QR Code Monkey vs Canva vs SaveDelete: Free QR Code Generators Compared (2026)
QR code generators look interchangeable until you need something specific: a logo in the middle, a code you can change after it is printed, a UPI payment code, or a file sharp enough for a banner. SaveDelete, QR Code Monkey and Canva are all free to start with, and they are good at quite different things.
A note on bias: SaveDelete makes one of the three tools compared here. We have tried to be straight about where the other two are the better choice, and every fact below was checked against each tool's own pages, or in our case its code, in September 2026.
Static vs Dynamic QR Codes
This one distinction decides most of the choice. A static code stores your link or text directly in the pattern: it works forever and cannot be changed or tracked. A dynamic code stores a short redirect link run by the provider: you can change where it points and count scans, but it stops working if the provider disables it or shuts down. If you are printing thousands of flyers, that trade-off matters.
Quick Comparison
| SaveDelete | QR Code Monkey | Canva | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, no signup, no watermark | Free, including commercial use | Free; tracking needs a Business plan |
| Code type | Static | Static (dynamic via its paid sister product) | Static and dynamic |
| Content types | 12, including UPI payments, Wi-Fi, vCard, WhatsApp and calendar events | URL, text, email, phone, SMS, vCard, Wi-Fi and more | Mainly links, created inside your design |
| Logo in the centre | No | Yes — upload PNG, JPG, GIF or SVG, or pick from a gallery | Custom logos on Business, Enterprise and Nonprofit plans |
| Design | Colour presets and custom colours | Gradients, eye colours, body and eye shapes, templates | Colours; patterns and corner styles on dynamic codes |
| Downloads | PNG (up to 500px) and SVG | PNG (up to 2000px), SVG, PDF, EPS | PNG, JPG, PDF; SVG on paid plans |
| Scan tracking | No | No (paid sister product only) | Business and Enterprise plans |
| Where it is made | In your browser — the content never reaches our server | On QR Code Monkey's servers (images cached 24 hours) | In your Canva account |
SaveDelete QR Code Generator
Our free QR code generator builds the code entirely in your browser, so the link, Wi-Fi password or payment details you enter are never sent to our server. It covers 12 content types: website links, plain text, Wi-Fi logins, vCard contacts, email, phone calls, SMS, WhatsApp messages, UPI payment requests, social media profiles, map locations and calendar events.
You can choose from colour presets or set your own foreground and background colours, pick a size from 150 to 500 pixels, and set the error-correction level. Download as PNG or SVG, or copy the image straight to the clipboard. A bulk mode turns a list into plain black-and-white codes, downloaded one by one. There is no account, no watermark and no limit, and because the codes are static they never expire.
Where it falls short: there is no logo embedding, no dynamic codes and no scan tracking, and PNG downloads top out at 500 pixels — for print, use the SVG, which scales to any size without losing sharpness.
Best for: UPI, Wi-Fi, contact and WhatsApp codes made quickly and privately.
QR Code Monkey
QR Code Monkey is the go-to free tool for designed codes. You can upload a logo of up to 2MB or choose from its gallery, apply single colours or gradients, recolour the corner "eyes" and change body and eye shapes. PNG downloads go up to 2000 pixels, and SVG keeps the full design. PDF and EPS downloads are also available, though they contain a plain code without the logo, gradient or custom design. It is free for commercial use, needs no signup, and its codes are static and never expire.
Where it falls short: no dynamic codes or tracking on the site itself — its download screen points you to QR Code Generator PRO, a paid sister product with a 14-day trial, for those. Generated images are cached on its servers for 24 hours.
Best for: branded codes with a logo for packaging, posters and business cards.
Canva
Canva's QR code generator lives inside its design editor, so the code goes straight onto the flyer, menu or poster you are making. It is free and creates both static and dynamic codes, and the link behind a dynamic code can be changed at any time. Dynamic codes on the Free, Pro and Education plans carry a Canva logo; scan tracking, expiry dates, custom logos and removing the Canva logo need a Business, Enterprise or Nonprofit plan. Downloads include PNG, JPG and PDF, with SVG on paid plans.
Where it falls short: the useful dynamic features sit behind the Business plan, and free dynamic codes carry Canva's branding. Like any dynamic code, they depend on Canva keeping them active.
Best for: codes that are part of a larger design, and dynamic codes when you need to change the destination later.
Which Should You Use?
- A UPI payment code for a shop counter or invoice: SaveDelete, which has a dedicated UPI type. Our guide to UPI QR codes covers the details.
- A Wi-Fi or contact code with details you would rather keep private: SaveDelete, because the content never leaves your browser.
- A branded code with your logo: QR Code Monkey.
- A code you may need to redirect after printing, or scan statistics: a dynamic code from Canva (with a Business plan for tracking) or QR Code Generator PRO.
- A code for a large print run: any of the three, as an SVG. Static codes are the safer choice for anything you cannot reprint.
- Many codes at once: SaveDelete's bulk mode for plain codes. See our guide to bulk QR code generators for tools that add designs to batches.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are QR codes generated by these platforms compatible with all QR code scanners?
Yes. All three produce standard QR codes that any phone camera or scanning app can read. Heavily styled codes — unusual shapes, low-contrast colours or a large logo — are the ones that fail, so always test a designed code on a few different phones before printing.
Can I edit a QR code after generating it?
Only if it is dynamic. Static codes from SaveDelete and QR Code Monkey are fixed once made; to change the destination you make a new code. Canva's dynamic codes, or a paid dynamic service, let you change the link after printing.
What's the difference between static and dynamic QR codes?
A static code stores your data directly and works forever, but cannot be edited or tracked. A dynamic code stores a short link on the provider's server, so it can be edited and tracked, but it stops working if the provider disables it or goes out of business.
How large can I print QR codes generated from these platforms?
As large as you like, if you download an SVG — it is a vector file that stays sharp at any size. SaveDelete and QR Code Monkey both offer SVG for free; Canva includes it on paid plans. For small prints, a common rule of thumb is to keep the code at least 2cm wide and allow roughly one unit of width for every ten units of scanning distance.
Do these platforms store my QR code data?
SaveDelete creates codes in your browser and does not receive their content, unless you choose to save a code to your account while logged in. QR Code Monkey caches generated images on its servers for 24 hours. Canva keeps codes in your account, and dynamic codes route every scan through Canva.
Can I use these QR codes for commercial purposes?
Yes. QR Code Monkey states that its codes are free for commercial use, SaveDelete places no restrictions on the codes you make, and Canva allows commercial use under its content licence.
Which file format should I choose for my QR code?
SVG for anything printed, since it scales without blurring. PNG is fine for websites, screens and documents. QR Code Monkey's PDF and EPS files are plain codes without your custom design, so use its SVG if you have added a logo or colours.
How do I ensure my QR code scans reliably?
Use dark code on a light background with strong contrast, leave the blank margin around the code, keep links short so the pattern stays simple, raise the error-correction level if you add a logo, and test on more than one phone at the size you will print.
Can I track how many people scan my QR codes?
Only with a dynamic code. Canva offers scan tracking on its Business and Enterprise plans, and paid services such as QR Code Generator PRO do the same. Static codes from SaveDelete and QR Code Monkey cannot be tracked, although you can add UTM tags to a link and count visits in your own analytics.
Are there any limitations on the amount of data I can encode?
The QR standard itself sets the limit: at the lowest error-correction level, a code holds up to 7,089 digits, 4,296 characters in its restricted upper-case-and-digits mode, or 2,953 bytes of ordinary text such as a URL. In practice, the less you encode, the easier the code is to scan — a short link is always better than a long one.
The Bottom Line
Use QR Code Monkey when the code needs your logo and a custom look, Canva when it is part of a design or has to be editable after printing, and SaveDelete for payment, Wi-Fi and contact codes made quickly and privately. All three are free to start with, so the quickest way to choose is to try the one that matches your job.
Facts checked September 2026 against each tool's own website. Features and plans change; check the vendor's page before you rely on a paid feature.