What is the best free barcode generator?

QRKIT is the best free barcode generator for most users: it supports all 12+ barcode types (UPC-A, EAN-13, Code 128, Code 39, ISBN, PDF417, Data Matrix, and more), offers unlimited free generation, multiple download formats (PNG, SVG, PDF), and requires no signup or credit card. It doubles as a UPC barcode generator for retail and an EAN barcode generator for international products. TEC-IT and Morovia are good alternatives if you prefer dedicated barcode-only tools. Shopify’s barcode generator works well if you’re already on Shopify for e-commerce.

How do I create a barcode?

Creating a barcode takes four steps: (1) Choose your barcode type — UPC-A for retail, Code 128 for shipping, ISBN for books, etc. (2) Enter the data to encode — product number, tracking code, or ISBN. (3) Customize size and format. (4) Download as PNG, SVG, or PDF. The entire process takes under 3 minutes with QRKIT’s barcode generator. No technical skills required.

What are the uses of barcodes?

Barcodes are used across virtually every industry. Retail stores use UPC and EAN codes for product pricing and inventory. Shipping companies use Code 128 and GS1-128 for parcel tracking. Healthcare facilities use Code 128 and Data Matrix for medication tracking and patient safety. Libraries use ISBN barcodes for book cataloging. Event venues use PDF417 and Code 128 for ticket verification. Barcodes speed up data entry, reduce errors, and enable automated tracking at scale.

What is the difference between a barcode and a QR code?

Barcodes are 1D linear codes (vertical lines) that encode small amounts of data like product numbers and tracking codes. QR codes are 2D matrix codes (square patterns) that can store much more data including URLs, contact info, and text. Barcodes are scanned with laser scanners or cameras in retail and logistics settings. QR codes are scanned with any smartphone camera and are widely used for marketing, menus, check-in, and payments. QRKIT generates both barcodes and QR codes in one free tool.

How much does a barcode generator cost?

Most barcode generators are free, including QRKIT. You can generate unlimited barcodes in all 12+ formats, download as PNG, SVG, or PDF, and use them commercially — no credit card or signup required. Premium features like bulk generation (100+ barcodes at once via CSV upload), API access, scan tracking, and extended data retention are available on paid plans starting at $9.99/month. For most users, the free plan is all you need.

Can I generate barcodes in bulk?

Yes. QRKIT’s free plan lets you generate up to 10 barcodes at a time. For larger batches (100–1,000+ barcodes), upgrade to the Premium plan ($9.99/month), which supports CSV upload for bulk generation. This is ideal for retailers generating product labels, warehouses printing shipping barcodes, or libraries cataloging books. You can also use the QRKIT API for programmatic barcode generation.

What barcode should I use for my product?

For retail products sold in the US or Canada, use a UPC barcode generator to create UPC-A codes (12 digits). For products sold internationally, use EAN-13 (13 digits). For shipping labels and logistics, use Code 128 (alphanumeric, highly versatile). For books, use ISBN (a specialized EAN-13). For healthcare and pharmaceuticals, use Code 128 or GS1-128. For government IDs and tickets, use PDF417. If you’re unsure, Code 128 is the safest universal choice — it works in almost every industry.

Can I customize barcode appearance?

QRKIT’s free plan lets you adjust barcode size, add label text below the barcode, and choose your download format (PNG, SVG, PDF). The Premium plan adds extended customization options including margins, extended style settings, and EPS export. Important: unlike QR codes, traditional barcodes should always be printed in black on a white background. Custom colors significantly reduce scan reliability because barcode scanners depend on high contrast between bars and spaces.

Free Barcode Generator: Create UPC, EAN,
Code 128 & 10+ Barcode Types Online

Generate any barcode type in seconds — free, no signup required. Download as PNG, SVG, or PDF.

Generate any barcode type in seconds — UPC-A, EAN-13, Code 128, Code 39, ISBN, PDF417, and more. Free to use. Download as PNG, SVG, or PDF. No signup. No credit card.

Free ForeverNo Sign UpAll Barcode TypesPNG/SVG/PDF

Free ForeverNo Sign Up RequiredAll 12+ Barcode TypesDownload PNG, SVG & PDF

Generate Your Barcode Free →See How It Works

Barcode basics

What Is a Barcode?

A barcode is a visual representation of data — numbers, letters, or both — that can be read by machines. Most barcodes are one-dimensional (1D), displaying data as parallel black and white lines of varying widths. Two-dimensional (2D) barcodes like PDF417 and Data Matrix use patterns of squares and dots to store more information in a smaller space.

Barcodes power the modern supply chain. Governed by standards from GS1, they speed up checkout at retail stores, track packages across continents, identify patients in hospitals, and catalog books in libraries. If you've ever scanned a product at self-checkout or tracked a package online, you've used a barcode. There are 12+ barcode types, each designed for specific industries and use cases. A free barcode generator like QRKIT lets you create any of these formats in seconds — no software to install.

Barcode types

12 Barcode Types Explained

Not all barcodes are created equal. Each type is designed for specific data formats, industries, and scanning environments. Here's what you need to know about each one.

1D Barcodes (Linear)

UPC-A

12-digit barcode standard in US and Canada retail. Found on virtually every product at checkout. Use a UPC barcode generator to create these for any retail item.

Retail product packaging

UPC-E

Compressed 6-digit version of UPC-A. Designed for small items where label space is limited.

Small product packaging

EAN-13

13-digit international barcode standard used globally. The European equivalent of UPC-A.

International retail

EAN-8

Compact 8-digit version of EAN-13 for small packages where a full EAN-13 won’t fit.

Small international packaging

Code 128

Highly versatile barcode supporting full ASCII character set — numbers, letters, and symbols. The most flexible 1D barcode.

Shipping, logistics, healthcare

Code 39

Alphanumeric barcode popular in logistics, defense, and automotive. Less dense than Code 128 but widely supported.

Logistics, defense, automotive

ITF-14

Interleaved Two of Five barcode for shipping containers and pallets. GS1 standard for outer packaging.

Shipping containers, pallets

Codabar

Older barcode still used in libraries, blood banks, and some delivery services. Being phased out in favor of Code 128.

Libraries, blood banks

Code 93

Enhanced version of Code 39 supporting full ASCII. More compact but less commonly used outside specific industries.

Postal services, electronics

GS1-128

Code 128 barcode with GS1 compliance for standardized supply chain data. Encodes batch numbers, expiry dates, and serial numbers.

Supply chain, healthcare, retail

2D Barcodes (Matrix)

PDF417

Stacked 2D barcode storing up to 1,100 bytes of data. Used for IDs, driver's licenses, airline boarding passes, and compliance documents.

IDs, tickets, government documents

Data Matrix

Compact square 2D barcode with high data capacity. Common in healthcare, electronics, and automotive for small-part marking.

Healthcare, electronics, automotive

QR Code

2D barcode storing URLs, text, contact info, and more. Scanned with any smartphone camera. Best for marketing and digital interactions.

Marketing, menus, check-in, payments →

Not sure which barcode to choose? Use UPC-A for US retail products, EAN-13 for international retail, Code 128 for shipping and logistics, and ISBN for books. When in doubt, Code 128 is the safest universal choice — it works in almost every industry.

How it works

How to Create a Barcode in 4 Steps

QRKIT's barcode generator makes it easy to create professional barcodes in under 3 minutes. Follow these steps.

Step 1

Choose Your Barcode Type

Select the format you need: UPC-A for retail, Code 128 for shipping, ISBN for books, or any of the 12+ supported types. If unsure, start with Code 128.

Step 2

Enter Your Data

Type or paste the data to encode — product number, tracking code, ISBN, or alphanumeric string. For UPC-A: 12 digits. For Code 128: up to 48 characters.

Step 3

Customize & Generate

Adjust barcode width and height. Add label text below the barcode. Select your download format: PNG, SVG, or PDF. Keep black-and-white for reliable scanning.

Step 4

Download & Use

Download your barcode instantly. Use PNG for web and digital, SVG for scalable graphics, or PDF for professional printing. Ready to use in under 3 minutes.

Pro tip: Always test your barcode with a physical scanner or scanner app before mass printing. Black-and-white barcodes scan 100% reliably — avoid custom colors for traditional barcodes.

Comparison

Barcode vs QR Code: Which Should You Use?

Barcodes and QR codes are both machine-readable codes, but they serve different purposes. Here's how they compare.

Feature	Barcode (1D)	QR Code (2D)
Shape	Horizontal parallel lines	Square matrix pattern
Data Capacity	20–25 characters	Up to 4,296 characters
Scanning	Laser scanner or camera	Any smartphone camera
Common Use Cases	Retail, shipping, inventory	Marketing, payments, menus
Minimum Print Size	~2.5 cm wide	~2 × 2 cm
Customization	Limited (black & white)	Colors, logos, patterns
Error Correction	None	Up to 30% damage tolerance

Barcode (1D)

Shape: Horizontal parallel lines
Data Capacity: 20–25 characters
Scanning: Laser scanner or camera
Use Cases: Retail, shipping, inventory
Min. Size: ~2.5 cm wide
Customization: Limited (black & white)
Error Correction: None

QR Code (2D)

Shape: Square matrix pattern
Data Capacity: Up to 4,296 characters
Scanning: Any smartphone camera
Use Cases: Marketing, payments, menus
Min. Size: ~2 × 2 cm
Customization: Colors, logos, patterns
Error Correction: Up to 30% damage tolerance

When to Use a Barcode

Product pricing and inventory at retail checkout
Shipping labels and parcel tracking
Medication and patient tracking in healthcare
Book cataloging with ISBN in libraries
GS1-compliant supply chain operations

When to Use a QR Code

Marketing campaigns linking to URLs
Contactless menus, check-in, and payments
Sharing complex info (vCards, Wi-Fi, events)
Social media profile linking
Any scenario requiring smartphone scanning

Need QR codes? Create a custom QR code or explore all free QR tools

Use both! QRKIT lets you generate both traditional barcodes and QR codes from one account. Retail products get barcodes; marketing campaigns get QR codes. Same tool, different outputs.

Pricing

Free vs Premium: What You Get

QRKIT's barcode generator is free for individuals and businesses. Here's what's included in each plan.

Free Plan

Free

All 12+ barcode types
Unlimited individual barcodes
Download as PNG, SVG, PDF
Custom labels & sizing
No signup required
No watermarks
Commercial use allowed

Premium Plan

Recommended

Everything in Free
Bulk generation (CSV upload)
API access for automation
Scan tracking & analytics
Dynamic barcodes (editable)
Extended data retention
Priority support
EPS format export

99% of users need only the free plan. Upgrade to Premium only if you need bulk generation (100+ barcodes at once), API access, or scan tracking. Start free today — view all plans and upgrade anytime.

Use cases

5 Industries That Use Barcodes

From retail checkout to hospital wristbands, a free barcode generator helps businesses across every sector. Here are the top industries and the barcode types they rely on.

Retail & Inventory

Recommended: UPC-A, EAN-13

Barcodes are the backbone of retail. Every product at checkout uses a UPC or EAN code for price lookup and inventory management. Scan a cereal box at self-checkout — the barcode identifies the product, pulls the price, and updates inventory in real time. A UPC barcode generator creates retail-ready UPC-A codes for the US and Canada; EAN-13 is used internationally.

Shipping & Logistics

Recommended: Code 128, ITF-14, GS1-128

Shipping labels use Code 128 and GS1-128 to encode tracking numbers, carrier codes, and routing data. ITF-14 is the GS1 standard for outer cartons and pallets. Every package you track online relies on barcodes at every stage of transit.

Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals

Recommended: Code 128, GS1-128, Data Matrix

Hospitals use barcodes on patient wristbands, medication packaging, and specimen labels. Scanning a medication barcode confirms the right patient gets the right dose. GS1-128 encodes batch numbers and expiry dates for regulatory compliance.

Libraries & Publishing

Recommended: ISBN (EAN-13), Code 128

Every book has an ISBN barcode for universal identification and cataloging. Libraries use Code 128 for patron cards and asset tracking. Scan a book at checkout — the system updates inventory and patron records instantly.

Events & Ticketing

Recommended: PDF417, Code 128, QR Code

PDF417 barcodes appear on airline boarding passes, concert tickets, and event credentials. Code 128 is used for printed ticket verification. QR codes are increasingly used for mobile tickets scanned directly from phones.

Best practices

Barcode Design & Printing Tips

A barcode generator creates the code — but printing and placement determine whether it scans. Follow these best practices to ensure your barcodes work reliably every time.

Black & White Only

Traditional barcodes must be printed in black on a white background. Custom colors significantly reduce scan reliability because barcode scanners depend on high contrast between bars and spaces.

Adequate Quiet Zones

Leave blank white space (quiet zones) on both sides of the barcode. Most scanners need at least 2.5 mm of clear space to detect where the barcode begins and ends.

Test Before Printing

Always test your barcode with a physical scanner or scanner app before mass printing. A barcode that looks correct on screen may not scan due to size, resolution, or printing artifacts.

Minimum Size Matters

UPC and EAN codes: minimum 80% magnification (about 2.5 cm wide). Code 128: at least 2 cm wide for close-range scanning. Scale up for posters and signage scanned from a distance.

High-Resolution Export

Download as SVG or PDF for print applications — these vector formats scale without losing quality. Use PNG only for digital/web use. Never screenshot a barcode for printing.

Choose the Right Type

Using the wrong barcode type causes scanning failures. UPC-A for retail, Code 128 for shipping, ISBN for books. Verify your industry’s requirements before generating.

Universal compatibility. Barcodes are the global standard for product identification and tracking. QRKIT generates industry-compliant barcodes that work with every major scanning system — retail POS, warehouse scanners, healthcare devices, and smartphone apps.

Barcode Generator — Frequently Asked Questions

Get started

Create Your Barcodes Free

Use QRKIT's barcode generator to create any format in seconds — UPC, EAN, Code 128, and 10+ types. Download as PNG, SVG, or PDF. No signup required.

All 12+ barcode typesFree forever — no accountPNG, SVG & PDF downloadCommercial use allowed

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Free Barcode Generator: Create UPC, EAN, Code 128 & 10+ Barcode Types Online