Before you print
How big should it be?
Rule of thumb: printed width ≥ scanning distance ÷ 10. Pick the surface above and the studio sizes the code for you, then checks the printed module size against what a press can actually hold.
Questions people actually ask
Their messaging app opens with your number as the recipient and your message prefilled. They can edit it and must tap send themselves — nothing is sent automatically.
Yes — the message sends from their phone at their normal SMS rate. For most plans that is free or negligible, but it is worth knowing if your audience might be on pay-per-text or roaming.
It makes keyword campaigns effortless — 'text JOIN to 12345' becomes a single scan with zero typos. It also works for things like reserving a table or requesting a callback.
Include it (e.g. +1, +44) if people from other countries might scan. Everything is generated in your browser, free with no signup, and the code never expires.
Want the detail? How sms QR codes work — the payload format, what scanners do with it, and where it breaks.