QR Code Guide: Frames, Design, Editing & Analytics
QR codes on SimpleURL are fully customisable — colours, modules, corner styles, logo embedding, and branded frames. This guide covers every feature on the QR Codes page, which plan is required, and tips for getting the best scan rates.
Creating a QR Code
Click Create QR Code and either:
- Paste a destination URL directly into the design panel, or
- Navigate from a short link (three-dot menu → Generate QR Code) to link an existing short link to a new QR code
Every QR code is backed by a short link. This means you can change where a QR code points any time — even after it's been printed (Destination Editing, HOBBY+).
QR Code Design Options
The design tab lets you customise every visual aspect of your QR code:
| Setting | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Module style | Shape of each individual dot (square, rounded, dots, etc.) |
| Corner square style | The three large corner squares |
| Corner dot style | The dot inside each corner square |
| QR colour | Foreground colour of the modules |
| Background colour | Background fill of the QR code |
| Logo | Embed an image in the centre |
| Logo size | How large the logo appears relative to the QR |
| Frame | Decorative border with optional text or branding |
| Frame text | Text shown in the frame (e.g. "SCAN ME") |
| Frame colour | Colour of the frame and text |
Logo Embedding Tips
- Keep your logo simple — complex logos with fine detail lose quality at the small sizes used in QR codes
- Use a PNG with a transparent background for the cleanest result
- Keep logo size at 0.3 or below. Larger logos interfere with QR code readability — codes need enough modules exposed to be scannable
- After embedding a logo, always test the code with multiple apps before printing
QR Frame Styles — Plan-Gated
Frame availability varies by plan. See the table below.
Frames add a visual border and optional call-to-action text (e.g., "SCAN ME", your brand name) around the QR code. They are particularly effective for print — a QR code without a frame on a poster is often ignored; one with "SCAN ME" gets scanned 2–4× more.
Which Frames Are Available on Each Plan?
| Frame | FREE | HOBBY | PRO | TEAM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No frame | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Square border | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Text bottom | — | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Text top | — | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Text top + bottom | — | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Bitly-style bottom | — | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Heavy bottom bar | — | — | ✅ | ✅ |
| Heavy border | — | — | ✅ | ✅ |
| Script/italic bottom | — | — | ✅ | ✅ |
| Instagram-style | — | — | — | ✅ |
HOBBY unlocks the most important frames for everyday use — text labels above and below the QR code that tell people to scan.
PRO adds heavy-weight frames designed for premium print materials: product packaging, business cards, and signage.
TEAM adds the Instagram-style frame for social media-focused campaigns.
Destination Editing for QR Codes — HOBBY and Above
Plan availability: HOBBY · PRO · TEAM
Once a QR code is printed, it permanently encodes its short URL. But with destination editing, you can change where that URL redirects — without reprinting anything.
This is the single most important feature for print campaigns:
- Menus at restaurants: Update the online menu without reprinting the table QR code
- Event signage: Point the QR code at the event schedule; update it as speakers change
- Product packaging: Direct customers to updated product pages or video tutorials
How to Edit a QR Code Destination
- Click the QR code in the left list to select it
- In the right panel, switch to the Edit tab
- Update the URL and click Save
Changes are immediate — all existing printed codes will redirect to the new destination.
| Plan | Destination Edits per Month |
|---|---|
| FREE | 0 — not available |
| HOBBY | 10 edits/month |
| PRO | Effectively unlimited (100/month default) |
| TEAM | Effectively unlimited (1,000/month default) |
Click Analytics for QR Codes — HOBBY and Above
Plan availability: Country data: HOBBY+ · City & Device data: PRO+
Every QR code scan records a click event. The analytics modal (bar chart icon on any list item) shows:
| Plan | Analytics Access |
|---|---|
| FREE | No analytics |
| HOBBY | Total scans · Top countries |
| PRO | Total scans · Countries · Cities · Devices · Browsers |
| TEAM | Same as PRO |
What Scan Analytics Tell You
- Countries: Are your printed materials reaching the intended market?
- Cities (PRO+): Which stores or locations generate the most engagement?
- Devices (PRO+): Mobile vs. desktop split. (Most QR code scans are mobile — if you see desktop, your code might be digital rather than print.)
- Time of day (via raw click timestamps): Understand when your audience is most active.
Using a Branded Domain in QR Codes — HOBBY and Above
Plan availability: HOBBY: 1 domain · PRO: 3 domains · TEAM: 10 domains
QR codes encode a URL. That URL can be your branded domain (go.yourbrand.com/product) instead of smplu.link/.... This matters in print — people who glance at a QR code before scanning trust branded URLs more than generic shorteners.
Once a branded domain is connected, select it as the domain when creating a new QR code. See Branded Domains Guide for setup steps.
Downloading Your QR Code
Click Download PNG in the design panel. The download includes any applied frame, logo, and colour settings. The output is a high-resolution PNG suitable for print.
Recommended specifications for print:
- Test scan before committing to large print runs
- Use a minimum size of 2cm × 2cm for reliable scanning at normal reading distances
- Maintain adequate contrast — avoid light grey on white backgrounds
Best Practices
- Always test scan before printing. Use multiple phones and apps (iOS Camera, Android Camera, QR & Barcode Scanner) to confirm the code works.
- Use a frame with text for print. Bare QR codes get ignored. "SCAN ME" or your call-to-action in the frame dramatically increases scan rates.
- Keep design simple. Heavy customisation can reduce scannability. Stick to high contrast and simple module shapes for important campaigns.
- Use destination editing instead of reprinting. If your destination URL changes, update it in SimpleURL rather than reprint. This saves cost and keeps analytics continuous.
- Link QR codes to short links. Create the short link first, then generate a QR from it. This lets you share both the scannable code and the typed URL for the same destination.
Need Help?
Contact us at contact@simpleurl.tech. We typically respond within 24 hours.