Free Tool

SMS QR Code Generator

Enter a phone number and a message and get a QR code that opens a ready-to-send text when scanned. Free, with no signup and no watermark.

Private by design: the code is built in your browser. What you type is never uploaded or stored.

About this QR code

A QR code that opens a text message

An SMS QR code opens the messaging app with the recipient and your message already filled in. The person scanning only has to press send. Nothing is sent automatically, and ordinary message charges from their carrier may apply.

It suits situations where a short written reply is easier than a call or an email, such as joining a list or asking for a callback.

If you want people to speak to you instead, a phone QR code opens the dialer.

Where it is used

Ways to use a text-message code

Opt-in keywords. Pre-fill “JOIN” for a short code so people can sign up for updates with one tap. If you collect numbers this way, check the messaging rules where you operate.

Callback and quote requests. A van or a flyer can open a message that says “Please call me about a quote”.

Reservations and queues. A restaurant door can open a text to the booking number with the party size ready to fill in.

Voting and contests. Pre-fill the entry word so participants do not mistype it.

Support lines. A code on a device opens a message to the support number with the model name included.

Reminders and check-ins. A code on a gym wall or a worksite sign that sends a quick “I am here” message.

Audiences who use chat apps. If your customers mostly message through an app, a WhatsApp QR code opens that chat instead.

How to use it

Three simple steps

1. Enter the number

Type the number the text should go to, with the country code if it will be scanned abroad.

2. Write the message

Add the text that should appear in the message box. Keep it short and clear.

3. Choose a format and test

Download the code and scan it on the phones your audience uses. If one fails, try the other format below.

The details

Two formats, and why there is a choice

There is no single SMS format that every scanner treats the same way. This tool offers two. SMSTO, written as SMSTO:number:message, is the long-running convention used by many QR scanners and is the default. The other is the standard sms: link, written as sms:number?body=message. Both open a message with the number and text prefilled on the scanners that understand them.

We have decoded both formats in software tests, but we cannot test every phone and scanner combination from here. Because support varies, try the code on the phones your audience actually uses. If the default does not behave, switch the format and generate it again.

Message length matters at the other end. A single text holds 160 characters of ordinary letters, and only about 70 once it includes emoji or many non-Latin characters. Longer messages may be split into several parts or sent differently, depending on the phone and the carrier. Short messages are also kinder to the code, which stays less dense.

The font caption

A caption for the code

A line such as “Text JOIN to subscribe” under the code explains what scanning does. Find a typeface in the ProFont library and it is added to the PNG. The SVG download holds the code only.

Caption font ideas

Pick a caption font

Texting feels informal, so a soft, rounded face suits an SMS caption. Three to try:

Guides worth reading

Type guides to go with your code

Putting the code on a banner or a van? These guides cover the lettering:

Questions

SMS QR code FAQ

Does the text send automatically?

No. It opens in the messaging app with the number and message ready, and the person presses send.

Which format should I choose?

Start with SMSTO. If a phone does not open the message properly, generate the code again with the sms: link format and test that.

Is there a limit on the message length?

The code can hold more, but a single text is 160 characters, or about 70 with emoji or many non-Latin characters. Keep it short.

Will scanning cost the person money?

Scanning is free. Sending the text may be charged by their carrier under their own plan.

Can I use a short code number?

Yes. The tool accepts numbers from 3 to 15 digits, which covers short codes.

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