Takeaway and pre-orders
Put the code on the menu or the door so guests can order ahead or ask about today's specials.
WhatsApp QR code generator
WhatsApp QR Code Generator
Let customers start a WhatsApp conversation with you in one scan. Enter your number with the country code, add a message they can send straight away and download a free WhatsApp QR code for your counter, packaging or ads.
- Free, no account and no watermark
- Opens a chat with your number and a pre-filled message
- Works with WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business numbers
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 a WhatsApp QR code
You need the phone number that runs WhatsApp and, if you like, a first message for your customers.
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Enter the number in international format
Start with the country code, for example +44 7700 900123 for a UK mobile. Spaces, dashes and the plus sign are removed for you; drop the leading zero you would dial inside the country.
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Add a pre-filled message
Write the text that appears in the customer's chat box, such as “Hi, I'd like to book a table”. They can change it before they send it.
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Download and put it to work
Download PNG or SVG, scan the code with your own phone, then place it where customers usually have a question: the counter, the box, the flyer.
What is a WhatsApp QR code?
A WhatsApp QR code holds a click-to-chat link in the form wa.me/number, optionally followed by a message. When someone scans it, their phone opens WhatsApp with a new chat to your number and your message already typed in. Nothing is sent until the customer taps send.
The customer doesn't have to save your number first. That removes the step where many people give up: copying digits from a poster into their contacts, then searching for the new contact in WhatsApp.
On a device without WhatsApp, the wa.me link opens in the browser, where WhatsApp offers to continue in the app or on the web.
What businesses use WhatsApp QR codes for
Wherever a customer would rather write a message than make a call.
Shops and showrooms
Customers ask about sizes, stock or delivery while they stand in front of the product.
Packaging and after-sales
A code on the box or the manual opens a support chat with the product name already in the message.
Property listings
Signs and brochures open a chat that already mentions the listing, so you know which home the question is about.
Appointments
Salons, clinics, tutors and repair services receive booking requests without phone tag.
Ads and flyers
Turn a print ad into a conversation instead of asking readers to remember a number.
Write a pre-filled message that gets a reply
The first message decides how easy the conversation is for both sides. A few small choices make a big difference.
Mention where the scan happened
“Hi, I scanned the code on your shop window” tells you which print brought the customer – useful because a static WhatsApp QR code has no scan statistics.
Leave room for the customer
End with an open phrase, such as “I'd like to book a table for …”, so people complete the sentence instead of starting from scratch.
Keep it short
The message is written into the code. A long message makes the pattern denser and harder to scan, so one sentence is usually enough.
Can you change the number on a WhatsApp QR code?
The WhatsApp QR code is static: the number and the message are stored in the pattern itself. It is free and never expires, but it cannot be edited after printing. A new number or a new message means a new code.
If your number might change – a seasonal line, a team member who moves on, a campaign message you want to rotate – there is a simple workaround. Build the wa.me link with our free WhatsApp link generator, then use it as the destination of a dynamic URL QR code. The printed code points to a short link you control, and you can swap the wa.me link behind it whenever you need to.
WhatsApp QR code or dynamic URL QR code with a wa.me link?
Both open the same chat. Pick the static code for simplicity, the dynamic route for flexibility.
| WhatsApp QR (static) | Dynamic URL QR → wa.me | |
|---|---|---|
| Free without an account | Yes | No |
| Opens a chat with a pre-filled message | Yes | Yes |
| Works without any redirect service | Yes | No |
| Change number or message after printing | No | Yes |
| Scan statistics by date, country and OS | No | Yes |
| Pause the code when a campaign ends | No | Yes |
Design and print: make the code readable everywhere
The free generator lets you set foreground and background colors, module style, eye style, size and error correction. Use your brand color if you like – just keep the code clearly darker than its background. Light codes on dark backgrounds are harder for some phones to read.
Download SVG for stickers, labels and boxes: a vector file stays sharp at any size your printer asks for. PNG is fine for screens and social posts. If you are unsure how large the code should be, the print size calculator suggests a size for your scanning distance.
In an account you can also add your logo, a frame with text such as “Message us”, and download JPG or PDF files.
Tips for WhatsApp QR codes customers trust
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Use a business number
A WhatsApp Business account shows your business name and profile, and lets you set greeting and away messages for chats that come in after hours.
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Say what happens
A label such as “Chat with us on WhatsApp” next to the code tells people what the scan does before they scan.
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Set expectations for replies
If you answer within business hours, say so on the print. It prevents frustration and repeat messages.
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Remember the number is public
Anyone who scans the code sees the number. Use a line meant for customers rather than a private phone.
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Test on a phone that doesn't know you
Scan with a device that hasn't saved your number to see exactly what a new customer sees.
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Offer a second channel
Not everyone uses WhatsApp. An SMS QR code or a phone number next to it keeps those customers too.
Might your number change?
Put a wa.me link inside a dynamic URL QR code and edit it from your dashboard – the printed code keeps working.
How do I create a QR code for WhatsApp?
Enter your WhatsApp number with the country code in the generator above, add an optional message and download the code. Scanning it opens a chat with you.
Is the WhatsApp QR code generator free?
Yes. WhatsApp QR codes are static, free, without a watermark and they never expire. You don't need an account.
Is the message sent automatically when someone scans?
No. The message only appears in the chat box. The customer reads it, can edit it and decides whether to send it.
Does it work with WhatsApp Business?
Yes. The wa.me link works the same for WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business numbers.
Can I change the phone number after printing?
Not on a static WhatsApp QR code. If you expect changes, put a wa.me link inside a dynamic URL QR code and update the link whenever you need.
Can I make a QR code for a WhatsApp group?
Yes. Copy the group's invite link in WhatsApp and put it into a URL QR code. Anyone with the link can ask to join, and group admins can reset the link in WhatsApp.
Why does my WhatsApp QR code not open a chat?
Usually the number is missing the country code or still has a leading zero. Check that the number is registered on WhatsApp and scan again.
Should I share the QR code on Instagram or my website too?
Online, the plain wa.me link is usually easier – people can't scan a code on the same phone they are looking at. Use the QR code on print and on screens viewed from another device.
Do you store the number I enter?
No. The free generator creates the image on the fly and does not save the number or message you type.
How is this different from the QR code inside WhatsApp?
WhatsApp's own code is handy for sharing your contact in person. A Qdestera WhatsApp QR code adds a pre-filled message, takes your colors and downloads as SVG for sharp print.
Qdestera
Start free
Turn “What's your number?” into one scan.
Create a free WhatsApp QR code now, or sign up to route chats through a dynamic code you can edit.