QR Code vs Barcode — Which Should You Use?
Both encode data as a scannable image, but they work differently and suit different use cases.
- ✓Stores URLs, long text, Wi-Fi credentials
- ✓Scannable from any angle
- ✓Works even if partially damaged
- ✓Supported by all modern phone cameras
- ✓Industry-standard format
- ✓Works with retail scanners
- ✓Best for product codes and short IDs
- ✓Compact horizontal footprint
💡 Quick rule: If you're sharing a URL or any text-heavy content, use QR Code. If you need a scannable code for a product, inventory system, or anything a retail scanner will read, use Barcode.
Step-by-Step: How to Generate Your Code
Open FlexoTools QR Code & Barcode Generator in your browser. No account needed.
Choose QR Code or Barcode mode
At the top of the card, click either the QR Code or Barcode tab. The active tab highlights in dark. The input label below changes to match — "Text or URL" for QR Code, "Text or Code" for Barcode.
Enter your text or URL
Type or paste your content into the input box. For QR Codes, always include the full URL with https:// — for example, "https://flexotools.com" rather than just "flexotools.com". This ensures phone cameras open the link directly rather than treating it as a search query.
For Barcodes, the tool works best with short product codes, numbers, or IDs. Only the first line of text is used — keep it concise.
⚠️ Barcode note: Very long strings may generate an unreadable barcode. If the preview looks too dense to scan, shorten your input or switch to QR Code mode instead.
Adjust size and colors
Use the Size slider to set the output resolution in pixels (from roughly 100px to 400px). For print use, go larger — 300px+ ensures the code is sharp when printed at business card size. Use the Foreground and Background color pickers to customize the code colors. Keep enough contrast between the two — a dark foreground on a light background always scans most reliably.
Preview and scan test
The preview panel on the right updates live as you type. Before downloading, test the code by pointing your phone camera at the screen. The tool shows "Scan with your phone to test!" as a reminder. If it scans correctly on screen, it will work when printed or displayed digitally.
Download or Share
Click Download to save the code as an image file to your device. Or click Share to use your browser's native share sheet — useful for sending the code directly to a messaging app, email, or AirDrop without saving it first.
10 Practical Uses for QR Codes
QR codes are more versatile than most people realise. Here are common real-world uses:
Tips for Better Codes
Use your phone camera to scan the on-screen preview before printing 500 flyers. Catching a typo in the URL at this stage costs nothing; catching it after printing is expensive.
The longer the URL encoded in a QR code, the denser and harder to scan the pattern becomes. Use a short link (e.g. via Bitly or your own domain redirect) to keep the code simple and reliable.
QR codes need a margin of white space (the "quiet zone") around them to scan correctly. When placing the code in a design, leave at least 4 modules of white space on all sides.
While custom colors are supported, the most reliable combination is always a dark foreground color on a white or very light background. Avoid low-contrast combinations like light grey on white.
Ready to generate your code?
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▦ Open QR Code Generator