How Do I Create a Free QR Code for a Lifetime?
Jonathan Palley
Jun 28, 2023
QR codes make it easy to connect people to digital information. Add one to a business card, poster, product package, menu, or event sign, and someone can reach a website or other content with a quick scan.
But if you plan to print a QR code and use it for months or even years, there is one question worth asking first: Will the QR code expire?
The good news is that you can create a free QR code without an expiration date. However, the type of QR code you choose and the service behind it can affect how you use it over time.
In this guide, we'll explain how to create a free permanent QR code, how static and dynamic QR codes differ, and how to create one with QR Codes Unlimited.
TL;DR
- You can create a free QR code without an expiration date.
- Static QR codes cannot be edited after they are created.
- Dynamic QR codes allow you to change the destination without replacing the printed code.
- QR Codes Unlimited lets you create and customize QR codes without requiring an account.
- You can customize QR codes with logos, colors, frames, and shapes.
- Dynamic QR codes can include scan tracking and unlimited scans.
- Always test your QR code before printing it on permanent materials.
Can You Create a Free Permanent QR Code?
Yes. A QR code itself doesn't automatically expire simply because you created it for free.
What matters is how the QR code was created and where it sends people after they scan it.
With a static QR code, information such as a website URL is encoded directly into the QR code. As long as the information remains valid, the QR code can continue to work.
Dynamic QR codes work a little differently. Instead of permanently encoding the final destination, the code uses a redirect that can be updated. This means you can change where the free QR code sends visitors without creating and printing a completely new code.
This distinction is important if you're planning to put a QR code somewhere that is difficult or expensive to replace.
Static vs. Dynamic QR Codes
Before creating a permanent QR code, it's useful to understand these two options.
A static QR code is fixed once it has been generated. If you create one that points to your website, you can't change the URL later. If the URL changes, you'll need to create a new QR code.
Static codes can be a good choice when the information is unlikely to change. For example, you might use one to share a fixed piece of text or a permanent website address.
A dynamic QR code gives you more flexibility. The QR code itself can stay the same while you update its destination. This is particularly useful for printed marketing materials.
For example, imagine printing a QR code on 5,000 flyers for a promotion. If you use a dynamic QR code, you can update the destination when the promotion ends instead of throwing away the flyers or printing new ones.
Dynamic QR codes can also provide scan tracking, allowing you to see how people interact with your code.
How to Create a Free Permanent QR Code
Creating a QR code doesn't require technical knowledge. With QR Codes Unlimited, you can generate one in just a few steps.
Step 1: Open QR Codes Unlimited
Start by opening QR Codes Unlimited in your web browser.
You don't need to install software or have coding experience. The generator is designed to make the process straightforward.
Step 2: Choose Your QR Code Type
Find the Target panel and select the type of QR code you want to create.
The right option depends on what you're trying to share. You may want to direct people to a website, provide contact information, share content, or connect them with another digital resource.
Step 3: Enter Your Information
Add the information you want people to access when they scan the QR code.
If you're linking to a website, check the URL carefully before continuing. A small mistake in the address can prevent visitors from reaching the right page.
Step 4: Customize Your QR Code
You don't have to settle for a plain black-and-white QR code.
QR Codes Unlimited lets you customize elements such as the color, logo, frame, font, and shape. This can help you create a QR code that fits your brand or the design of the material where you'll use it.
Keep readability in mind while customizing. A QR code may look great, but it still needs to scan reliably.
Step 5: Download and Test It
Once you're happy with the design, select Free Download to generate your QR code.
Before putting it on a business card, sign, package, or other printed material, scan it with your smartphone. Ideally, test it on more than one device and from different distances.
It's much easier to fix a QR code before printing hundreds of copies than after.
Do Free QR Codes Expire?
The word "permanent" can be a little misleading because a QR code's long-term functionality depends on more than the pattern printed on the page.
A static QR code doesn't have a built-in expiration date. However, the website or information it points to still needs to remain available.
Dynamic QR codes depend on the service managing the redirect. That's why it's important to choose a QR code platform that clearly explains how its free codes work.
If you're planning to use a QR code for a long time, check whether the generator limits scans, requires a subscription after a trial period, or deactivates codes under certain conditions.
QR Codes Unlimited provides free dynamic QR codes with unlimited scans, along with features such as customization and scan tracking.
Ways to Use a Permanent QR Code
Permanent QR codes can be useful anywhere printed information needs to connect with digital content.
- Business cards: Add a QR code that opens a digital contact profile, website, portfolio, or other professional information.
- Product packaging: Link customers to product instructions, manuals, warranty details, recipes, or additional information with plain text QR code.
- Menus: Restaurants can use PDF QR codes to direct customers to digital menus. A dynamic code can be especially useful when menu information changes regularly.
- Events: Share registration pages, schedules, maps, speaker information, or event updates without filling printed materials with lengthy URLs.
- Marketing campaigns: Put QR codes on posters, flyers, direct mail, advertisements, and other promotional materials. Dynamic codes can help marketers track scans and update destinations when campaigns change.
- Feedback and surveys: Send customers directly to a feedback form or survey. If the destination changes later, a dynamic QR code can be updated without replacing the printed code.
- Emergency information: QR codes can provide quick access to emergency contacts, identification information, instructions, or other important resources.
How to Make Sure Your QR Code Keeps Working
Creating the QR code is only the beginning. If you're going to rely on it for a long time, take a few simple precautions.
First, make sure the destination page works properly on mobile devices. Most people scanning a QR code will be using a smartphone.
Next, keep the QR code readable. Strong contrast between the code and its background is important. Avoid making the code extremely small or covering parts of it with logos and other design elements.
You should also check the destination occasionally, especially if the QR code points to a page on your own website. A QR code can remain perfectly readable while the webpage it leads to becomes unavailable.
If the destination needs to change regularly, consider using a dynamic QR code from the beginning. That way, you can update the content without having to replace the QR code everywhere it has been printed.
Create Your Free Permanent QR Code
A QR code can be a simple way to connect physical materials with digital content without asking people to type a long URL.
Whether you're sharing a website, contact information, event details, a menu, or a feedback form, choosing the right type of QR code can make a big difference.
With QR Codes Unlimited, you can create customizable QR codes for free, including dynamic QR codes with features such as scan tracking and unlimited scans. If you expect your content to change, a dynamic QR code gives you the flexibility to update the destination without reprinting the code.
Before you print, test the code, check the destination, and make sure the design remains easy to scan. Once everything works as expected, your QR code is ready to put to use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are free QR codes really permanent?
A free QR code can continue working without an expiration date, but its long-term functionality depends on the type of QR code, the service supporting it, and the availability of its destination. Always check the generator's terms before using a code for long-term printed materials.
Can I edit a QR code after it has been created?
You can edit the destination of a dynamic QR code without creating a new code. Static QR codes cannot be changed once they have been generated.
Can I create a permanent QR code without an account?
QR Codes Unlimited allows you to create and download a free QR code without signing up for an account.
Can I track scans on a free QR code?
Dynamic QR codes can provide scan tracking, depending on the features available from the QR code generator. QR Codes Unlimited offers scan tracking with its dynamic QR codes.
What can I put in a permanent QR code?
You can use QR codes to share websites, contact information, digital content, event information, feedback forms, menus, promotions, and other online resources.
How can I make sure my QR code scans correctly?
Test the QR code with multiple smartphones before printing it. Make sure there is enough contrast, avoid excessive customization, and leave sufficient space around the code so smartphone cameras can recognize it easily.
