Free QR Code Generator — Create & Download QR Codes (PNG)
Turn any URL into a scannable QR code in seconds. Shorten the link, preview the code, and download a crisp 512×512 PNG for menus, flyers, packaging and social — free, with no account and no watermark.
What you can point a QR code at
A QR code can encode any URL — your website, a specific product page, a booking calendar, a video, a document. Linkly's generator works with all of them, and it handles the case that breaks naive QR tools: long URLs. Instead of encoding the full address, the code encodes your Linkly short link, which keeps the pattern less dense, faster to scan on older phone cameras, and much more legible when printed small.
How to make a QR code in Linkly
The whole flow happens on the home page, in under a minute:
- Paste your URL into the shortener — a plain domain without
https://is fine. - Optional: pick a custom alias (like
shrtly.info/summer-menu) so the code points at a readable address. - Toggle the Generate QR Code option before shortening, or click the QR icon next to your result.
- Preview the code, then download it as a PNG (512×512).
Nothing to sign up for: the QR dialog and the download work for anonymous visitors. Create an account if you want to track how often the code is scanned, set an expiration on the link, or protect it with a password.
QR codes for print: size, contrast and quiet zone
Most "unscannable QR code" problems are print problems, not generator problems. Three rules cover the rest:
- Size: the smallest square (one module) should be at least 1–2 mm when printed. Below that, phone cameras start guessing.
- Contrast: dark modules on a light background — black on white is the safest combination. Avoid dark-on-dark or colored-on-colored prints.
- Quiet zone: leave a clear margin around the code, roughly the width of four modules, with no logos, text or frame borders inside it.
Because the code encodes the short link rather than the long URL, you also get an update path: when the destination changes, you update the link's target in your dashboard and every printed copy keeps working.
Common uses
Restaurant and café menus, event and conference registration, product packaging and business cards, receipts and invoices (support links), social profiles (the one link in the bio), and classroom or onboarding materials where a typed URL would be error-prone. Anything that lives in a place people cannot easily type — print, video frames, signage — is a QR code candidate.
Generate your QR code
Paste your URL, shorten it, and download the PNG — free, in one screen, no account required.
Shorten a link & make a QR codeQR Code Generator FAQ
Is the QR code generator free?
Yes. Shortening the link and generating and downloading the QR code PNG are free, and no account is required. There is no watermark on the image.
Can I make a QR code for a very long URL?
Yes — and it is recommended. Linkly shortens the URL first, so the QR code encodes a short address instead of the long one. The result is a less dense pattern that scans faster and looks cleaner at small sizes.
What size and format is the downloaded QR code?
The download is a 512×512 pixel PNG. It is vector-crisp at that size and scales down cleanly for print — keep the smallest module (the individual squares) at about 1–2 mm for reliable scanning.
Do I need an account to generate a QR code?
No. You can shorten a link and download its QR code without signing up. An account adds click tracking and link management (expiration, password protection, delete) from your dashboard.