How do I create an SMS QR code?
Choose the SMS type, enter the phone number and the message, and the code appears at once. Download it as PNG or SVG. Scanning it opens a new text message to that number.
SMS QR code generator
Scan once and a text message is ready to send.
Your text never leaves this device.
Enter the phone number and, if you like, the text of the message. The generator makes a QR code that opens the phone's messaging app with a new SMS already addressed to that number. The sender only has to press send. The code is static, never expires and is built in your browser.
How to use
- Choose the SMS type and enter the phone number with the country code.
- Type the message that should appear in the text box.
- Pick colors, or add a logo if it suits your design.
- Download a PNG or SVG and test it on a phone before printing.
Frequently asked questions
Does the SMS send automatically when scanned?
No. The code only opens a draft in the messaging app, and the person must press send. Standard carrier rates for the text apply to the sender.
Can the message be written in advance?
Yes. Whatever you type in the message box is placed in the text field when the code is scanned. The sender can still edit it before sending.
How should I write the phone number?
Use the international form with the country code, such as +90 555 123 45 67. Spaces and dashes are removed for you. A full number with the country code works for people calling from other countries too.
Does an SMS QR code work on iPhone and Android?
It usually does, but support differs between phone models and messaging apps. Most Android phones fill in the message, while some phones open the draft without the text. Always test with the devices your audience uses.
When should I use SMS instead of WhatsApp?
Use SMS when your audience may not have WhatsApp or when you collect answers by text, such as voting or confirming. Use WhatsApp for longer conversations, photos and customers who already chat on it.
Is there a message length limit?
The code itself can hold quite long text, but one standard SMS part fits 160 characters. Keep keywords short so the code stays easy to scan and the message stays inside one part.
When does an SMS QR code make sense?
An SMS code fits short, one-step replies: joining a list with a keyword, confirming an appointment, voting at an event, requesting a catalogue or asking a clinic for a callback. The person scans, sees the keyword already typed and presses send, so the whole action takes seconds.
It is also a good fallback for places with a weak mobile data signal, because a text can leave the phone even when a web page would not load.
How do I choose the keyword and the number?
Choose a short, unambiguous keyword that your team can process quickly, such as JOIN, YES or MENU. Fewer characters keep the pattern simple and the message inside one SMS part, which is 160 characters for the standard alphabet. Messages with Turkish letters or emoji use a different encoding and may be split into shorter parts by the carrier.
Use the number that will really answer. A dead or personal number printed on a hundred posters cannot be changed later. If the number may change, point the code at a web page you control with the main QR code generator instead.
How do I test it properly?
SMS codes behave differently across devices, so test before printing. Scan the finished code with at least one iPhone and one Android phone, check that the number is correct and see whether the message text appears. If a device drops the text, put the keyword in plain words on the poster too, for example “Text JOIN to 0555 123 45 67”.
Print the code at least 2 cm wide on a flat, matte surface with a light margin. If you add a logo, keep it small; the page QR code with logo explains why.
Which other contact codes are available?
If people should write on a messenger instead, create a WhatsApp QR code. If you want a longer, subject-based message, an email QR code opens a draft with the subject written. To read a code you found, the QR code scanner shows the number and text hidden inside it.
How it compares
| This tool | Upload-based services | |
|---|---|---|
| Is your text sent to a server? | No | Usually |
| Account required | No | Sometimes |
| Length or usage limit | None | Often |
| Saved or logged | Never | Possibly |
Limits and privacy
- The text is pre-filled only; the sender must press send and pays their carrier's usual SMS rate.
- Some phone models open the draft without the pre-filled message; test on the devices you expect.
- The number and text cannot be changed after printing, and there is no scan counter.
Standards and sources
Use it in your AI assistant
To create an SMS code from your assistant, connect the QR MCP server and ask for the generate_qr tool with the SMS type, for example “make a QR code that texts JOIN to +90 555 123 45 67”. It returns a real PNG and SVG.