Scan codes, generated free
Barcodes and QR codes made in your browser. No account, no email, no expiry, and the codes are yours to use commercially. Every generator here validates your input against the published specification before it draws anything.
On this page
Barcode generator
Code 128, UPC-A, UPC-E, EAN-13, EAN-8, ITF-14, GS1-128, Code 39, Code 93, Codabar, ISBN, Data Matrix, PDF417 and Aztec. Check digits calculated, sizes checked against the GS1 specification, PNG and SVG export.
QR code generator
Static QR codes for a website, Wi-Fi network, email, phone or plain text, with an optional logo. Nothing behind them to expire and no account to make.
Which type do I need?
A plain reference for choosing a symbology, with the character set, length and check digit rules for each one.
Getting a real UPC
The difference between generating a UPC image and owning a registered GTIN, and what registration actually involves.
What this site is for
Most free barcode tools are lead magnets for something else, a scanner, a label printer, or an inventory subscription. This one is not selling you anything downstream, which means two things it can do that they mostly do not.
It tells you when a code will not scan. The generator checks the character set and length for the symbology you picked, calculates the check digit, and warns when your X-dimension or quiet zone falls outside the range published in the GS1 General Specifications. Those three things cause most failed scans at the printer.
And the output is unrestricted. Some well-known free generators licence their output for non-commercial and private use only, which is awkward when the thing you are labelling is a product you intend to sell. Codes from here carry no such condition.
Symbologies covered
| Use case | Symbology | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Retail checkout, North America | UPC-A, UPC-E | Needs a GS1-registered number to be accepted by retailers |
| Retail checkout, worldwide | EAN-13, EAN-8 | Same registration requirement |
| Internal stock and asset tags | Code 128, Code 39, Code 93 | No registration needed, the number only has to be unique in your own system |
| Shipping cartons | ITF-14, GS1-128 | GS1-128 carries batch, expiry and serial data |
| Books and periodicals | ISBN | Rendered as EAN-13 with the publishing prefix |
| Small parts and healthcare | Data Matrix | High density in a small square |
| Documents and IDs | PDF417 | Stacked 2D, holds a lot of text |
| Tickets and passes | Aztec | No blank margin required around it |
| Links, Wi-Fi, contact details | QR Code | The most widely scanned 2D code |
Last reviewed 6 September 2026
ScanCodeGenerator is built and maintained by Cedrick Reese at Ready Utilities. The generators run entirely in your browser using the MIT-licensed bwip-js library, which implements the ISO/IEC symbology specifications, so nothing you type is transmitted anywhere. Size and quiet-zone guidance across the site is taken from the GS1 General Specifications as published by GS1, and is rechecked against the current published version whenever a page here is updated.
Common questions
Is this really free?
Yes, and there is no paid tier to upgrade to. The site is supported by advertising, not by charging for codes.
Do I need an account?
No. There is no signup, no email gate on downloads, and no watermark on the output.
Can I use these codes for products I sell?
Yes. The images are yours with no licence restriction. Retail barcodes are a separate matter: the number inside a UPC or EAN needs to be registered with GS1 before a retailer will accept it.