How do I replace the Google Charts QR code API?

What is different

Replace the call

Create a key under Settings → Developer settings → API, then swap your one-line image request for these two.

1. Create the code. Do this once per destination, not once per page render.

curl -X POST https://qrcodestack.com/api/v1/qr-codes \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer qrs_YOUR_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "name": "Invoice 1043",
    "type": "url",
    "destination_url": "https://example.com/invoice/1043",
    "render_customizations": {
      "dot_color": "#000000",
      "background_color": "#FFFFFF"
    }
  }'

Keep the returned id against your own record. You will need it to fetch the image and to change the destination later.

2. Fetch the image and store it.

curl https://qrcodestack.com/api/v1/qr-codes/{id}/image \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer qrs_YOUR_KEY" \
  -o invoice-1043.png

The PNG uses the dot and background colours you set. Logos, frames and dot shapes are stored on the code but the API render is plain — download the styled file from the dashboard when you need one.

You cannot hotlink the image URL

Fetch each image once from your server, store it in your own storage or CDN, and serve it from there. That is faster than the old image URL was anyway, and it survives any change on our side. If you are generating codes per record — invoices, tickets, assets — generate on create, not on render.

If you only need a picture, skip the API

Plenty of people used the old image URL for a handful of codes, not a pipeline. If that is you, the dashboard is quicker than writing any code: create the QR code, choose a size and format, and download PNG, SVG or a print-ready PDF. There is no API plan requirement and no key to look after.

If you need many codes at once and you are on Business, POST /api/v1/qr-codes/bulk takes up to 500 items in a single call — see creating QR codes in bulk.

Common problems

403 — API access requires a Pro or Business plan

The REST API is not on Starter or the trial. For one-off images, use the dashboard instead.

I need the raw text encoded, not a redirect

Every code the API creates is dynamic, so the pattern always encodes a redirect on our domain. If you need a pattern that holds the text itself — offline WiFi credentials, plain text, a vCard that must work with no network — create a static code in the dashboard. Static codes cannot be edited afterwards and record no scans.

The PNG is not the size I need

The API image endpoint always returns 512 pixels. Upscale a vector instead: download the SVG from the dashboard, or re-render from the same scan_url in your own toolchain.

The image URL returns 401 in a browser

Browsers do not send your API key. That endpoint is for server-to-server fetches only.

Frequently asked questions