Last month I needed to generate QR codes server-side for a client project. I tried a few existing APIs and... wasn’t thrilled. One charged $49/mo for basic features. Another had a 100-request limit before demanding a credit card. Most had SDKs that felt like they were written in 2012.

So I built my own. And then productized it.

The API

Dead simple. One endpoint:

curl "https://api.qrcodeapi.io/generate?data=https://dev.to&size=300"Returns a QR code. That’s it.

Options:

• format - png, svg, or base64
• size - 100-1000px
• color - hex color for the QR code
• bgColor - hex color for background
• errorCorrection - L, M, Q, or H

Purple QR code on transparent background

curl "https://api.qrcodeapi.io/generate?data=hello&color=8b5cf6&bgColor=transparent&format=svg"## The interesting parts

Dynamic QR Codes

This was the feature I actually needed. Print a QR code on 10,000 flyers, realize the URL has a typo? With static QR codes, you’re reprinting.

With dynamic QR codes, the QR points to a redirect URL that you control. Change the destination anytime without reprinting anything.

// Create a dynamic link const response = await fetch(‘https://api.qrcodeapi.io/links’, { method: ‘POST’, headers: { ‘X-API-Key’: ‘your-key’ }, body: JSON.stringify({ url: ‘https://example.com/campaign-v1’ }) });

// Returns a short code like "abc123" // QR code points to: https://qr.qrcodeapi.io/abc123

// Later, update the destination: await fetch(‘https://api.qrcodeapi.io/links/abc123’, { method: ‘PUT’, headers: { ‘X-API-Key’: ‘your-key’ }, body: JSON.stringify({ url: ‘https://example.com/campaign-v2’ }) });### Scan Analytics

Every scan through a dynamic link gets tracked:

• Device type (mobile/tablet/desktop)
• Country & city (via IP geolocation)
• Referrer
• Timestamp

No cookies, no fingerprinting - just basic HTTP request data. Privacy-respecting analytics.

const stats = await fetch(‘https://api.qrcodeapi.io/analytics/abc123’, { headers: { ‘X-API-Key’: ‘your-key’ } });

// Returns: // { // totalScans: 1247, // uniqueScans: 892, // byDevice: { mobile: 743, desktop: 401, tablet: 103 }, // byCountry: { US: 521, UK: 234, DE: 189, ... }, // byDay: [{ date: ‘2025-12-15’, scans: 87 }, ...] // }## Tech Stack

For the curious:

• Runtime: Vercel Serverless Functions
• Database: Supabase (PostgreSQL)
• QR Generation: qrcode npm package
• Image Processing: sharp for logo overlays
• Geo-IP: geoip-lite
• Payments: Stripe

The whole thing is ~15 API endpoints consolidated into 9 serverless functions (Vercel Hobby plan has a 12-function limit 😅).

TypeScript SDK

Also published an npm package:

npm install qrcode-api-sdk import { QRCodeAPI } from ‘qrcode-api-sdk’;

const client = new QRCodeAPI({ apiKey: ‘your-key’ });

// Generate QR code const qr = await client.generate({ data: ‘https://dev.to’, format: ‘svg’, color: ‘#000000’ });

// Create dynamic link const link = await client.links.create({ url: ‘https://example.com’ });

// Get analytics const stats = await client.analytics.get(link.shortCode);Full TypeScript types included.

Pricing

• Free: 100 QR/month (no credit card)
• Starter: $9/mo - 5,000 QR/month
• Pro: $29/mo - 50,000 QR/month + analytics + dynamic links

I tried to price it where indie devs can actually afford it. The free tier is enough for most side projects.

What I’d do differently

Start with dynamic QR codes first - That’s what people actually pay for. Static QR generation is basically a commodity. 1.

Build the SDK earlier - Having a proper TypeScript SDK with types makes the DX so much better. Should’ve done this from day one. 1.

Don’t underestimate SEO - Half my traffic comes from people googling "QR code API Node.js" or "dynamic QR code API". I spent a weekend building SEO landing pages and it was worth it.

Try it out

• 🌐 qrcodeapi.io
• 📚 Documentation
• 📦 npm package

Would love feedback, especially on pricing and what features you’d want to see next. Thinking about adding:

• Bulk generation endpoint (ZIP file with multiple QR codes)
• QR code templates/styles
• Webhook notifications for scan events

Let me know what would be useful! 🙏