URL
Point a QR to any web address: a product page, a booking form, a portfolio, a YouTube video. URL codes on TurtleQR are dynamic, so you can update the destination without reprinting.
All QR types
Find the QR code that fits your job.
15 types, one account. Hover a tile to see what scanning it opens, then create one in under two minutes.
Hover or tap a tile to see the scan experience on the right. Click through to learn more about each type and create one.
URL
Open any link when scanned
vCard
Add yourself to contacts instantly
Wi-Fi
Let guests connect without typing a password
Email
Pre-fill and open an email compose window
Phone
Dial a number in one scan
Plain text
Display a message or instructions
SMS
Pre-fill a text message ready to send
WhatsApp
Start a WhatsApp conversation instantly
Crypto
Accept a crypto payment via wallet app
Event
Add an event directly to the calendar
App
Route to the right app store automatically
Social
Open a social media profile
List of links
One QR, several destinations
Coupon
Discount code with a tap-to-copy button
Menu
Restaurant or business menu, no PDF
Wi-Fi: join "TurtleQR Guest"
Pick what fits
Each type encodes a different kind of data and opens a different experience after scanning. Here is what each one does and when to reach for it.
vCard
Encodes your name, phone, email, company, and address in the vCard format. iOS and Android both prompt the user to save the contact in one tap. Print it on the back of a business card.
Wi-Fi
Encodes the network name, password, and security type. The native camera app handles the rest: no app to install, no password to spell out. Guests connect before they sit down.
Opens the device mail app with To, Subject, and Body already filled. Useful for feedback forms, trade-show leads, or support queues where you want the user to send a formatted message.
Phone
Opens the dialer with your number ready to call. Put it on a flyer, a truck wrap, or a window sticker so people can call you without copying a number. No typing, no typos.
Plain text
Shows plain text on screen after scanning. Use it for instructions, a short message, a locker combination, or anything that does not need a live URL. Works with no internet connection.
SMS
Opens the SMS app with your number and a pre-written body. Works well for opt-ins, appointment reminders, and customer service queues. No data connection required to open the compose window.
Opens WhatsApp with your number and a pre-filled opening message. Common for international businesses, customer support, and markets where WhatsApp is the primary messaging channel.
Crypto
Encodes a wallet address and optional amount for Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other chains. Wallet apps read the payload and pre-fill the send form. No copy-pasting 42-character addresses.
Event
Encodes title, location, start time, and end time. Scanning it opens the device calendar app with the event pre-filled. Put it on an invitation, a poster, or a conference badge insert.
App
Detects whether the scanner is on iOS or Android and links to the correct App Store or Google Play listing. One QR on a print ad or packaging works for both platforms.
Social
Links directly to an Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, or other social profile. Add it to a bio card, a pop-up display, or event signage to grow your following from the physical world.
List of links
Renders a mobile-optimized page with multiple links, like a Linktree-style hub. Dynamic: update the links without reprinting. Good for musicians, creators, and businesses with several landing pages.
Coupon
Displays a branded coupon page with the discount code, an expiration date, and a tap-to-copy button. Dynamic: change the code or extend the expiry without touching the print.
Menu
Renders a mobile-first menu with sections, items, prices, photos, and dietary tags. Dynamic: update items, prices, and availability at any time. No more PDF menus that go stale.
Frequently asked questions
What is a QR code and how does it work?
A QR code is a 2D barcode that encodes data in a grid of black and white squares. Your phone camera decodes the grid in milliseconds, then acts on the payload: opening a URL, saving a contact, joining a Wi-Fi network, and so on. The code itself is just data printed on paper or shown on a screen. No battery, no internet connection required for the scan to succeed (though the destination may need a connection).
Which QR code type should I use for my business?
It depends on what you want to happen after someone scans. If you want to drive people to a website, use URL. If you want them to save your contact details, use vCard. For restaurants and cafes, Menu is the right choice. For promotions and discounts, Coupon. For multiple links at once, List of links. If you are not sure, URL is the most flexible starting point because you can change the destination any time without reprinting.
What's the difference between static and dynamic QR codes?
Static QR codes encode the data directly into the QR payload. The data is permanent: if the destination changes, you have to reprint. Dynamic QR codes encode a short redirect URL instead. The redirect is editable, so you can update the destination, the coupon code, or the menu items any time without touching the printed QR. On TurtleQR, URL, Menu, Coupon, and List of links are dynamic. vCard, Wi-Fi, email, phone, SMS, WhatsApp, crypto, event, app, social, and plain text are static.
Are TurtleQR QR codes free?
Static QR codes (Wi-Fi, vCard, email, phone, SMS, WhatsApp, crypto, event, app, social, plain text) are free, with no expiration and no account required to download a single QR. Free codes carry a small TurtleQR mark you can remove on any paid plan. Dynamic types (URL, Menu, Coupon, List of links) require a free account. Pro is $9 per month and adds more codes, scan analytics, custom domains, and higher hosted-page limits.
Can QR codes work without an internet connection?
The scan itself never requires an internet connection. The phone camera decodes the QR locally. Whether the action then needs a connection depends on the type: Wi-Fi codes join a local network (no internet needed), vCard and plain text show content immediately with no connection, and URL codes open a web page (which needs a connection to load). Static types always work offline. Dynamic types redirect through a server, so the destination requires a connection.
How do I track who scans my QR codes?
Scan analytics are available on dynamic QR code types (URL, Menu, Coupon, List of links) on the Pro plan. The dashboard shows total scans, unique scans, scan-over-time graphs, and device type breakdowns. Static types (Wi-Fi, vCard, etc.) encode data directly into the QR payload and never pass through TurtleQR servers, so scan counting is not possible for those types.
Can I customize my QR code's appearance and design?
Yes. All types support color customization, logo embedding, and frame styles. TurtleQR automatically raises the error correction level when you add a logo so the QR still scans with the center partially covered. Download in PNG (up to 2048px), SVG, EPS, or JPG. SVG and EPS scale to any size without loss, which is what you want for print-shop files, stickers, and signage.