QR Code Types: All 20 Types Explained with Use Cases

When to use: Any website, landing page, social profile, or product page.

The most common QR type. Encodes any URL. Scan opens the link in the phone browser. For links you expect to change, use dynamic. For permanent links (a social profile, a specific blog post), static is fine and free.

When to use: Hotels, cafes, offices, Airbnb, home guest networks.

Encodes the WiFi SSID, password, and security type in MECARD format. Scan connects the phone automatically on both iOS and Android. The password is not displayed as text; it is encoded in the pattern.

When to use: Business cards, name badges, conference lanyards.

Encodes a vCard or MECARD contact record: name, phone, email, company, address, URL, and photo. Scan prompts to save the contact. No server needed. For an interactive hosted page with a Save-to-contacts button, use the bizcard type instead.

When to use: Customer support, retail counters, packaging, business cards.

Encodes a wa.me link with a phone number and optional pre-filled message. Scan opens WhatsApp directly with the contact pre-loaded. Works for WhatsApp Business accounts too.

When to use: Indian shop counters, invoices, receipts.

Encodes a UPI payment deep link (upi://pay?...) with VPA (UPI ID), name, and optional amount. Scan opens any UPI app (PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm, BHIM) on the scanner's phone.

When to use: Support desks, feedback forms, newsletters.

Encodes a mailto: link with recipient, subject, and body pre-filled. Scan opens the phone's email client with all fields ready. The user only needs to hit Send.

When to use: SMS marketing opt-in, text-to-join, service alerts.

Encodes an sms: link with a recipient number and optional pre-filled message body. Scan opens the phone's messaging app.

When to use: Service counters, packaging, anywhere a direct call is the action.

Encodes a tel: link. Scan prompts the phone's dialler with the number pre-filled. One tap calls.

When to use: Event venues, delivery drop points, retail shops, tourist sites.

Encodes GPS coordinates (latitude, longitude). Scan opens Google Maps (Android) or Apple Maps (iOS) with the pin dropped. No network or server needed for the QR itself.

When to use: Wedding cards, conference invitations, meetups, class schedules.

Encodes a VCALENDAR event with title, date/time, location, and description. Scan prompts to add the event to the phone's calendar. Works on Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, and Outlook.

When to use: Startups promoting their app, packaging inserts, campaigns.

A dynamic link that routes iPhone users to the App Store URL and Android users to the Play Store URL. One QR handles both platforms. Requires a free account because the routing logic lives on a server.

When to use: Artists, albums, playlists, podcasts.

Encodes a Spotify URL directly. Scan opens the Spotify app if installed, or the web player. For music that works across all platforms (Apple Music, JioSaavn, YouTube Music), use the Music type instead.

When to use: Brand packaging, physical shops, event merchandise.

Encodes your Instagram profile URL. Scan opens the Instagram app directly to your profile. Works for any public Instagram account.

When to use: Menus, brochures, manuals, price lists, catalogues.

Upload a PDF, image, or other file (up to 10 MB). QRSprint hosts it and generates a QR pointing to the download. Scan opens the file on any device. Requires a free account.

When to use: Feedback collection, registrations, surveys, lead capture.

Build a hosted form with text, email, phone, dropdown, and multi-choice fields. Scan opens the form. Responses go to your dashboard. Requires a free account.

When to use: Professionals, freelancers, executives, anyone replacing paper business cards.

Creates a hosted profile page with name, photo, title, contact details, social links, and a Save-to-contacts button. Scan opens the page. Update details anytime without reprinting the QR. Requires a free account.

When to use: Restaurants, retail shops, clinics, salons.

Encodes your Google Maps review link. Scan opens the review form directly. Print on counter cards, receipts, or table tents to prompt reviews at the moment of satisfaction.

When to use: Social media bios, brand packaging, influencers.

Creates a hosted link-in-bio page with multiple links (website, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, UPI, etc.). Scan opens the page. Replaces a Linktree link with a direct QR. Requires a free account.

When to use: Merchants, freelancers, and anyone accepting crypto.

Encodes a crypto payment URI for Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Litecoin, Dogecoin, and others. Includes the amount and optional label. Any compatible wallet app scans and pre-fills the transaction.

When to use: Vehicles, kids, pets, luggage, wallet, any item you cannot afford to lose.

When scanned, triggers a private in-app call or message to the owner. The owner's real phone number is never shown. Optional emergency alert. Requires the QRSprint app on the owner's phone.