URL Shortener with QR Code: Generate Free QR Codes for Any Link

May 25, 20264 min read

What Is a QR Code?

A QR code (Quick Response code) is a two-dimensional barcode that smartphones can read instantly using their camera app — no special scanner required. When someone scans a QR code, their phone opens the encoded URL in the browser, just as if they had typed the address manually.

QR codes were invented in 1994 but became ubiquitous after 2020, when restaurants replaced paper menus with QR code links to digital menus. Today, QR codes appear on packaging, business cards, event signage, billboards, product labels, and anywhere else a physical-to-digital connection is needed.

Why Combine a QR Code with a Short URL?

A QR code and a short URL serve the same purpose — bridging the physical and digital worlds — but for different audiences:

QR codes: Best for smartphone users who can quickly scan. No typing required. Ideal for print materials, signage, and packaging where the viewer has their phone nearby.
Short URLs: Best for print materials where scanning is not possible, or for audiences who prefer typing. A URL like lnkzy.io/menu is easy to remember and type.

Using both together is the ideal approach: print the short URL below the QR code. Scanners use the QR code. Typers use the short URL. Everyone gets through.

Additionally, the short URL tracks clicks — giving you data on how many people scanned or typed the link. A raw QR code has no tracking built in. Pairing it with a short URL that has a stats page gives you measurable results.

How to Generate a Free QR Code on Lnkzy

Step 1: Go to lnkzy.io and paste your URL into the shortener.
Step 2: Optionally, set a custom alias that describes what the QR code leads to (e.g., restaurant-menu or booth-demo).
Step 3: Click Shorten Link. Your QR code is generated automatically alongside your short URL.
Step 4: Click Download QR Code to save the QR code as a PNG or SVG file.
Step 5: Use the downloaded image in your design software (Canva, Adobe Illustrator, Word, etc.) and add it to your print materials.

The QR code can also be found on your stats page at lnkzy.io/stats/your-alias — useful if you need to download it again later.

Best Use Cases for Short URL + QR Code

Restaurant Menus

Table tents, menu boards, and entrance signs with a QR code linking to your digital menu are now standard practice. A short URL like lnkzy.io/our-menu beneath the QR code means customers who prefer typing can still access the menu easily. You can update the digital menu any time without reprinting — as long as the destination URL stays the same.

Business Cards

Printing a QR code on your business card that links to your LinkedIn profile, portfolio, or contact page is far more effective than a plain URL. A QR code on a card can be scanned in one second. The short URL below it provides a fallback for anyone who prefers typing. This combination ensures 100% of recipients can reach your page.

Event Signage and Conference Booths

At events, a QR code on your booth banner pointing to a demo video, pricing page, or lead capture form makes it effortless for attendees to connect with your content. With click tracking, you can measure exactly how many people at the event engaged with your QR code.

Product Packaging

QR codes on packaging are increasingly used to link customers to instruction manuals, video tutorials, warranty registration, product reviews, or loyalty programs. A short URL beneath the QR code gives customers a typed alternative and makes reprinting easier if the destination changes.

Flyers and Print Advertising

Whether distributing flyers at a market stall or running a print ad in a magazine, a QR code + short URL combination maximizes response rates. Scanners are taken directly to your offer. Non-scanners can type the short URL on their own time.

Can You Update Where a QR Code Points?

This is one of the most common questions about QR codes. Once printed, the QR code itself cannot change — it is just an image encoding a specific URL. However, if the URL it encodes is a short link (rather than your direct destination URL), you have more flexibility: you can create a new short link pointing to the updated destination and update your materials to use the new short link.

For permanent print materials, the best practice is to link the QR code to a short URL, and keep your destination URL stable. Editable short links that let you update the destination without changing the code are on Lnkzy's roadmap as a premium feature.

Frequently Asked Questions

What format should I download the QR code in? For print, always use SVG (vector) if available — it scales to any size without pixelation. For digital use, PNG at high resolution (300 DPI or higher) works well.

Do QR codes expire? The QR code itself does not expire — it is just an image. However, if the URL it encodes is a short link, that link must remain active. Lnkzy links never expire.

How large should I print the QR code? A minimum of 2 cm × 2 cm (roughly 0.8 inches square) for close-range scanning. For larger signage or banners, scale proportionally and test with multiple phones before printing.