirm on the provider's own pricing page before you buy.
The most stripped-back option in this list, deliberately. You choose a content type, optionally adjust the colours, and download immediately — no account, no trial counter, no watermark and no scan limit. Because the code is static it keeps working indefinitely: there is nothing to renew and no redirect that can be switched off. You get PNG and SVG output, optional logo upload, six body styles and colour presets.
The trade-off is narrower than it used to be: SVG is supported, but PDF and EPS are not, and there is no scan analytics or dynamic redirect.
The strongest free option if you care about design. It offers SVG, PDF and EPS alongside PNG, supports logo embedding with error correction, and lets you restyle the corner "eyes" and body shapes. Codes are static, do not expire, and carry no scan limit. Its FAQ is explicit that the codes are free for commercial use.
The main caveat is that the code is static — you cannot change the destination later. Statistics and editability are pushed to a separate paid product.
This is the tool most people mean when they say "QR code generator". Static codes are free, but the product is built around paid dynamic codes: a short redirect URL you can repoint after printing, plus scan tracking, bulk CSV creation and an API.
That is genuinely useful for a campaign where the destination will change. It also means the code only works while the subscription is active, and their own pricing page frames free static codes as the commodity tier.
Bitly is a link management platform that also issues QR codes. If you already use Bitly for short links and click analytics, keeping QR codes in the same dashboard makes sense. If you do not, you are paying for a link shortener to get a QR code.
Static QR codes do not expire. They store the destination data directly inside the pattern, so they keep working for as long as the destination exists. Dynamic QR codes work through a redirect controlled by the provider, so they stop working if the subscription lapses.
For static codes, yes. Create My QR Code, QRCode Monkey, QR Code Generator and Bitly all let you generate a static code at no cost. What is normally paid is dynamic redirects, scan analytics, bulk creation, API access and in some cases vector export.
Yes. The codes generated by the free tools compared on this page can be used commercially. The QR code format itself is a registered trademark of DENSO WAVE, but generating and printing codes is free of royalties.
A static QR code contains the final destination directly and can never be changed. A dynamic QR code contains a short redirect URL; the provider maps that URL to the real destination, which lets you change it later and count scans. Static codes are permanent and need no service; dynamic codes depend on the provider staying online and paid.
No. Make My QR Code and QRCode Monkey both let you generate and download a static code without registering or sharing contact details. Accounts are only needed for dynamic codes and tracking.
QRCode Monkey goes highest because it offers true vector output (SVG, PDF, EPS), which scales to any print size without pixelation. Make My QR Code produces a high-resolution PNG, which is sufficient for most office printers and screens but not for large-format print.
No watermark, no scan limit, no trial timer. Download a high-resolution PNG or SVG you can print or share.
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