QR Code API
Generate, manage, and track QR codes programmatically with a simple REST API. JSON in, JSON out — perfect for SaaS integrations, automation, and high-volume workflows.
Built for Developers
The QRCodeStack API gives developers full programmatic control over the same QR code engine that powers our dashboard. You can create dynamic and static QR codes, update redirect destinations, fetch real-time scan analytics, and trigger webhooks when scans happen — all over a clean REST interface that returns JSON. If you have ever used Stripe or SendGrid, the API will feel immediately familiar.
The API is built for product teams, internal tools, and SaaS platforms that need to embed QR generation into their own workflows. Common use cases include generating per-customer QR codes at signup, attaching tracking codes to shipping labels, building branded campaign generators, syncing scan events into a CRM or data warehouse, or replacing a clunky vendor with something that actually deploys in an afternoon.
API access is included with the Business plan — no separate developer tier, no per-call billing, no surprises. You get a stable base URL, signed API keys you can rotate at will, generous rate limits, and webhook delivery with automatic retries. Below is a working example you can copy into your terminal right now.
Create a QR Code in One Request
Send a POST to /api/v1/qr-codes with your API key. The response includes the QR image URL, short link, and analytics ID.
curl -X POST https://qrcodestack.com/api/v1/qr-codes \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{
"type": "url",
"name": "Spring Promo",
"data": "https://example.com/spring",
"isDynamic": true
}'Need bulk? Send up to 500 codes in a single request to /api/v1/qr-codes/bulk on the Business plan.
What You Can Do with the API
v1 covers QR codes end to end: create, list, update, delete, and pull scan analytics. Short links and Pages are managed in the dashboard for now — a Links API is on the roadmap.
Create QR Codes
Generate any of the 37 QR types — URL, vCard, WiFi, PDF, video, and more — with a single POST request. Choose dynamic or static and customize colors, dot styles, and frames inline.
Bulk Generate
Send up to 500 codes per request on the Business plan. Ideal for campaigns, inventory tags, ticketing, and personalized direct mail. The response returns a per-item result so you can retry only what failed.
Update Destinations
Send a PATCH to change a dynamic QR code's redirect target. The printed code stays the same — useful for rotating campaign landing pages or fixing broken links.
Scan Analytics
Pull total scans, unique scans, time-of-day distribution, device, and geography for any QR code. Sync directly into your data warehouse or BI tool.
Manage API Keys
Create, list, and revoke API keys directly from the dashboard. Each key is scoped to your account and shown only once at creation — rotate freely without downtime.
Webhooks
Subscribe to scan events and have QRCodeStack POST to your endpoint in real time. Set them up under Integrations in the dashboard — webhooks, Slack, Google Sheets and Zapier all fire off the same event stream, with a delivery log per integration.
Links API
v1 does not have short-link endpoints yet. Create branded short links, routing rules and click reports in the dashboard today — programmatic access is on the roadmap, and we will version it alongside the QR endpoints when it ships.
Get Started in 3 Steps
From signup to first API call in under five minutes.
Subscribe to Business
API access is included on the Business plan. No separate developer tier, no per-call charges. Subscribe from the pricing page.
Generate an API Key
Open your dashboard, head to API Keys, and click Generate. Copy the key immediately — for security, it is shown only once.
Make Your First Call
Send the curl request above. The response returns a JSON object with the QR image URL, short link, and analytics ID — ready to embed.
Why QRCodeStack API
A pragmatic API designed by developers who got tired of bloated, overpriced QR vendors.
Standard REST
Predictable URLs, standard HTTP verbs, and conventional status codes. No GraphQL, no SOAP, no custom RPC — works with every HTTP client on the planet.
JSON In, JSON Out
Every endpoint accepts and returns JSON. UTF-8, ISO 8601 timestamps, and consistent error shapes — the kind of API you can integrate without re-reading the docs every time.
Sub-Second Latency
Code generation and metadata responses typically return in under 300ms. Scan redirects are even faster — designed to feel instant from the user's phone.
Generous Rate Limits
Default limits cover essentially every production workload we have seen. Need more? Contact us — we will adjust limits without forcing you onto a custom enterprise quote.
Endpoint reference, request/response examples, error codes, webhook signature verification, and an OpenAPI spec you can drop into Postman or generate clients from.
Dynamic Redirects
Update where a printed QR code points without re-issuing the image. The redirect engine handles UTM passthrough and device-aware routing for free.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which plan includes the API?
The QRCodeStack API is available exclusively on the Business plan. Once subscribed, you can generate API keys directly from your dashboard and start making programmatic requests immediately. Starter and Pro plans do not include API access — upgrade to Business to unlock REST endpoints, webhooks, and bulk generation. See the full pricing page for plan details.
Do you have rate limits?
Yes — every API key has rate limits to ensure fair usage and platform stability. Business plan keys allow generous default limits suitable for almost every production workload, including bulk imports and high-volume integrations. If you need more throughput than the defaults provide, email support@qrcodestack.com with your use case and we will adjust your limits.
Are there official SDKs?
The API is a standard REST API that returns JSON, so it works with any HTTP client in any language — Node.js (fetch, axios), Python (requests, httpx), Ruby, PHP, Go, Java, .NET, Swift, Rust, and more. Official SDKs for Node and Python are on our roadmap. In the meantime, the OpenAPI spec is available on request so you can auto-generate a client in your language of choice.
Can Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor create QR codes for me?
Yes. Connect the assistant to https://qrcodestack.com/mcp and it can create trackable codes, change destinations after printing, and read scan analytics on your account. Setup, scopes, and what the tools can do are on the MCP connector page. The REST API on this page is for your own scripts; MCP is the path for assistants.
Can I host the QR images on my own CDN?
Yes. The API returns the QR image as a downloadable PNG or SVG file. You can store it on your own CDN, S3 bucket, or asset host and serve it from there with your own caching rules. Note that for dynamic QR codes, the redirect logic and analytics are still served by QRCodeStack — only the QR image itself can be self-hosted.
Ready to Build with the QRCodeStack API?
Subscribe to the Business plan and start generating QR codes programmatically in minutes. Plans from $9/month for the dashboard, API on Business.
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