URL QR codes
The most common type. Scan it, and the phone opens a web page. Use it for landing pages, product pages, menu links, booking forms — anything with a URL.
With a dynamic URL QR code, you can swap the destination after printing. That's the magic: your poster stays on the wall, but the landing page can change with every campaign.
Send every print piece to a mobile landing page.
Let prospects save a clean contact in one tap.
Connect guests without spelling passwords aloud.
Swap the file after printing when prices change.
Accept quick payment without another device.
Add the date straight to a customer calendar.
vCard (digital business card)
A vCard QR code stores a full contact card — name, phone, email, company, job title, address. When scanned, the phone offers to save the contact directly. No typing, no misspelling your email.
This is the QR code to put on your physical business card. It makes the card functional instead of just decorative.
WiFi network
Encodes your network name, password, and encryption type. Customers scan it and connect — no asking the barista to spell out "CoffeeSh0p_Guest_2024" letter by letter.
Perfect for cafes, co-working spaces, Airbnbs, waiting rooms, and retail stores. Print it as a small table tent or wall sign.
PDF / file download
Links to a hosted PDF or file. Great for restaurant menus, event schedules, product spec sheets, or instruction manuals. The file opens in the phone's browser — no app needed.
With dynamic QR codes, you can update the PDF without changing the code. Seasonal menu? Just swap the file.
App store links
Smart app store QR codes detect the user's device and redirect to the right store — App Store for iOS, Play Store for Android. One code, both platforms.
Social media profiles
Links to your Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, or a "link in bio" page. Some QR generators offer a micro-landing-page that shows all your social profiles in one place.
Email and SMS
Pre-fills an email or text message on the scanner's phone. Use it for feedback requests ("Scan to tell us how we did"), appointment confirmations, or support requests with pre-filled subject lines.
Payment
Generates a payment request — commonly used with PayPal, Venmo, or regional payment systems. Freelancers, market vendors, and small shops use these to accept payments without a card reader.
Calendar event
Encodes event details — title, date, time, location, description — and adds it to the scanner's calendar with one tap. Put it on your event poster, wedding invitation, or conference badge.
For most small teams, the practical setup is simple: use URL QR codes for marketing, vCard QR codes for sales conversations, WiFi QR codes for hospitality, and PDF or menu links for anything that changes often. Designers can then build one visual system around those use cases instead of styling every code from scratch.