Every business owner wants a smoother checkout experience. Using a QR Code generator to create mobile payment options allows you to streamline transactions and reduce wait times significantly. Whether you run a pop-up shop, a restaurant, or a retail chain, these codes empower your customers to pay instantly using their smartphones.
Small businesses and multi-location brands benefit the most from this technology. By integrating QR Code payments into your point-of-sale system, you remove friction and modernize your customer service. You can even track performance across different stores by following multi-location QR Code campaign best practices.
Note: The brands and examples discussed below were found during our online research for this article.
What are payment QR Codes?
A payment QR Code (Quick Response Code) is a specialized smartphone-readable graphic that directs a customer to a secure digital payment gateway when scanned. Unlike regular QR Codes that might link to a website or app, these codes specifically facilitate financial transactions by encoding payment details or a URL to a checkout page.
The process is simple: A customer opens their camera app, scans the unique QR Code, and lands immediately on a secure checkout page to complete the purchase. Modern mobile devices, including both iOS and Android phones, can read these codes natively without needing a third-party QR Code reader. For businesses that need flexibility, understanding the difference between Static vs Dynamic QR Codes helps in choosing the right type for your payment flow.
Benefits of using a generator to create QR Codes for payments
Using a professional QR Code generator offers a significant advantage over manual coding or generic tools. It provides a cost-effective, scalable way to modernize your payment infrastructure without complex hardware.
Recent data shows that QR Code payments are now the most popular form of mobile settlement in some countries, accounting for $3 trillion worth of transactions in 2025. A generator allows you to deploy these solutions quickly while maintaining brand control. The right generator offers you:
- Speed: Launch a new payment method in minutes rather than days.
- Scalability: Create hundreds of codes for invoices or multiple locations instantly.
- Reliability: Ensure high scannability across all mobile phones and lighting conditions.
- Flexibility: Update the destination URL of Dynamic QR codes without reprinting signage, POS stickers, or other physical QR Code assets.
Easy and efficient
QR Codes simplify the payment process by removing the need for physical cash or card terminals in every location. For small businesses or pop-up vendors, this means you can accept payments anywhere your phone has a signal. This efficiency drastically reduces checkout lines and improves the overall customer experience.
QR Code generators eliminate the need for manual coding, saving time and reducing the risk of errors. When you choose a reliable generator, you’ll have a functional payment QR Code in a matter of seconds.
Customization options
Picture this: You come across two QR Codes claiming to be from your favorite brand, one with the typical white background and black pixels, and the other with the brand’s colors and logo. Which one will you scan? The branded one, right?
A generic black-and-white square often goes unnoticed or looks suspicious. Professional generators allow you to create a custom QR Code that incorporates your brand colors, logo, and a clear call-to-action frame. Maintaining high contrast and adequate white space ensures the code remains scannable while aligning with your visual identity. This means your customers never have to second-guess whether the payment QR Codes they encounter are really yours.
Error correction
Unfortunately, you can’t always control the conditions your payment QR Codes face. If you position them somewhere outside or in the open, they may get dirty or become damaged.
Luckily, QR Code generators add error correction data, ensuring your QR Codes scan easily, even if they are slightly damaged. These tools typically offer one of four error correction levels: Low (7%), Medium (15%), Quartile (25%), and High (30%).
We recommend using Level H (High) for printed materials or busy environments, as it allows the QR Code scanner to read the data even if it can’t make out up to 30% of the image. Avoid overly complex designs that might interfere with this functionality.
Analytics and tracking
Want to understand customer payment preferences? A QR Code generator like Bitly can help.
When you use Bitly Codes, you get real-time tracking data like the number of scans, their location (city/country), and devices used, which can provide insights into customer behavior and QR Code engagement.
By analyzing the scan data, you can determine whether customers adopt your new payment system and take appropriate measures. For instance, if your numbers are low, you could educate your target audience on how to scan a QR Code and guarantee QR Code security to encourage more engagement.
The real-time data collected in Bitly Analytics helps you optimize marketing campaigns by showing you which locations drive the most revenue. Comparing the performance of Static QR Code and Dynamic QR Code campaigns allows you to refine your strategy and allocate resources where they generate the most impact.
How to use QR Codes for payment solutions
Integrating QR Codes into your payment ecosystem works seamlessly for both in-store and online environments. You can use Dynamic QR Codes to update payment destinations, such as switching from a seasonal promo to a standard checkout, without ever reprinting your materials.
For in-store payment methods
Physical locations benefit immensely from contactless options. Here is how to implement them effectively:
- Strategic Placement: Place codes at eye level on counters, tables, or entryways to maximize visibility.
- Appropriate Sizing: Ensure the QR Code image is large enough (at least 1 inch by 1 inch) for customers to scan from a comfortable distance.
- Rigorous Testing: Scan the code with multiple device types before launching to guarantee it works.
- Clear Instructions: Add a simple “Scan to Pay” frame to guide users.
For example, a restaurant can print the codes on signage, menus, or receipts, so customers can scan them with their smartphones or mobile devices to complete QR Code payments instantly. A custom QR Code can link to a secure landing page for card or mobile phone transactions, seamlessly integrating loyalty programs.
If you’re skeptical about whether customers will adopt the technology, just look at the numbers: Nine out of ten Americans carry smartphones, and four in ten have gone completely cashless. Providing this contactless payment solution is a smart move.
For larger organizations, coordinating this rollout requires structure. Implementing short links and QR Codes across enterprise teams can be easy with the right tools at hand.
For online payment methods
These nifty two-dimensional barcodes aren’t only effective in physical stores. They can also be an excellent alternative to traditional online checkout forms, allowing customers who prefer online shopping to check out more quickly.
How do you leverage QR Codes for online payments? Here’s a step-by-step breakdown:
- Generate a Dynamic QR Code linked to your secure payment portal.
- Display the code on your app, website, shopping cart, or even invoices sent electronically.
- Ask customers to scan the code with their mobile devices (if it’s on another screen) or long-press it if it’s on their smartphone screens (if they’re an iPhone user with a current version of iOS). Doing this will lead them to a secure payment portal where they can enter their payment information to complete payment.
QR Codes bridge the gap between digital and physical interactions in online commerce as well.
- Invoices: Include a code on digital or printed invoices so clients can pay instantly without typing long URLs.
- Digital Receipts: Add a code to email receipts that links to a tip jar or a discount for the next purchase.
- eCommerce Checkout: Display a code on your desktop checkout page that allows users to complete the transaction securely via their mobile phone wallets (like Apple Pay or Google Pay).
- Social Media: Share a code in your posts or livestreams to allow viewers to purchase featured products instantly.
How Bitly makes generating payment QR Codes simple
Payment service providers have gotten on the QR Code bandwagon. So, you’ll likely come across some that offer QR Code creation. While it may be tempting to use them, there are better solutions that could help you get the most out of your QR Code payment system.
For instance, with Bitly, you stand to enjoy more benefits, like:
- The ability to customize your QR Codes to include your business colors and logo to maintain brand consistency.
- The ability to shorten the long URLs often associated with payment portals, making them easier to display and scan within the QR Code.
- The ability to track QR Code scans to better understand customer behavior and identify payment preferences, so you can optimize your checkout process for better conversions.
Compared to payment provider tools, Bitly is a better solution as it provides a central hub for managing payment QR Codes.
Bitly transforms the technical process of QR Code creation into a user-friendly experience. You do not need a developer to start accepting mobile payments. Just follow these simple steps:
- Log in to your Bitly account and select Create new.
- Choose Create a QR Code and enter your secure payment URL (like your Stripe or PayPal link).
- Customize the design for your new QR Code by adding your brand colors, logo, and some compelling text for your frame.
- Test the code on both iOS and Android devices to ensure the landing page loads correctly.
- Download the file in a high-resolution format like PNG, JPEG, or SVG for print and digital use.
- Deploy your code across your marketing materials and payment points.
Examples of businesses using QR Codes for payments
- Restaurants: Many eateries place codes on tables, allowing diners to access the venue’s Wi-Fi, view the menu, split the bill, and pay without waiting for a server.
- Salons and Spas: Beauty professionals use codes at the front desk for quick checkout and to facilitate easy tipping.
- Pop-up Retailers: Vendors at craft fairs use printed codes to accept credit card payments via mobile wallets without bulky POS hardware.
- Non-profits: Charities display codes on event signage to accept real-time donations during fundraisers.
- Events: Concert venues use codes on wristbands to allow cashless purchases for food and merchandise with a single scan.
- Delivery Services: Drivers present a code on their device to collect payment upon delivery, ensuring a contactless hand-off.
Security and compliance best practices for QR Code payments
Security is paramount when handling financial data. Follow these best practices to protect your business and your customers.
- Always use HTTPS: Ensure your payment links direct to secure, encrypted pages.
- Monitor your codes: Regularly check your physical codes to ensure no one has placed a malicious sticker over them.
- Manage Dynamic QR Codes: If attackers compromise a Dynamic QR Code, rotate the destination URL immediately or pause the code entirely.
- Restrict Access: Limit QR Code creation privileges to authorized team members to prevent unauthorized changes.
- Check Print Quality: Ensure high-resolution printing to prevent scanning errors that could frustrate users.
- Comply with PCI DSS: Ensure your underlying payment processor meets all industry security standards.
Using branded links with custom domains builds trust, assuring customers they are scanning a legitimate code from your business.
Generate professional, easy-to-scan QR Codes with Bitly
To understand why flexibility matters for your long-term strategy, compare Static vs Dynamic QR Codes before you begin rolling out your payment solution. QR Code payments offer a streamlined, secure way to accept funds and improve the customer experience. When using Bitly, you’ll find it easy to generate QR Codes that provide the flexibility, high-quality customization, and robust tracking required to get the most from this powerful technology.
Ready to modernize your checkout process? Sign up for Bitly today to elevate your payment methods with reliable, trackable, easy-to-scan custom QR Codes.
