You printed a QR code for Google reviews, stuck it by the register, and nothing happened.
The problem is rarely the code itself. It's where it sits, the moment your customer notices it, and what you're asking them to do right then.
QR codes are mainstream again: more than two thirds of consumers say they have used a QR code in the past year, according to Bitly's compilation of QR code research. Yet most codes businesses print never get scanned, not because the code is wrong, but because the placement is.
Our client Mas du Cheval prints its Google review QR code directly on the receipt handed to customers at checkout, right when they are already satisfied.
Here's how to create your Google review QR code for free, and more importantly, how to get it scanned.
How to Create a Google Review QR Code (Free, in 4 Steps)
The official method costs nothing and takes about two minutes. It only works from a computer.
- Open your Google Business Profile, signed in to the account that manages it.
- Select Reviews, then Get more reviews.
- Right click the QR code image that appears.
- Choose Save image as to download it.
If you would rather send the link by text or email, click Copy instead to grab the URL on its own.
One limit worth planning around: Google only lets you generate this QR code from a browser on a computer, not from a phone (Google Business Profile Help). From your phone, you can copy the link, but you cannot generate the code itself.
What Google's QR Code Does Not Do
The code Google gives you does the bare minimum: it opens the review box. That's where it stops.
It's static. The destination is baked into the code. Change where it points later, and every printed copy turns useless.
It tracks nothing. You will never know how many people scanned it, where, or at what time. There's no way to tell whether the table tent works better than the counter sign.
It can't be styled. No logo, no brand colors, no format sized for your material.
Static or Dynamic: What Actually Changes
| Static QR code | Dynamic QR code | |
|---|---|---|
| Destination | Fixed, reprint to change it | Editable at any time |
| Scan tracking | None | Count, date, and source |
| Customization | Limited | Colors, logo, shape |
| Cost | Free | Included in a review tool |
| Best for | One quick test, a single material | Several touch points, comparing results |
For one sticker at the counter, Google's free code is enough on its own. Spread it across more than one material, though, and the lack of data starts to cost you: there's no way to tell what to fix.
That's the logic behind Up Review's QR code generator: the destination stays editable after printing, and every scan gets counted, so you can compare locations against each other instead of guessing. If you're weighing a fuller platform rather than a single tool, our review of the best review management software compares where each one earns its cost.
Where to Place Your QR Code So It Actually Gets Scanned
This is where the outcome gets decided. A customer scans when three things line up: the experience was good, they have a spare minute, and their hands are free.
| Placement | Why it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Table tent | Customer is waiting for the check, hands free | Restaurants, bars, cafes |
| Counter, near checkout | Payment just wrapped up | Any storefront |
| Receipt | Customer reads it and keeps it | Retail, bakeries |
| Takeout bag or packaging | Seen at home, right after the purchase | Takeout, delivery |
| Signed invoice or estimate | Job just finished, satisfaction is fresh | Contractors, service providers |
| Waiting area or treatment chair | Customer already has time to spare | Salons, spas, opticians |
Two spots almost never work: the front door, because customers are walking in rather than stopping, and the storefront window, because they have not bought anything yet.
Can You Offer a Reward for a Google Review?
Plenty of business owners try to solve this by offering a free coffee for a review. That's against the rules, on two fronts.
Google's policy is direct: offering perks like free or discounted products or services in exchange for reviews counts as fake engagement, and it's not allowed (Google Business Profile Help).
In the US, the FTC's rule on consumer reviews and testimonials goes further. It bans providing compensation or other incentives conditioned on a review expressing a particular sentiment, positive or negative, and it took effect in October 2024, giving the agency the power to seek civil penalties from businesses that break it (Federal Trade Commission).
The line that matters: you can reward participation in a game, never the review itself or its star rating. That's the entire difference between a prize game open to every customer and a review bought with a discount.
How to Get More Scans
Say what's on the other side. A bare QR code doesn't inspire much trust. One line is enough: "Leave a review in 30 seconds."
Ask out loud. A QR code sitting on its own converts poorly. The same code, paired with a quick line from the server or cashier at the right moment, changes the results completely.
Check the size. A code under an inch wide is hard to scan at arm's length, especially in low light.
Test it before you print. Scan it yourself on two different phones, one iPhone and one Android.
Good news either way: no app is required. The native camera has recognized QR codes since 2017 on iPhone and 2018 on Android. The customer points their phone, a notification pops up, they tap it.
When you want the action to be even faster, an NFC plate skips the scan entirely: the customer taps their phone near it and the page opens on its own. That's useful at the table, when hands are already full.
What Happens After the Scan
Collecting reviews only pays off if you act on them. Replying to every review, tracking how your rating moves, and catching unhappy customers before they post are part of the same job, covered in managing your Google reviews.
If you also share your review link by text, email, or on social media, our guide to creating and sharing a Google review link walks through six other ways to do it.
Want a system that turns those scans into reviews, replies, and repeat visits automatically? Book a free 30-minute Up Review demo.
FAQ: Google Review QR Codes
How do you create a Google review QR code for free?
From a computer, open your Google Business Profile, select Reviews, then Get more reviews. Right click the QR code image and choose Save image as. It's free, and Google generates the code for you.
Can you create a Google review QR code from your phone?
No. Google only lets you generate this QR code from a browser on a computer. You can still copy the review link from your phone and run it through a separate QR code generator.
Is a Google review QR code the same as a Google review link?
No, they're two formats for the same destination. The link is a plain URL for texts and emails. The QR code turns that link into a scannable image for printed material.
What's the difference between a static and a dynamic QR code?
A static QR code has its destination fixed inside the code, so changing the link means reprinting every copy. A dynamic QR code points to an address you can edit anytime, and it counts scans. The code Google provides is static.
Can you offer a reward for a Google review?
Not on Google. Its policy is explicit: offering perks in exchange for reviews counts as fake engagement and is banned. In the US, the FTC's 2024 rule adds that businesses cannot condition compensation on a review's sentiment. You can reward participation in a game, never the review or its rating.
Where should you place a Google review QR code so it gets scanned?
Wherever the customer is waiting and already satisfied: the table at the end of a meal, the counter at checkout, the receipt, the takeout bag. A code stuck on the front door rarely works, since customers walk in instead of stopping to scan.
Does a Google review QR code work without an app?
Yes. The native camera on iPhone and Android has recognized QR codes without a separate app since 2017 and 2018. The customer points their phone, taps the notification, and lands on the review box.
