QR Codes have transformed how businesses engage with their audiences, making it easier than ever to share information and drive engagement. However, choosing the right QR Code generator can mean the difference between a seamless customer experience and a missed opportunity to connect.
The best generators do more than create scannable codes—they empower your business with advanced customization, actionable analytics, and integrations that streamline your existing workflows.
In this guide, we’ll spotlight five top-rated QR Code generators and provide practical tips to help you find the perfect one for your marketing and operational needs.
Note: The brands and examples discussed below were found during our online research for this article.
Why your business needs the right QR Code generator
A high-quality QR Code generator goes beyond creating scannable codes—it can significantly elevate your marketing campaigns and simplify operations.
Consider Daily Harvest, a direct-to-consumer brand known for its farm-fresh smoothies, flatbreads, and other tasty treats. They’ve harnessed the power of QR Codes to engage customers in a truly memorable way.
Daily Harvest uses QR Codes to provide deeper insights into their products and sustainability initiatives. Shoppers can scan the displayed codes to instantly access detailed product information and learn about the brand’s environmental efforts, creating a sense of connection and shared purpose.
However, the benefits go beyond increased customer engagement. By analyzing QR Code scan data, Daily Harvest identifies underperforming locations and adjusts its marketing efforts to boost results.
Your business can also use QR Codes to tap into this kind of impact—whether it’s creating a more engaging experience or optimizing your operations. The key? Choosing the right QR Code generator.
With the right tool, you can customize codes to match your brand, track scan activity for actionable insights, and save valuable time managing your campaigns.
5 of the best QR Code generators available
With so many tools on the market, it can feel overwhelming trying to choose the best QR Code generator for your needs. To help narrow down your options, here are our top choices:
1. Bitly
If you’re looking for a versatile and reliable tool for creating and tracking Quick Response Codes, Bitly is your answer. It’s more than just a QR Code generator—it’s a comprehensive platform that includes Bitly Pages, Bitly Links, and Bitly Analytics to supercharge your campaigns.
Key features:
- Dynamic QR Codes: Unlike Static QR Codes, Dynamic Codes let you update their destinations without regenerating the code—a valuable feature for businesses that frequently update promotions or content.
- Robust scan tracking: Track when, where, and how your audience engages with your Dynamic QR Codes, all in one place. These insights help you better understand your target audience and refine your QR Code marketing strategy.
- Extensive customization options: You can create custom QR Codes for any occasion—whether it’s a product launch, an exclusive event, or a presentation. Customize colors, frames, and patterns to reflect your brand. Depending on your plan, you can even use gradient colors and add your logo, an icon, or custom text to make your codes stand out.
- Seamless platform integrations: Bitly integrates effortlessly with social media management solutions, email platforms, and analytics tools, creating a smooth workflow.
- High-resolution file formats: Export your Bitly Codes in PNG, JPEG, and SVG formats for professional-quality results.
- Reliability: The platform’s intuitive interface lets you generate QR Codes in minutes. Its dependable tools, including short links and landing pages, make it an excellent choice for ROI-driven campaigns.
Bitly’s pricing plans:
- Free: $0/month
- Core: $8/month (billed annually)
- Growth: $29/month (billed annually)
- Premium: $199/month (billed annually)
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
2. QR TIGER
QR Tiger stands out with its robust customization options and advanced tracking capabilities, striking a balance between QR Code creation and management.
Key features:
- Customization options: Design eye-catching QR Codes by adding your company logo and tweaking frames, patterns, or colors to align with your brand.
- Customer relationship management (CRM) integrations: QR Tiger’s API makes it easy to integrate your codes with platforms like Zapier and Hubspot.
- Comprehensive scan analytics: Gain valuable insights into user engagement, including the devices used, number of scans, locations, and time.
QR Tiger’s pricing plans:
- Free: $0/month
- Regular: $7/month
- Advanced: $16/month (billed annually)
- Premium: $37/month (billed annually)
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
3. VistaPrint
VistaPrint is best known for helping businesses design business cards, marketing materials, signage, and other promotional products. But it doesn’t stop there—the platform also offers a free QR Code generator, making it a one-stop-shop for your branding and marketing needs.
Key features:
- Link to different destinations: VistaPrint QR Codes can direct users to social media profiles, web pages, review sites, and more.
- Dynamic QR Codes: VistaPrint also allows users to create Dynamic QR Codes for easy destination adjustments even after printing.
- Customization options: Change QR Code colors and shapes, and add an image or logo to ensure they align with your brand.
VistaPrint pricing plans:
- Free: $0/month
4. Canva
Canva is a popular user-friendly design platform, but it also offers QR Code generation capabilities. This feature allows users to seamlessly integrate QR Codes into their designs for social media graphics, flyers, posters, and more.
Key features:
- Good user experience: Canva’s intuitive interface lets you create custom Static QR Codes in minutes, making it accessible for all skill levels.
- Customization options: Tailor your QR Codes to match your brand by selecting custom background and foreground colors.
- Integrated design tools: Combine QR Code creation with Canva’s suite of design tools to produce cohesive marketing materials without needing to switch between platforms. This saves time and ensures alignment across all your assets.
Canva pricing plans:
- Basic: Free
- Pro: $10/month (billed annually)
- Teams: Starting at $25/month (billed annually)
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
5. Flowcode
Flowcode is a well-known QR Code generator geared towards direct-to-consumer brands. Its features cater to businesses seeking secure, customizable, and versatile QR Code solutions.
Key features:
- Security: Flowcode claims to meet the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), SOC 2, and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
- Customization options: Design QR Codes in unique shapes and personalize them with brand colors, logos, and distinctive frames to ensure they stand out.
- Versatile scan destinations: Flowcode supports a wide range of destinations, including PDF files, portfolios, invitations, vCards, Google Docs, app stores, emails, and Wi-Fi access points.
Flowcode’s pricing plans:
- Personal: $0/month
- Pro Plus: $25/month (billed annually)
- Growth: Starting at $250/month (billed annually)
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
How to evaluate QR Code generators for your business
It can be tempting to settle on the first QR Code generator you come across just to save time—but that shortcut could backfire. The wrong tool might leave you stuck mid-campaign, scrambling to switch when it falls short of your needs.
Save yourself the headache by taking a little extra time upfront to evaluate your options and find a generator that truly fits your needs and goals. Here are some key factors to consider during your assessment.
Compare pricing models and value
With marketing budgets tightening and consumer spending growth expected to slow in 2025, it’s more important than ever to balance cost and value when selecting business tools. That doesn’t mean choosing the cheapest QR Code maker—it means finding a cost-effective solution that delivers the features you need.
When assessing pricing and value, consider:
- Free vs. paid version features: Many generators offer free and paid versions of their software. Compare the features available in both tiers to decide if upgrading is necessary for your goals. Paid accounts often unlock advanced tools like QR Code tracking and customization.
- Scalability: Look for a platform with plans that can accommodate your current needs and grow with you as your requirements evolve.
- Transparency: Choose a tool that discloses each plan’s features, limits, and pricing clearly. Transparent pricing helps you plan and budget effectively, avoiding unwelcome surprises later.
Check integration capabilities
Integration capabilities are vital for smooth workflows. Before making a decision, check whether the generator integrates with your existing tools. Ideally, your QR code platform should connect with:
- Analytics tools like Google Analytics if you want granular QR Code performance data
- CRM tools, like Salesforce, to enable direct customer engagement and streamline follow-ups
- Social media management tools to simplify marketing efforts across platforms
Additionally, confirm whether the tool offers API support for automation and bulk creation. This can be a game-changer if your business needs to scale QR Code campaigns quickly.
Assess ease of use and support
A complicated tool can result in frustration, wasted time, and even delays in your campaigns. To avoid this, opt for a QR Code generator with an intuitive interface that makes setup and use simple. Consider requesting a demo or signing up for a free trial to test the platform before committing.
Customer support is another big factor to evaluate. Look for a platform that provides:
- 24/7 support to help with onboarding, troubleshooting, and maximizing the tool’s potential.
- Omnichannel support options like phone, email, tutorials, live chat, and FAQs to ensure you can quickly get assistance in the way that works best for you
Why Bitly is the best choice for QR Code generation
Whether you’re looking for advanced customization to reflect your brand identity, real-time scan analytics to monitor performance, or seamless integrations to streamline operations, the Bitly Connections Platform has you covered. Here’s why:
Robust tracking and analytics
With Bitly, you’ll always know how your audience is engaging with your QR Codes. These real-time detailed metrics help you evaluate campaign performance, understand your customers’ preferences and behavior, and refine your marketing strategies for optimal results.
Some of the metrics available in Bitly include:
- Total scans
- Scans by location
- Scans by operating system
- Scans by day
- Scans by browser
Viewing scan data for a Bitly Code is simple. Log in to your account, navigate to QR Codes, select the barcode you want to analyze, tap View details, and use filters to view data from specific periods.
Customization at scale
Bitly also offers a range of customization options, enabling you to create QR Codes that are not just functional but also visually on-brand. Best of all, many of these features are available on both free and paid plans.
Free plan: Customize patterns, frames, and colors to align with your desired aesthetic and brand identity. This is a great way to maintain consistency across your assets without extra costs.
Paid plans: Unlock advanced customization options like adding your logo or text to the middle of your codes, using gradient colors, and selecting more intricate patterns and frames. You can even customize the links embedded in QR Codes with your branded domain for increased recognition and trust.
Seamless platform integrations
Another compelling reason to choose Bitly is its seamless integration with a variety of marketing and more granular analytics tools. You can integrate Bitly with social media management platforms like Hootsuite and Buffer, CRM tools like HubSpot and Salesforce, design tools like Canva, and analytics tools like Google Analytics. These integrations make your life easier while enhancing campaign efficiency.
Even on its own, Bitly is a comprehensive solution. It offers a suite of tools—including QR Codes, short links, and landing pages—designed to optimize your marketing efforts. And the best part? These tools work together seamlessly.
For example, you can create a Bitly landing page for your marketing campaign, make it easily shareable with a branded short link, and then embed the link in a custom QR Code to connect offline audiences with your online content.
Choose the QR Code generator that works best for your business needs
Choosing the right QR Code generator means finding one that supports your goals and can grow alongside your business. If tracking campaign success is a top priority, look for a generator with detailed analytics and actionable insights. If branding is key, pick a tool that offers advanced customization options to ensure your codes align with your visual identity.
For many businesses, Bitly checks all the right boxes. It’s easy to use and packed with features like customization, real-time tracking and analytics, and extensive integration options. With the Bitly Connections Platform, you can create QR Codes that perfectly reflect your brand, keep tabs on how they’re performing, and seamlessly integrate them into your workflows.
Create a Bitly account today to access trackable QR Codes that meet your marketing and operational needs!
