Contact card or link?
- Contact card (this page): one scan saves your details to Contacts, no internet needed. The details are fixed — but so is the rest of a printed card.
- Link: a link code to your website or profile page, which you can update any time. Better if your details change often.
Why not a “digital business card” subscription?
Some services put a link to their own profile page in the code and charge every year. When the subscription ends, the code on every card you have handed out stops working. A static contact code holds your details itself: nothing to renew, and it works even without a connection.
Print tips
- At least 2 cm (0.8 inch) wide, with a white margin around it.
- Keep it away from the fold and the edge of the card.
- Print one proof and scan it with two phones before ordering a box of 500.
Questions
Does the other person need an app?
No. The camera of any recent iPhone or Android phone reads it and offers to add you to Contacts.
Can I add my photo?
No — a photo would make the code too big to scan. Put your logo in the middle of the code instead; the code is tested so you see at once that it still reads.
Will the code still work in ten years?
Yes. Your details are inside the code, not on a server, so nobody can switch it off. Only the details themselves can go out of date.
Do these QR codes expire?
No. These are static codes: the content is stored in the black and white squares themselves, not on a server. Nobody can switch them off — not us, not anyone. They work as long as the link or text inside them is valid.
Is it really free? What’s the catch?
It is free, without limits, for personal and business use. No account, no watermark, no limit on scans. Making a static code costs us nothing, because your browser does all the work.
Why do other QR codes stop working?
Many generators give you a “dynamic” code that points to their own server, which then forwards people to your link. When the trial ends or you stop paying, they switch the forwarding off and every printed code stops working. Some charge a fee to turn it back on. Read what to do if it happened to you.
Do you see or store what I put in the code?
No. The code is generated in your browser and nothing you type is sent anywhere. The page works even with the internet switched off once it has loaded.
How big should I print it?
At least 2 cm (0.8 inch) wide for something held in the hand, like a business card or a menu. As a rule, the code should be a tenth of the distance it is scanned from: 20 cm (8 inches) for a poster read from 2 metres. Keep the white margin around it.
Which format should I download?
PDF or SVG for print — they are vector files and stay sharp at any size. PNG for websites, documents and messages.