4 Free QR Code Generators for PDF

Maria Prakkat
5 min readOct 25, 2023

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Free QR Code generators for PDF creation.

Here is a simple method to share PDF files using QR Codes. (Or embedding a PDF file into a QR Code, if you will.)

To create one, you need a tool called a QR Code generator. As the name suggests, it’s a tool for creating custom QR Codes that are linked to a specific entity. This entity could be the landing page for a new product, the menu for a restaurant, a digital business card, or, in this case, a PDF file..

With a single scan, one can access a world of information on their smartphone with a PDF QR Code. It’s a quick, easy, secure, and paperless way of knowledge sharing with any number of people at once.

Below are 4 free QR Code generators you can use for converting PDF files into QR Codes for easy sharing.

1. Beaconstac’s Free QR Code Generator for PDF

Beaconstac’s free QR Code generator for PDF tool is fast, easy, and loaded with advanced features for creating, tracking, and sharing QR Codes with PDF file embeds.

How Beaconstac’s free QR Code generator works,

There are two ways to use Beaconstac’s QR Code generator for PDF files. If you’re only looking for a simple QR Code, follow the steps below:

  1. Open the “PDF QR Code” tool page and enter the PDF URL in the box provided. You will have to sign up for a free account to upload the file.
Beaconstac’s PDF QR Code generator
Beaconstac’s PDF QR Code generator
  1. Next, click on “Customization” to open the dropdown menu and customize the QR Code from the choice available for color, eye style, data, and frames.
  2. Once you’re happy with the custom QR Code, click on “Download QR Code” to save the image in PNG format.

Note: This particular method has limited customization options. If you’re looking for dynamic and hyper-personalized QR Codes, go for the second method below.

Pros

  • Password-protected QR Codes
  • Dynamic and customizable QR Codes
  • Multilingual QR Codes
  • Performance tracking
  • Enterprise-grade

Cons

  • QR Codes are downloadable in only PNG format for the free plan.
  • No CTAs are available for the free plan

2. QR Code Generator Hub

QR Code Generator Hub offers a free tool for creating and tracking dynamic QR Codes for PDFs, which can be edited and tracked. These codes are also highly customizable, come with unlimited scans, and provide access to advanced scan metrics without any additional cost.

How the QR Code Generator Hub

You will need to sign up for a free account to use the tool. Once done, you can follow the 5 steps below.

  1. Go to QR Code Generator Hub’s homepage and click on the ‘URL’ option.
QR Code generator for PDF by QR Code Generator Hub.
QR Code generator for PDF by QR Code Generator Hub.
  1. Now, paste the URL of the PDF file for which you want to create the QR Code. Make sure the link is correct and functional.
  2. Click on the ‘Upload Logo’ option to add your brand logo.
  3. Then, choose the ‘Customize Style’ option to add some personalized touches. You can pick a preferred text, color, shape, and frame from the choices available. Or use a pre-built template.
  4. Your QR Code is ready. Click on ‘Free Download’ to save it.

Pros

  • Dynamic QR Codes
  • Custom styles
  • Scans and usage tracking
  • Advanced scan metrics

Cons

  • Domain support is only available for paid plans.
  • No bulk creation for free plans.

3. Adobe Express Online QR Code Generator

Adobe Express is an online, free QR Code generator from a renowned brand in the design space. You can access the tool either through its mobile app or directly on the website to turn your PDFs into QR Codes.

How Adobe Express’s free QR Code generator works

You will need to sign up for a free Adobe Express account first. Then, you can follow the steps below to get started.

  1. Go to Adobe Express’s homepage and click on “Quick Actions.”
  2. Select the “Create a QR Code” option from the drop-down menu. You’ll be redirected to a new page.
Adobe Express QR Code generator for PDF creation.
Adobe Express QR Code generator for PDF creation.
  1. Now, enter a shareable link to the PDF file you want to embed in the QR Code.
  2. Next, choose your preferred style and color to create a custom design for your QR Code.
  3. Finally, you can download the QR Code image to start sharing with others. You can pick from three options: PNG, SVG, and PNG.

Pros

  • QR Code customization
  • Forever free
  • Available in three file formats
  • Unlimited scans

Cons

  • Limited color palette
  • Lack of error correction feature
  • Doesn’t support bulk creation
  • No QR Code analytics

4. Me-QR’s PDF QR Code Generator

Me-QR’s free QR Code generator for PDFs is a simple tool offering a trackable, dynamic QR Code creation solution. These codes provide unlimited scans and can be created in bulk.

How Me-QR’s free QR Code generator works

It has a straightforward process involving three steps. They are:

  1. To get started, open Me-QR’s PDF Code Generator page.
Me-QR’s free QR Code generator
Me-QR’s free QR Code generator
  1. Keep the PDF file you’d like to embed in the QR Code ready.
  2. Upload the PDF file to convert and click the “Customize & Download QR” button.
  3. Now, customize the QR Code according to preference.
  4. Finally, download the QR Code image and run a quick scan before sharing it with users.

Pros

  • Trackable QR Codes
  • Dynamic QR Codes
  • Unlimited scans
  • Bulk QR Code creation

Cons

  • QR Codes for the free plan come with Ads
  • No API for the free plan

Ready to Create a PDF QR Code?

There you have it! These free QR Code generators for PDF creation are easy to use and implement.

Now, there is nothing more convenient than a QR Code to securely share materials with others. But if the QR Code doesn’t work properly, there’s no point in creating one. So, if you’re embedding a PDF of a marketing or sales collateral, make sure the QR Code matches the brand style and works well without a hassle.

So, did you pick a favorite yet?

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Maria Prakkat

Crafting captivating narratives and optimizing user experiences for B2B and tech giants.