Create QR codes with website URLs for free - online or with the app

Today - after a long time - I once again needed to create a QR code that contains a website address and should be printed on a flyer. My first port of call was Google search, because I thought there are probably numerous online offers that offer creation for free. Then you don't have to install any software on the Mac.

Online QR code generators collect email addresses

There are actually many websites that offer such online QR code generators, but they are all structured in such a way that you have to give your email address either to create or, at the latest, to download the graphic. If this is not the case, the web address of the generator is shown in the code or there are some other restrictions. However, the most popular thing is to ask the user for their email address.

I didn't feel like doing that, because my mailbox is already full enough and has a number of unwanted advertising emails ready for me every day. I didn't want to send my email address any further.

• Read more: QR code scanner for the Mac - free of charge as software or as a handheld scanner
• Read more: Attention: very well camouflaged Sparkasse phising mail on the subject of S-PushTAN on the go (with QR code!)

Update: There are tools that create QR codes that do not need to be exchanged for e-mails for codes: QR Code Monkey and qr1.at are, for example, two of them that I just discovered while researching. And with the QR code generators that ask for the mail, you can usually click away the window and then the download of the code starts. So the world is not as bad as I thought it would be. ;-)

Tip: QREncoder for the Mac

Ultimately, I ended up with a tip, because I myself had a blog post years ago: The app "QREncoder“, Which can be downloaded from the Mac AppStore. The app is even offered free of charge by the developer Peter Nikolow.

Unfortunately, there have not been any updates since 2012, but at least I can confirm that they work with my Apple silicon MacBook Pro and macOS Big Sur running. The optics aren't so bad that you think the software is from the last century either.

Anyone who wants to look at or download the app will find it here or via the following QR code. ;-)

Settings and code formats are manageable

The software does what it should, but it does without a lot of bells and whistles. So there are no design QR codes or anything like that. However, you can select the purpose of the code from a drop-down menu and use it to create a large number of different QR codes. There's even a setting that lets you create a tweet through the code. ????

Jen Kleinholz( Founder & Sir Apfelot )

Jens has been running the blog since 2012. He acts as Sir Apfelot for his readers and helps them with technical problems. In his spare time he rides electric unicycles, takes photos (preferably with the iPhone, of course), climbs around in the Hessian mountains or hikes with the family. His articles deal with Apple products, news from the world of drones or solutions to current bugs.