SMS QR Code
Free SMS QR Code Generator
Encode an sms:+15551234567?body=... link into a QR that opens the scanner's messaging app — iMessage on iPhone, Google Messages on Android — with a pre-filled text ready to send.
Quick answer
An SMS QR code encodes an sms link so one scan opens the messaging app, iMessage or Google Messages, with your number and a pre-filled text ready to send. To make one, enter the number and message, add your colors and logo, and download a PNG, SVG, or PDF. Free, no watermark.
Your QR code will appear here
About SMS QR Codes
SMS QRs ride the sms: URI scheme — the universal "click to text" protocol that opens the native messaging app on every smartphone since 2007. The QR encodes sms:+15551234567?body=INFO and the scanner's phone shows the compose screen with your number and the starter text already filled. The customer reviews and taps Send.
The magic isn't saving them from typing your number — it's the keyword-driven flow that makes SMS the dominant opt-in channel for loyalty programs, political campaigns, lead capture, and real-estate inquiries. A QR labeled "Scan to text JOIN to 55555" pre-fills both the number AND the keyword JOIN, dropping the scanner straight into your CRM's automated opt-in funnel. No typing, no autocorrect mangling the keyword, no abandoned attempts. SMS open rates run 90%+ within 3 minutes — far higher than email, and the SMS QR is the lowest-friction way to get someone into that channel from print.
EZQR generates SMS QRs free with no watermark, no signup, and no expiration. The QR encodes the sms: URI directly into the pattern — works on every phone, pauses rather than deletes on lapse, doesn't depend on any server we run.
Walkthrough
How to Create a SMS QR Code
Enter the destination number in international format
Always include the country code (
+1for US/Canada,+44for UK,+91for India). For shortcodes (5-6 digit campaign numbers like 55555 or 67734), enter the shortcode alone — no country code needed since shortcodes are region-specific.Pre-fill a keyword or starter message
For loyalty/CRM opt-ins, pre-fill the single keyword your platform expects (
JOIN,INFO,STOP,MENU). For conversational support, pre-fill a short prompt:Hi, I have a question about ___. Keep the body under 50 characters — long pre-fills look like spam and get edited.Brand the QR code and add a logo
Match your brand colors. Add a small message-bubble icon next to the QR so scanners know the destination is messaging, not voice. Contrast above 4:1; logo under 20% of code area.
Download PNG, SVG, or PDF
PNG for digital — social posts, slide footers. SVG for print at scale — packaging, signage, business cards. PDF for the print shop. Minimum 2.5 cm on business cards, 4 cm on signage, 8 cm on storefront windows scanned from the sidewalk.
Test on iPhone and Android both
Scan from an iPhone — verify iMessage opens with the number and keyword pre-filled. Scan from an Android — verify Google Messages opens identically. URL-encoding bugs in the body field break silently across platforms; 30 seconds of testing prevents reprints.
SMS QR Code FAQ
Common questions about generating, printing, and deploying these codes.
Does the SMS send automatically when someone scans?
No — the QR opens the messaging app with the number and body pre-filled, but the sender reviews everything and taps Send manually. They can edit any field before sending. This is a hard constraint of the sms: URI spec and the OS-level messaging app: auto-sending SMS from a URI would be weaponized for fraud within hours, so every modern OS requires explicit user confirmation.
Can I pre-fill the message body with a keyword?
Yes — and for marketing/CRM opt-ins, this is the highest-leverage design decision. Append ?body=JOIN to the URL (EZQR handles URL encoding). The keyword appears in the compose box; the scanner just taps Send. SMS platforms (Attentive, Klaviyo, Postscript, SimpleTexting) parse the first word as the opt-in trigger, so a clean keyword pre-fill drops conversion rates dramatically vs asking the customer to type JOIN themselves.
Does it work on both iPhone and Android?
Yes — the sms: URI scheme is supported natively on iOS (iMessage and Messages) and Android (Google Messages and any installed SMS app). The compose screen opens with the destination number and body pre-filled regardless of which app the user has set as default. Test on both before scale-printing to verify body URL encoding renders correctly — commas, ampersands, and line breaks can behave subtly differently across SMS clients.
Can I send the QR to a shortcode (5-6 digit number)?
Yes — shortcodes (55555, 67734, 80100) are the standard for marketing SMS opt-ins and donation flows. Enter the shortcode alone without a country code or + prefix — shortcodes are region-specific. The QR encodes sms:55555?body=JOIN and the SMS app sends to the carrier-routed shortcode. Most SMS marketing platforms (Attentive, Postscript, Klaviyo) provide shortcode numbers as part of their service.
Can I track how many people text from the QR code?
Static SMS QRs don't track scans — the URI is encoded directly with no redirect. Two tracking layers are possible: use a dynamic QR on the Lite plan ($5/mo) to see scan-level analytics (timestamp, device type, city-level location), and track the actual SMS conversion in your SMS marketing platform. Combining both gives full scan-to-opt-in attribution per physical asset.
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