SMS QR code generator
Create a QR code that opens a pre-filled SMS with your number and message ready to send. Style it and download as PNG or SVG — ideal for print and signage.
There's an API for this — free, no key
Everything this generator does is also one GET request away. Build any QR code above, press API, and you get a shareable URL that renders the exact same design — PNG or SVG, any size up to 2048px, all dot styles, marker shapes, and colors.
https://in.bio/api/qr?url=https://example.com&dot_style=dots&marker_shape=circle&foreground=1a56db
30 requests/minute per IP, cached for a day. Read the API docs
An SMS QR code opens the messaging app with your number and an optional message ready to send. It is great for text-to-join campaigns, contest entries, appointment confirmations, and support lines — the person just hits send, and you know exactly which sign or product the text came from. There is no app to install and no number to save, so it works on any phone straight out of the box.
What an SMS QR code encodes
The code holds a standard SMS link — your number plus an optional prefilled message — that both iPhone and Android understand. Nothing is stored on our servers; the message is encoded in the pattern. A short, clear keyword works especially well for opt-in campaigns: a prefilled body like JOIN to a shortcode turns a poster into a one-tap subscription.
What happens when someone scans it
The camera opens the messaging app with your number in the To field and your text in the compose box. The sender can still edit the message before sending, and nothing goes out until they tap send. That makes SMS codes reliable on public print and friendlier than a call for people who would rather not talk.
Keep the message short
A long prefilled message makes a denser pattern and gives people more to delete, so keep it to a keyword or a short line. Use international number format, keep strong contrast and a clear margin, and download a PNG for screens or an SVG for signage.
Measuring a text campaign
Carriers do not report QR scans back to you, so if you run the same opt-in across several placements, add a trackable short link QR code to each to see which one drives sign-ups. For richer conversations, compare an SMS code with a WhatsApp code; for a straight call, use a phone code. There are campaign teardowns on the blog.
Opt-in, keywords, and consent
Text-to-join is powerful precisely because it is deliberate: the person scans, sees the prefilled keyword, and taps send, which is a clear, logged opt-in. Lean into that. A short, obvious keyword — JOIN, DEALS, YES — reads well in the compose box and is easy to process on your end. Say plainly, next to the code, what someone is signing up for and how often you will message them; the goodwill you keep is worth more than the one extra sign-up a vague prompt might win.
Because a scan starts a message the sender chooses to send, an SMS code sidesteps the awkwardness of collecting numbers by hand. If you run the same opt-in across posters, packaging, and ads, put a trackable short link beside each so you can see which placement actually built your list — there are opt-in campaign teardowns on the blog.
Other QR code types
Need a different kind of code? Try the WhatsApp QR code and phone QR code. Any code here can become a dynamic QR code you edit after printing and track on every scan — and if you just need a short link, the URL shortener counts every click.
What people use it for
- Text-to-join and opt-in campaigns
- Contest entries and event check-ins
- Appointment reminders and support lines