QR Code & Barcode Generator + Reader (Bulk, PNG/SVG, Logo)

Generate thousands of QR codes and barcodes in one run, or read (decode) every QR code and barcode in a list of images. No API key, no sign-up at a third-party service, no watermark. $0.50 per 1,000 codes.

What it does

Generate mode

• Code types: QR code, EAN-13 (GTIN-13), EAN-8, UPC-A, Code 128, Code 39, Data Matrix
• Output: PNG (pixel-exact, no blurry scaling) or SVG (vector, print-ready)
• Custom foreground / background color (or transparent background)
• Logo in the center of QR codes – error correction is switched to H automatically so the code still scans
• QR error correction L / M / Q / H, quiet zone, scale (px per module) or target width, bar height
• Human-readable digits under barcodes plus an optional caption under any code
• Check digit validation for EAN-13, EAN-8 and UPC-A – a wrong check digit gives a free error row instead of an unscannable label. Leave the check digit out and it is calculated for you.
• Files are saved in the run's key-value store; every dataset row has a direct fileUrl

Read mode

• Give image URLs (PNG, JPG, WebP, GIF, BMP, TIFF); every QR code, Data Matrix, Aztec, PDF417, EAN/UPC, Code 128/39/93, ITF, Codabar, DataBar ... in each image is decoded with the zxing-cpp engine
• Returns type, decoded data, bounding box and corner points for each code
• Rotated, inverted (light-on-dark) and multiple codes per image are supported

Who it is for

• E-commerce & retail: EAN/UPC barcodes for product labels, packaging and Amazon / Shopify listings
• Marketing: branded QR codes with logo and colors for flyers, posters and menus
• Logistics & warehouses: Code 128 / Data Matrix labels for orders, shipments and bins
• Developers & automations (n8n, Make, Zapier): generate or read codes from an API call without running your own service
• Data teams: extract product codes or links from large batches of photos and scans

Why this actor

• Generator and reader in one tool, 7 symbologies for generation, ~20 for reading
• Pixel-exact output (whole-pixel modules) – sharper scans than resized images
• EAN/UPC check digit validation before anything is charged
• Pay only per successful file or image with a code found. Errors and images without codes are free.
• Fast: the default 3 codes finish in a few seconds at 512 MB

Input example (generate)

{
  "mode": "generate",
  "items": [
    { "data": "https://apify.com", "name": "website-qr" },
    { "data": "4006381333931", "name": "ean13-product", "type": "ean13" },
    { "data": "ORDER-2026-000123", "name": "code128-order", "type": "code128" }
  ],
  "type": "qr",
  "format": "png",
  "errorCorrection": "M",
  "foregroundColor": "#000000",
  "backgroundColor": "#FFFFFF",
  "logoUrl": "",
  "caption": ""
}

You can also put plain values into texts (one per line) – they use the global type.

Output example (generate)

{
  "mode": "generate",
  "name": "ean13-product",
  "type": "ean13",
  "data": "4006381333931",
  "fileUrl": "https://api.apify.com/v2/key-value-stores/U0QJuhdGc7TMb5xgv/records/ean13-product.png?signature=...",
  "fileName": "ean13-product.png",
  "width": 345,
  "height": 178,
  "format": "png",
  "status": "ok",
  "error": null,
  "sizeBytes": 2471
}

An invalid EAN such as 4006381333932 returns "status": "error", "error": "Invalid EAN13 check digit in 4006381333932: last digit should be 1." and is not charged.

Input example (read)

{
  "mode": "read",
  "imageUrls": ["https://example.com/label-photo.jpg"]
}

Output example (read)

{
  "mode": "read",
  "imageUrl": "https://api.apify.com/v2/key-value-stores/U0QJuhdGc7TMb5xgv/records/website-qr.png?signature=...",
  "status": "ok",
  "count": 1,
  "type": "QR Code",
  "data": "https://apify.com",
  "width": 330,
  "height": 330,
  "codes": [
    {
      "type": "QR Code",
      "data": "https://apify.com",
      "rect": { "x": 40, "y": 40, "width": 250, "height": 250 },
      "polygon": [{ "x": 40, "y": 40 }, { "x": 290, "y": 40 }, { "x": 290, "y": 290 }, { "x": 40, "y": 290 }],
      "orientation": 0,
      "contentType": "Text",
      "errorCorrection": "M"
    }
  ],
  "error": null
}

type and data repeat the first code for easy spreadsheet use; codes lists all of them. Images without any code get "status": "no_code_found" (free).

Pricing

Pay per event: $0.0005 per code ($0.50 per 1,000) – charged once per generated file, or once per image in which at least one code was decoded. Invalid inputs, failed downloads and images without codes are free.

API, n8n and MCP usage

Run synchronously and get the dataset items back:

curl -X POST "https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/fast_data_asap~qr-barcode-generator-reader/run-sync-get-dataset-items?token=YOUR_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"mode":"generate","texts":["https://example.com/a","https://example.com/b"],"type":"qr","format":"svg"}'

• n8n / Make / Zapier: use the Apify node/app, actor fast_data_asap/qr-barcode-generator-reader, and map fileUrl or codes into the next step.
• AI agents (MCP): add https://mcp.apify.com?tools=fast_data_asap/qr-barcode-generator-reader to Claude, Cursor or any MCP client to let your agent create or read QR codes and barcodes.

Notes

• Generated fileUrls are signed links to the run's key-value store; files are kept as long as your storage retention allows.
• PDF input is not supported in read mode – convert the page to an image first.
• Logo works for QR codes only; keep it at 25 % of the width or less.