A Free QR Code API You Can Call in One Line

Need QR codes inside your own product — order confirmations, tickets, shipping labels, dashboards? You don't need a paid plan to render static codes with the HonestQR API — a free account and its API key are enough:

curl -H "Authorization: Bearer $HONESTQR_KEY" \
  "https://qr.zalize.com/api/v1/static?data=https%3A%2F%2Fexample.com&format=svg"

That's it — the response is the image, ready for your PDF pipeline, label printer or email rendering step.

What the API can do

• Render static QR codes as PNG or SVG with size options — nothing is stored, and the output never expires.
• Create dynamic codes whose destination you can edit later — even after printing (how that works).
• Fetch scan statistics — scans over time, country and device — for your dynamic codes (about scan tracking).
• List and manage all your codes programmatically, with API keys managed from your dashboard.

Full endpoint reference, parameters and error codes: API documentation.

Why developers pick it over the big-name APIs

• Static rendering is genuinely free — a free account, no trial that silently converts, no watermark tier.
• Codes can't be held hostage. Static codes are physically unexpirable, and dynamic codes keep redirecting even if you stop paying. Compare that with the horror stories around trial-expiry generators.
• Flat pricing. Unlimited dynamic codes are $29/year — no per-request or per-scan metering. Pricing.

Common recipes

1. Email/receipt QR: fetch a PNG from the static endpoint with the order URL and attach or inline it at send time.
2. Batch label printing: loop your SKUs through the SVG endpoint and place them in your label template. For retail packaging, consider GS1 Digital Link codes.
3. Campaign links you can retarget: create dynamic codes via the API, print them, then change destinations per campaign phase.

FAQ

Is there a free QR code API?

Yes. HonestQR’s API renders static QR codes (PNG or SVG) with a simple GET request using an API key from a free account — no paid plan, no watermark. Dynamic-code endpoints (create, edit, stats) use the same key.

Do QR codes created via the API expire?

Static codes rendered by the API never expire — the data is encoded in the image itself. Dynamic codes keep redirecting even if you cancel a paid plan; that promise is written down on our "Why we’re different" page.

What formats does the API return?

PNG and SVG for static rendering, with a size parameter (pixels). Dynamic-code endpoints return JSON plus downloadable PNG/SVG images.

Are there rate limits?

Fair-use rate limits apply to keep the service fast for everyone. If you need sustained high volume, contact us — we’d rather talk than surprise-bill you.