All QR codes look like the same black and white square, but they do not all do the same thing. The type you choose decides what happens when someone scans it. One opens a website, another connects WiFi, another starts a phone call. Pick the wrong type and the code does the wrong job.
This guide walks through the six most useful types in plain language, with a clear example of when to use each. By the end you will know exactly which one to make.
Type 01Website or link
This is the most common and the most flexible. When scanned, it opens a web address. That address can be your homepage, an online menu, a WhatsApp chat, a Google review page, a booking form, or a Google Maps pin. If it lives online, a link QR code can reach it.
Use it when: you want to send people to any page on the internet. For most businesses, this is the one to start with.
Type 02WiFi
A WiFi QR code holds your network name and password. When a guest scans it, their phone offers to join the network in one tap, with no typing. It is a small touch that saves your staff from reading out the password all day.
Use it when: customers regularly ask for your WiFi, like in a cafe, clinic, or salon. Our full guide on making a WiFi QR code covers the details.
Type 03Phone number
Scan this and the phone is ready to call your number with one tap. The person does not have to copy a number or type it in. It is handy on printed signs, flyers, and cards where you want people to call you quickly.
Use it when: a quick call is the action you want, such as on a taxi sign, a plumber's flyer, or a delivery notice.
Type 04Email
This opens a new email already addressed to you, and you can fill in the subject line in advance. The person just writes their message and sends. It removes the step of copying your address by hand.
Use it when: you want written enquiries, such as for quotes, bookings, or support requests.
Type 05Location
A location QR code opens your shop or office on the map. The person scans, sees where you are, and can start directions in one tap. No more explaining the turn after the roundabout over the phone.
Use it when: people need to find you in person, such as on an invitation, a shopfront, or an event poster.
Type 06Social media
A social QR code opens one of your pages, like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or X. Scan, and the person lands on your profile ready to follow. It turns a poster or a receipt into a follower.
Use it when: you want more followers from people who meet you in the real world. For video channels, see our guide on making a YouTube QR code.
The answerWhich one should you pick?
If you are not sure, start with a website link QR code. It is the most flexible, because the page it opens can hold everything else: your menu, your phone number, your location, and your social links, all on one screen with buttons. That way a single code does many jobs.
If you have one clear task in mind, pick the type that matches it. Want people to join your WiFi? Use a WiFi code. Want a quick call? Use a phone code. The right type is simply the one that does the job you want with the fewest taps.
The free QR code generator makes every type on this page. Pick a type, enter your details, and download. If you want a full page that holds all your links at once, like a digital menu or a service card, that is one of our paid products. Message us and we will build it.