No subscription needed
Most QR code menu services charge £20-£50/month. QR Studio generates the same scannable codes for free, you just host your menu as a PDF or webpage yourself. One-time setup, works permanently, no recurring cost.
QR Codes Every Restaurant Needs
Digital menu
Host your menu as a PDF or webpage. Customers scan to view it on their phone. Update the file anytime, no reprinting the QR code.
Guest Wi-Fi
One scan connects guests without typing a password. Use a guest network so customers can't access your main systems.
Google reviews
Link directly to your Google Business review page (see the Google review QR code guide). Print on receipts or table cards, a 1-tap nudge for satisfied customers to leave a review.
Social follow
Link to your Instagram or Facebook page. Diners scan and follow while they wait, turns every table into a follower-acquisition point.
Reservations
Link to your booking page or pre-fill an SMS/email to your reservations inbox. Reduces calls during busy service.
Loyalty & offers
Link to a sign-up form or discount page. Scan at checkout, great for capturing repeat customers without printed loyalty cards.
How to Set Up a QR Code Menu
Host your menu online
Upload your menu as a PDF to Google Drive and set sharing to "Anyone with the link can view." Or use your website, Notion, or any page with a stable URL.
Paste the URL into QR Studio
Select the 🔗 URL type and paste your menu link. Preview it on your phone before downloading to confirm it opens correctly.
Download as SVG or PDF for print
These vector formats scale to any size without losing quality: essential for table tents, window stickers, or menu inserts. Completely free, no watermark.
Menu as a PDF or a Web Page?
Both work with a QR code, and the code does not care which you use. The difference is for the diner. A PDF is quick to set up, but on a phone people have to pinch and zoom around a page designed for paper. A simple web page, even a plain one, reflows to fit the screen and is easier to read at a dim table. If you already have a website, a menu page there is usually the better choice.
Whichever you pick, keep the address the same when the menu changes. Replace the file or edit the page at the same link and every printed code shows the new menu without reprinting anything.
Table QR Codes That Survive Service
A restaurant code lives a hard life: spills, cleaning spray, low light and phones held at an angle. A few things keep it working:
- Size. Around 3cm across on a table tent is comfortable for a phone held at the table. Bigger for anything on a wall or a window.
- Finish. Laminate it or use a stand, but prefer matt. A glossy surface under a ceiling light can throw glare straight into the camera.
- Contrast. Dark code, light background, even in brand colours. Our colour test shows contrast matters more than the colour itself.
- A line of text. "Scan for the menu" or "Scan for Wi-Fi" next to the code. People scan what they understand.
- A test in the room. Scan the printed code at the table, in the evening lighting, before you print one for every table.
Reviews deserve their own code. The Google review QR code page covers where to find your review link and what Google does not allow.
Frequently Asked Questions
A PDF on Google Drive or Dropbox works perfectly. A Google Doc, Notion page, or your website also works. The QR code just needs a stable URL, customers tap and the menu opens in their browser, no app required.
No. QR Studio generates the code for free, permanently. There's no subscription. You host the menu yourself (on Google Drive, your website, etc.) and the QR code links to it. As long as the URL stays the same, the code works forever.
If you update the PDF or webpage at the same URL, the QR code automatically shows the new version, no need to reprint. If the URL changes, generate a new QR code (free, takes 30 seconds).
Yes. Pick your brand colors, choose a corner style, and optionally add your logo in the centre. Download as SVG or PDF for high-quality print on table cards and signage.
Keep reading
Related pages on QR Studio.
- what actually changed when menus went digitalThe full argument, including what restaurants got wrong.
- a Wi-Fi code for the same tableGuests ask for the password before they ask for the menu.
- how hotels handle the same problemRoom service and the in-room directory.
- put the restaurant's logo in the codeA table tent is the most-looked-at print you own.
- why guests ask for the password firstThe request that comes before the menu.