WiFi, vCard, Crypto, Event - 13 QR Code Types You Didn't Know Existed

Most people think QR codes are just fancy links. Point your phone camera at a black-and-white square, and it opens a website. But that's only one of 13+ data types that QR codes can encode and the others are surprisingly useful.

Simple QR Code Generator supports all of them. Here's what each type does and when to use it.

1. Link (URL)

The classic. Encodes any URLs, websites, app links, download pages, or deep links. The scanner opens it in the default browser.

Encoded Data
https://example.com/my-page?ref=qr

Best for: Marketing materials, business cards, product packaging, event flyers.

2. WiFi

Scanning this code automatically connects the phone to a WiFi network, no typing passwords. It encodes the network name (SSID), password, and encryption type.

Format
WIFI:T:WPA;S:MyNetworkName;P:SuperSecretPassword;;

Best for: Guest networks, co-working spaces, events, home visitors.

3. vCard (Contact Card)

Encodes a full digital business card. Scanning adds the contact directly to the phone's address book with name, phone, email, address, company, title, and website.

vCard Format
BEGIN:VCARD
VERSION:3.0
FN:Jane Smith
ORG:Acme Corp
TITLE:Lead Designer
TEL:+1-555-123-4567
EMAIL:jane@acme.com
URL:https://acme.com
END:VCARD

Best for: Networking events, conferences, business cards, email signatures.

4. Email

Opens the user's email app with a pre-filled recipient, subject line, and body text. Perfect for feedback forms or support requests.

Format
mailto:support@example.com?subject=Help%20Request&body=Hi%20team...

Best for: Customer support, feedback collection, event RSVPs.

5. SMS

Opens the messaging app with a pre-filled phone number and optional message text.

Format
smsto:+15551234567:Hey, I scanned your QR code!

Best for: Two-factor verification, customer opt-ins, quick contact.

6. Phone Call

Triggers a phone call to a specific number. The user confirms before dialling.

Format
tel:+15551234567

Best for: Business listings, emergency contacts, customer service lines.

7. Calendar Event

Creates a calendar event with title, location, start time, end time, and description. Scanning adds it to the phone's calendar app.

iCalendar Format
BEGIN:VEVENT
SUMMARY:Team Standup
LOCATION:Conference Room B
DTSTART:20260301T100000Z
DTEND:20260301T103000Z
DESCRIPTION:Daily team sync
END:VEVENT

Best for: Conference schedules, meeting invitations, event tickets.

8. Geo Location

Encodes GPS coordinates. Scanning opens the maps app with a pin at the exact location.

Format
geo:40.7128,-74.0060

Best for: Store locations, event venues, treasure hunts, property listings.

9. Cryptocurrency

Encodes a crypto wallet address with optional amount and label. Scanning opens the user's crypto wallet app with a pre-filled payment form.

Bitcoin Format
bitcoin:1A1zP1eP5QGefi2DMPTfTL5SLmv7DivfNa?amount=0.01&label=Donation

Supported: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and other standard URI schemes.

10. Plain Text

Encodes arbitrary text up to ~4,296 characters. The scanner displays the text on screen.

Best for: Product serial numbers, instructions, inspirational quotes, secret messages.

11. MeCard

A simpler alternative to vCard, widely supported on Android devices. Encodes name, phone, email, and address in a compact format.

Format
MECARD:N:Smith,Jane;TEL:+15551234567;EMAIL:jane@acme.com;;

Best for: Quick contact sharing when you don't need the full vCard specification.

12. UPI Payment

Generates an Indian UPI payment QR code with payee VPA, amount, and transaction note. Supported by Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm, and other UPI apps.

Format
upi://pay?pa=merchant@bank&pn=Shop%20Name&am=499.00&cu=INR&tn=Order%20123

Best for: Indian merchants, freelancers, donation collection, invoicing.

13. Freeform Data

Encode any raw data, JSON payloads, configuration strings, base64-encoded files, or proprietary formats. The scanner displays the raw content.

The diversity of QR code types is one of the reasons they've become ubiquitous. They're not just links, they're a universal data-transfer format that every modern phone can read.