Text QR Code Generator
Encode any plain text — notes, serial numbers, instructions — into a code that works with no internet and never expires. Generated entirely in your browser.
- No sign-up, nothing uploaded
- Style presets, gradients & shapes
- Scan codes back, right in your browser
- PNG · SVG · JPEG
- Save codes with Google sign-in optional
- L
- Lowest. Fine on a clean screen. Breaks if smudged or covered.
- M
- Balanced. The right choice for most uses.
- Q
- Sturdier. Good for small prints or busy backgrounds.
- H
- Toughest. Survives wear and works with a center logo.
- Crisp
- Few modules, large and easy to read — even small or on screen.
- Moderate
- Denser. Print at a decent size and keep good contrast.
- Dense
- Lots of data. Print large, raise error correction, or shorten the content.
What a text QR code is
A text QR code stores literal characters — no link, no app hand-off. Scan it and the phone simply displays the text. Because nothing needs fetching, it works with no internet connection, forever: the message lives entirely inside the image.
That makes it the right type for things that aren't web pages: serial numbers and asset tags, coupon or voucher codes read at a till, equipment instructions, safety notes, scavenger-hunt clues, or a message on the back of a gift.
How much text fits
The QR standard tops out near 3,000 characters at the lowest error-correction level, but that's a theoretical ceiling — codes that full are a dot-soup few cameras read reliably. In practice, keep it to a few hundred characters and watch the scanability tag under the preview. Raising error correction makes the code tougher against damage but reduces capacity, so long text and high ECC pull in opposite directions. Unicode and emoji work fine (the text is encoded as UTF-8), though multi-byte characters spend capacity faster.
Text vs. URL codes
If your text is a web address, use the URL type instead — phones then offer a tap-to-open banner rather than just showing characters. Use the text type precisely when you don't want a link: the scanner sees exactly what you wrote, nothing more.
Frequently asked questions
How much text can a QR code hold?
Technically almost 3,000 characters at the lowest error-correction level, but codes that full scan poorly. Keep it to a few hundred characters, watch the scanability tag under the preview, and print larger if you need more.
Does the person scanning need internet?
No. The text is stored inside the image itself, so it displays with no connection at all — nothing is fetched from a server.
Can I use emoji or non-English characters?
Yes — the text is encoded as UTF-8, so accents, non-Latin scripts, and emoji all work. Multi-byte characters do consume capacity faster, so the density warning may appear sooner.
What's the difference between a text and a URL QR code?
A URL code makes phones show a tap-to-open banner; a text code just displays the characters. If you're encoding a web address, use the URL type — use text when you want the content shown, not opened.
Is my text uploaded or stored anywhere?
No. The code is generated entirely in your browser; the text never leaves your device unless you sign in and explicitly save the code.