Opt-ins and alerts
Let customers subscribe to offers, restock alerts or service updates by texting a keyword such as JOIN.
SMS QR code generator
SMS QR Code Generator
An SMS QR code opens the phone's messaging app with your number and a pre-written text already in place. People send a keyword, a request or a confirmation with one tap – no typing and no wrong numbers.
- Free static SMS QR codes with no account and no watermark
- Opens the built-in messaging app on iPhone and Android
- Dynamic version: change the number or text after printing
Free generator
Create a free static QR code
Enter your content, pick a style and download your QR code.
Anonymous content is never stored
How to create an SMS QR code
All you need is a number that can receive text messages and a message worth sending.
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Enter the phone number
Use the full international format with the country code, such as +44 or +1, so the code also works for visitors whose phones are registered abroad.
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Write the message
Add a keyword or a short sentence of up to 500 characters. People can still edit it before sending, but most will send it exactly as written.
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Download and test
Save PNG or SVG, then scan with an iPhone and an Android phone to confirm that the number and text appear correctly. Send one test message to be sure it arrives.
What is an SMS QR code?
An SMS QR code stores a phone number and an optional message in a format phone cameras recognise (SMSTO:number:message). Scanning it opens a new text message in the default messaging app, with the recipient and the wording already filled in.
Nothing is sent until the person taps Send, and the usual charges of their mobile plan apply. That transparency builds trust: the person scanning always sees who they are texting and exactly what the message says.
SMS reaches people who don't use a particular chat app and works on practically every phone with a mobile plan. If your audience prefers chat, a WhatsApp QR code opens a WhatsApp conversation instead.
Popular uses for SMS QR codes
Short, structured messages are where SMS codes shine – one keyword, one clear purpose.
Customer support
Open a text to your support line with the product name or the order reference already in the message.
Voting and competitions
Let an audience text a code for their favourite act, answer or entry from a poster, a screen or a programme.
Appointment confirmations
Clinics, salons and workshops can print a code that sends “CONFIRM” or “RESCHEDULE” with one tap.
Callback requests
Invite people to text “CALL ME” to your sales line from a flyer, a vehicle or a shop window.
Consent and opt-out: keep SMS marketing fair
When someone texts your keyword, they start the conversation – but that does not automatically allow you to send them marketing messages indefinitely. In many countries, promotional texts require clear, informed consent, and every message must offer an easy way to stop, such as replying STOP.
Say next to the code what people are signing up for and how often you will write. Keep a record of who opted in and when, and honour opt-out requests promptly. Rules differ from country to country, so check the regulations that apply to you, or ask a legal adviser, before launching a campaign.
Service messages are a different story: an appointment confirmation or a support reply that the person asked for is usually expected and welcome. Keep the two separate, so a support request never quietly becomes a newsletter subscription.
Static or dynamic SMS QR code?
Both open a pre-filled text message. The difference is what you can still change once the code is printed.
| Static | Dynamic | |
|---|---|---|
| Free without an account | Yes | No |
| Number and message pre-filled | Yes | Yes |
| Opens the messaging app without loading a link first | Yes | No |
| Change the number or text after printing | No | Yes |
| Scan statistics by date, country and operating system | No | Yes |
| Switch the code off when a campaign ends | No | Yes |
When a dynamic SMS QR code pays off
Campaign keywords change, support numbers move and competitions end. A dynamic QR code holds a short link, and each scan is forwarded directly to a text message built from your current number and wording. Update either one in your dashboard and every printed code follows.
Dynamic codes also show how often each poster or flyer is scanned. Put a separate code on each material or location and compare the results in QR code analytics – scans over time, by country and city, and by operating system.
Because a dynamic code only contains a short link, it stays compact even when your message is long, which helps on small labels and tickets. And when a campaign is over, you can set the code to inactive instead of leaving a keyword live that nobody monitors any more.
Tips for SMS QR codes that get sent
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Use the international format
Start with + and the country code. Local formats with a leading zero may fail for visitors from other countries.
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Keep keywords simple
One short word in capitals, like JOIN or INFO, is easy to recognise and hard to break if someone edits the message.
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Check that the number receives texts
Some landlines and virtual numbers cannot receive SMS. Send a real test message before printing.
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Say what happens next
“Text JOIN for our weekly offers – reply STOP to unsubscribe” sets clear expectations and supports consent.
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Print it large enough
Posters read from a distance need bigger codes. The print size calculator gives you a safe size.
Running an SMS campaign?
Use a dynamic SMS QR code to change keywords between campaigns and see which posters actually get scanned.
How do I create a QR code that sends a text message?
Enter the phone number and your message in the generator above and download the code. Scanning it opens the messaging app with both already filled in.
Is the SMS QR code generator free?
Yes. Static SMS QR codes are free, have no watermark and never expire. No account is needed.
Does scanning the code send the SMS automatically?
No. The scan only opens a draft. The person sees the number and text and decides whether to tap Send.
Who pays for the text message?
The person who sends it, according to their mobile plan. If you use a number with special rates, say so next to the code.
Does it work on iPhone and Android?
Yes. Current iPhones and most Android phones open the messaging app directly from the camera. Other devices can use a QR scanner app or our QR code reader.
Can I change the phone number or message later?
With a dynamic SMS QR code, yes – edit both in your dashboard at any time. A static code has them built in and would have to be replaced.
Can I use an SMS QR code for marketing?
Yes, for example to collect opt-ins. Make sure you have consent for any promotional messages you send back and always offer an easy opt-out.
How long can the pre-filled message be?
The generator accepts up to 500 characters. Short keywords work best, and long texts may be split into several messages by the phone network.
Does an SMS QR code work without mobile data?
A static code does: the number and text are inside the code, and the message travels over the cellular network. A dynamic code opens its short link first, so it needs a data connection when scanned.
Do you store the number I enter?
No. The free generator creates the image in the moment and does not save the number or the message.
Qdestera
Start free
One scan, one text, one clear action.
Create a dynamic SMS QR code, change keywords whenever you like and see which placements get scanned.