Circle QR Code Maker: Create a Round QR Code

What is a circle QR Code?

A circular QR Code—as the name suggests—is a regular QR Code that looks round instead of the traditional square commonly associated with a QR Code.

Brands looking to customize the shape of their QR Codes can generate a circular code for their business. A circular QR Code offers the same functionality and possibilities as a regular QR Code, and you can create static and dynamic QR Codes in round shapes.

Can you actually create a round QR Code?

Many wonder if creating a circular QR Code is possible because common knowledge says otherwise. For example, this user at Stack Overflow tried to create a circular QR Code from scratch, but it wasn’t scannable.

So, what is happening here?

While QR Codes can appear circular, their functional region must be square (hence the confusion). In the above example, the person successfully created a round QR Code, but they messed up the code’s structural integrity, rendering it unscannable. Learn more about the functional regions of a QR Code here.

To better understand, have a look at this image.

A circular QR Code is essentially a square QR Code within a well-integrated circular frame. However, this doesn't mean you can manually slap a standard QR Code on a circular frame. In most cases, this will make the QR Code unscannable.

The best way to create a circular QR Code without damaging the structural integrity is by using a QR Code generator. We’ll show you how to do that soon.

Common myths associated with a circle QR Code

Here are a few myths you may come across when creating a circle QR Code:

👺 Myth 1: Circular QR Codes are always proprietary

If you look at the Stack Overflow example, you will see that the person was under the impression that a circular QR Code is always proprietary and requires special apps to scan. It’s true, but not always.

There are proprietary circular codes, such as Kik codes, Apple App Clicks, ShotCode, etc., all of which require special scanning apps. But you can also create a standard circle QR Code that is scannable on any mobile device.

You can achieve almost all the purposes of a proprietary QR Code with a standard one that’s more compatible, stores more data, and offers more flexibility. To learn more about proprietary and circular QR Codes, jump to this section.

👺 Myth 2: Circular QR Codes are harder to scan

This is often a perception rather than a fact. If you create a circular QR Code correctly, preserving its functional structure, there is no significant difference in scannability.

Suppose you try to create one from scratch (via coding, such as the Stack Overflow example) or heavily customize the QR Code's design. In that case, you can unwittingly interfere with its scannability.

The best way to ensure your circular QR Code is scannable is to create one using a QR Code generator.

For example, Uniqode is the only QR Code generator with a scannability score for real-time updates on the QR Code’s scannability as you make changes.

How to make a circle QR Code in 4 steps

Creating a circle QR Code is easy with a QR Code generator. It ensures your QR Code is scannable and gives you ample options to design it. Here’s how you can do that in just four simple steps (details below):

💡Pro tip: You can save this QR Code in your dashboard and set it as a template for your team to follow. This ensures that all the users in your account find a standard circular QR Code that maintains brand consistency.

4 Benefits that only come with a circle QR Code

Here are some reasons your circular QR Code is a keeper:

1. Novelty factor and aesthetic appeal

Circular QR Codes are visually appealing and unique in a sea of square QR Codes. When printed on billboards, websites, or sizable digital signage, they can pique a prospect's interest and prompt more users to scan.

2. Branding and customization

You can customize circular QR Codes to match your brand colors, logo, or other design elements. In this way, you can maintain a consistent visual identity in your marketing materials, packaging, or promotional items using the QR Code.

3. Easy to integrate into designs

You can integrate round QR Codes into design layouts or compositions that rely on curves and circles. Use them in posters, magazines, labels, and other materials where a circular design might work better than the usual square one.

4. Improved customer experience

Depending on the placement and context, a circle QR Code might provide a smoother, user-friendly experience when users scan the QR Code with mobile devices.

It can fit more naturally into certain designs and layouts, such as round tokens, medals, round photo frames, circle app icons, etc.,—making the scanning process more straightforward.

Adding an attractive frame and CTA to circle QR Codes further enhances its appeal with a clear purpose and value.

5. Bonus: Track and edit your circle QR Code

With an online QR Code maker such as Uniqode, you can create a round QR Code and track its performance once it is deployed. With QR Code analytics, you can access various metrics such as:

• Total number of unique scans
• The device used to scan
• Location of the scan activity
• Date and time of a scan

In addition, dynamic QR Codes make it easy to edit the QR Code destination even after printing a circle QR Code anywhere.

If you want to access additional data and understand end-user demographics, you can integrate Uniqode with Google Analytics.

Proprietary circle codes vs. circular QR Codes: Which is better

Several well-known brand offer circular proprietary codes built-into their platforms, as an added feature. Your use cases may revolve around these platforms, such as the ones that come with Kik or Meta Messenger.

In such cases, should you use the proprietary code that comes with the platform or create a standard circular QR Code ?

Here’s the thing:

Not all circular machine-readable codes are standard QR Codes. But standard QR Codes can be circular.

Look at the images above 👆. Specialized platforms like Kik, Snapchat, Meta, and Apple Clips use proprietary codes. These codes have unique identifiers and work specifically with their respective applications.

These QR Codes often incorporate elements of the platform's branding or user experience, making them distinct (and restrictive) from standard QR Codes. You can rarely customize them or tweak how they work.

Standard QR Codes, on the other hand, follow a widely adopted standardized format that can work with any data, including websites, social media, URLs, text, contact information, etc. Best: They can be dynamic.

You can scan them using any mobile OS that supports QR Code scanning. Plus, you can customize these QR Codes to look any way you want, including adding an image in the background or a logo in the middle like proprietary codes.

Here's a table to understand the crucial differences between the two:

Popular examples to use a circle QR Code

Here are some places where our customers use circular QR Codes;

1. Product packaging

You can add a customized circle QR Code on your product packaging. Your customers can scan the code to view a coupon, social media profile, landing page—or any URL you use.

2. Billboard or digital signage

If your brand design esthetics revolve around round shapes (psst…you’re a donut brand), you can use circle QR Codes on billboards or digital signage for subtle yet impactful branding.

3. On restaurant menus

Do you only offer burgers? Donuts? Coffee in round cups or any other circular food items? Why not make your restaurant menu QR Code circular? Your guests will surely appreciate the subtle rationale behind this.

4. On medals and round trophies

Adding a QR Code to medals and trophies that point to special accounts of the winners or information about the trophy holder is an ingenious use of QR Codes. Adding a circle QR Code in round medals:

• Increases the aesthetic appeal
• Prompts more people to scan
• Increases the functional value of the medals

5. On bottle caps

Imagine scanning a round QR Code on a bottle cap that leads to a stunning landing page showing how the water in the bottle came from the frigid springs of the Himalayas! Immersive, right? A round QR Code on a bottle cap can be functional and aesthetically pleasing if used in relevant cases.

Best practices to ensure your round QR Codes are scannable

Here are certain things to keep in mind while making round QR Code:

1. Ensure high scannability after customization

While creating a circle QR Code, don't over-customize it and render the QR Code unscannable. Here are a few things professionals routinely follow:

• Angle the QR Code correctly
• Choose a contrasting background
• Keep the QR Code clutter-free

If you use Uniqode, you can gauge the scannability in real time while customizing. Keep an eye on the yellow box while designing the round QR Code.

2. Brand the round QR Code with logo

We always recommend creating a QR Code that users can recognize and trust. Your brand logo can help prospects ascertain the legitimacy of a QR Code and scan it without the fear of scams or fraud.

3. Place the circle QR Code appropriately

Your QR Code placement determines its success. Check if it has been placed correctly and is not obscured wholly or partially wherever you use it.

Sometimes, when you place a QR Code in the corners of packaging or in the middle of a tri-fold brochure, it is likely to be creased.

Hypothesize situations that your materials where you’re using the QR Code will undergo and place it where there is the least chance of it being affected.

4. Check the size of your QR Code

A QR Code is scannable only if its dimensions are perfectly sized. It should be a minimum of 1 cm x 1 cm.

Use this formula to determine the correct size for your QR Code:

QR Code size = Distance between the QR Code and the mobile device/10

Need help deciding the right size for your circle QR Code? Check out our detailed guide on QR Code size.