When you build a QR code, you first pick a QR Code Type. The type decides what a scan does: open a website, join a WiFi network, save a contact, or open a page SnapGlyph hosts for you. This guide covers every type in the builder and when to use each.
Static vs. Hosted Types
Types fall into two groups:
- Static types encode the information directly into the QR image. They work offline and never change, but they can’t be tracked or edited after printing. These are Text, Phone, Email, WiFi, and vCard.
- Hosted types point the code at a stable SnapGlyph link. The destination is resolved when someone scans, so these codes can be tracked and their content can be updated without reprinting. These are URL, Shortlink, App Stores, Review Collection, PDF, Business Card, Smart, and Bulk.
Available Data Types
URL
The most common QR code type. When scanned, it opens a website in the user’s browser.
Best for: Website links, landing pages, online menus, social media profiles
Example: https://example.com/menu
Tips:
- Always include
https://for secure links - Use URL shorteners for very long URLs to keep QR codes simple
- Test your URL before creating the QR code
Text
Encode plain text that displays on the scanner’s screen. No internet connection required to view.
Best for: Short messages, instructions, reference codes, serial numbers
Example: Welcome to our store! Show this code for 10% off.
Tips:
- Keep text concise; longer text creates more complex QR codes
- Works offline once scanned
Phone
Creates a QR code that, when scanned, prompts to call the number.
Best for: Business cards, contact information, customer service
Example: +1 (555) 123-4567
Tips:
- Include the country code for international compatibility
- The phone app will open with the number ready to dial
Opens the user’s email app with a pre-filled recipient, subject, and body.
Best for: Contact forms, feedback requests, support inquiries
Fields:
- Email address: The recipient (required)
- Subject: Pre-filled subject line (optional)
- Message: Pre-filled message content (optional)
Example: Opens email to support@example.com with subject “Question about my order”
WiFi
Lets users connect to a WiFi network by scanning, without typing passwords.
Best for: Guest networks, offices, cafes, hotels, events
Fields:
- Network Name (SSID): The WiFi network name (required)
- Password: The network password (required for secured networks)
- Encryption Type: WPA/WPA2/WPA3, WEP, or No Password
- Hidden Network: Check if the network doesn’t broadcast its name
Tips:
- Most modern phones support WiFi QR codes
- Great for sharing guest network access without revealing the password verbally
vCard
Encodes contact details directly into the QR image so they can be saved to the phone’s contacts without an internet connection.
Best for: Static business cards, employee badges, printed materials that will never change
Fields:
- First Name and Last Name
- Phone
- Organization
- Job Title
- Website
- Address
Tips:
- Fill in as many fields as relevant so users can save all their info with one scan
- Because the contact data lives inside the code, vCard codes work offline but can’t be tracked or edited after printing
- If you want a shareable page and scan tracking instead, use the Business Card type below
Business Card
Available on Starter plans and above.
A hosted digital business card. Instead of encoding contact data into the image, the Business Card type points to a SnapGlyph-hosted page that shows your details and offers an Add to Contacts download. Because it routes through SnapGlyph, the card can be tracked and updated after the code is printed.
Best for: Networking, sales teams, anyone who wants an editable, trackable card
How it differs from vCard: vCard bakes the contact into the QR image (static, offline, not trackable). Business Card hosts a page and serves the contact as a download (editable, trackable).
For setup details, see Creating a Digital Business Card.
Available on Starter plans and above.
Upload a PDF and SnapGlyph hosts it at a stable link. Scanning opens the hosted PDF page. You can swap the file later without reprinting the code.
Best for: Menus, brochures, spec sheets, manuals, event programs
Fields:
- PDF file: Up to 3.5 MB. Counts against your plan’s storage.
- Title: Optional label shown on the hosted PDF page
For setup details, see Hosting a PDF.
Review Collection
Available on Starter plans and above.
Sends scanners to a hosted page that offers two clearly-labeled paths: a Public review link (Google, Yelp, and other platforms) and a Private feedback option (a form link or an email). Both options are shown to every visitor with equal prominence.
Best for: Restaurants and local businesses growing their review volume
Fields:
- Review platform and Public review link: the link must be on the chosen platform’s domain
- Private feedback: a form Link or an Email where customers can reach you directly
- Business name
For setup details, see Collecting Customer Reviews.
App Stores
Available on Pro plans and above.
One code routes each visitor to the right app store based on their device: iOS users to the App Store, Android users to Google Play. You can print a single QR for both.
Best for: Mobile app downloads, launch campaigns, packaging
Fields:
- iOS App Store URL and/or Google Play URL (add at least one)
- App Name: Optional, shown on the chooser page for desktop visitors
Shortlink
Available on Starter plans and above.
Links a QR code to one of your existing SnapGlyph shortlinks. The code redirects to the selected shortlink, which handles its own destination and tracking.
Best for: Reusing a shortlink you already share elsewhere, keeping print and digital pointing at the same managed link
Fields:
- Shortlink: pick from your active shortlinks (you can create one first if you have none)
For more on shortlinks, see Linking a QR Code to a Shortlink.
Smart
Available on Pro plans and above.
A Smart QR routes scanners to different destinations based on the day and time. The same printed code can send people to a lunch menu during the day, a dinner menu after 4pm, and a brunch page on weekends, all without reprinting.
Best for: Restaurants with rotating menus, venues with different open hours, seasonal campaigns, weekday vs. weekend promotions
Fields:
- Default destination: where scanners land when no rule matches
- Time zone: rules fire in this time zone, regardless of where the scanner is
- Rules: up to 10 rules, each with days, a from/to time, and a destination URL
For setup details, see Setting Up Smart QR Codes.
Bulk
Available on the Max plan.
Bulk creates many QR codes at once from a CSV. Each row in your file becomes its own QR code with its own destination, all sharing the design you set for the batch.
Best for: Inventory, event badges, table-specific menus, asset tracking, multi-location campaigns
For setup details, see Bulk QR Code Generation.
Choosing the Right Type
| Use Case | Recommended Type |
|---|---|
| Link to a website | URL |
| Editable, trackable contact card | Business Card |
| Static contact saved offline | vCard |
| Guest WiFi access | WiFi |
| Quick message or code | Text |
| Call-to-action to call | Phone |
| Feedback or inquiries | |
| Host a menu or brochure | |
| Grow reviews | Review Collection |
| App download for any device | App Stores |
| Reuse an existing shortlink | Shortlink |
| Time-based routing | Smart |
| Many codes at once | Bulk |
Tracking Compatibility
Trackable types: URL, Business Card, PDF, Review Collection, App Stores, Shortlink, Smart, and Bulk (when each row points to a URL).
Trackable codes redirect through SnapGlyph, which counts the scan before resolving the destination. That redirect is also what lets you edit these codes after they’re printed.
Not trackable: Text, Phone, Email, WiFi, and vCard. These static types encode their content directly into the image, so there’s no web redirect to count.