Why local-only matters
Most generator sites send whatever you type — a pre-launch product link, an internal inventory code, your actual Wi-Fi password — to a server to build the image. This tool is different: it is a single web page that does all the work with JavaScript in your own browser. Your input is encoded on your device, the PNG or SVG is created on your device, and nothing is transmitted, logged or stored anywhere. You can even disconnect from the internet after the page loads and it will still work. Nothing to upload means nothing to leak.
QR code or barcode — which do you need?
A QR code stores a lot of data — a full URL, a paragraph of text, or Wi-Fi credentials — in a two-dimensional pattern that any smartphone camera can read. Use QR codes for links, menus, payments pages, event check-ins and sharing network access. A barcode stores a short identifier in a row of vertical bars, designed for fast laser and camera scanning at tills and in warehouses. Code 128 is the flexible general-purpose choice; Code 39 is a simpler, widely supported alphanumeric format; EAN-13 and UPC-A are the retail standards for products sold in shops — they only hold digits and end in a check digit that this tool calculates for you.
Frequently asked questions
Is anything I type uploaded to a server?
No. Both generators run entirely in your browser with JavaScript. The text, links and Wi-Fi passwords you enter are turned into codes on your own device and are never sent to or stored on any server. You can even disconnect from the internet after the page loads and it will still work.
Can I use these QR codes and barcodes commercially?
Yes. The codes you generate are yours to use for personal or commercial projects — packaging, posters, menus, event tickets, inventory labels and more — with no fee, no watermark and no attribution required.
Which QR error correction level should I pick?
Error correction lets a QR code stay readable when part of it is damaged or covered. Level L recovers about 7% of the code, M about 15%, Q about 25% and H about 30%. Higher levels make the code denser. M is a good everyday default; choose H if you plan to place a logo over the code or print it somewhere it may get scuffed.
Why did my EAN-13 get a 13th digit?
The last digit of an EAN-13 (and UPC-A) is a check digit calculated from the others — scanners use it to catch misreads. If you enter the first 12 digits of an EAN-13, this tool computes and appends the check digit for you. If you enter all 13, it verifies the check digit and warns you if it does not match. The same applies to UPC-A with 11 or 12 digits.
Will these barcodes work in real stores?
The barcodes follow the official symbology rules, including check digits, and will scan correctly with standard scanners and phone apps. However, products sold through retail chains need numbers officially assigned to your company by GS1 — a made-up number can collide with someone else's product. For internal inventory, asset labels, events and testing, generated numbers are perfectly fine.
Is the Wi-Fi QR code safe to share?
The code contains your Wi-Fi password as plain text inside the QR payload — that is how the Wi-Fi QR standard works, and anyone who scans or photographs the code can read the password. Only share it with people you would give the password to anyway. The code is generated locally in your browser and the password is never transmitted anywhere.