QR codes have become a staple of modern marketing—but most businesses are still using plain, generic ones that blend into the background. A branded QR code, on the other hand, tells your story at a glance. It's a visual extension of your brand, built with custom colours, your logo embedded, and the analytics to prove its worth. If you're serious about tracking campaigns and building trust, a branded QR code tool should sit at the centre of your outreach strategy.
We've tested the tools that matter most for creating custom QR codes, embedding logos, and tracking real performance. Here's what you need to know.
# Clkly
Clkly turns link tracking into a branded experience. Create a styled QR code with your colours and logo in seconds, then track every click across country, device, browser, and referrer. You can be set up in 30 seconds—no card, no demo, no sales call.
- Styled QR codes with custom colours, embedded logo, and transparent backgrounds
- Print-ready SVG and PNG downloads for any campaign size
- Country and city-level click analytics tied to every scan
- Branded short links on your own domain (yourdomain.com/launch)
- Bulk actions to manage QR codes across campaigns, folders, and clients
# HubSpot
HubSpot is a fully-fledged CRM and marketing automation platform that covers lead management, email sequences, and contact pipelines. It has a QR code generator built into its toolset, though QR code functionality is secondary to its broader CRM offering. Pricing scales from free (limited) to enterprise. Most teams use it for pipeline management and email nurturing rather than specifically for QR code creation. Integration with forms, landing pages, and contact records is built in.
# Bitly
Bitly established itself as the go-to link shortener and has expanded into QR code generation with branding options. You can customise colours and add logos, then access click data grouped by geography, device, and time period. The platform is straightforward for basic QR tracking, though it lacks some depth in workflow automation and CRM integration compared to broader platforms. Pricing includes a free tier and monthly plans.
# Rebrandly
Rebrandly focuses on branded short links and QR codes with custom domains. You can create a custom QR code with logo support and track analytics across geography and device type. The platform is designed for marketing teams who want to maintain brand consistency across all shortened URLs and codes. Integration options are limited compared to all-in-one platforms, and it sits firmly in the link-tracking space rather than offering CRM or outreach.
# Short.io
Short.io combines link shortening, QR code generation, and analytics in one dashboard. QR codes support logos and custom colours, with analytics broken down by country, device, and referrer. The interface is clean and geared towards marketers who need lightweight tracking without heavy CRM overhead. There's no native email sequencing or contact management, so it works best as a dedicated tracking layer for campaigns.
# TinyURL
TinyURL is one of the oldest link shorteners and has added QR code generation to its core offering. Basic QR codes are free to create, though advanced features like logo embedding and custom branding are available on paid tiers. Analytics are minimal compared to modern QR code platforms—mostly click counts and basic geography. It's still relevant for users who need simple, no-frills QR codes without design customisation.
# Branch
Branch is a mobile measurement and attribution platform that specialises in tracking deep links across devices and apps. Its QR code functionality is built to handle cross-device journeys, making it particularly useful for campaigns that drive traffic from print or outdoor to mobile apps. Analytics are granular and app-focused rather than web-centric. Pricing is enterprise-level, and setup typically involves a longer implementation cycle.
# Mailchimp
Mailchimp is an email marketing and automation platform that includes basic QR code generation as part of its template and campaign tools. You can create QR codes and embed them in emails, but customisation options are limited. The platform shines for drip campaigns, segmentation, and subscriber management rather than QR code-specific features. Most users treat QR codes as a secondary feature within broader email workflows.
# ActiveCampaign
ActiveCampaign combines email marketing, marketing automation, CRM, and sales workflows in one platform. QR code functionality exists within the broader context of campaign creation and contact tracking, but it's not a primary focus. The platform excels at conditional email sequences, contact scoring, and pipeline management. QR codes created within ActiveCampaign can be tracked as part of contact journeys, though the analytics depth is moderate.
# Klaviyo
Klaviyo is an email and SMS marketing platform built for ecommerce and subscription businesses. It includes QR code generation for campaigns, with basic tracking integrated into contact records. The strength lies in segmentation, personalisation, and revenue attribution rather than QR-specific analytics. QR codes work best as a supporting element within larger email and SMS flows targeted at customer segments.
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If you need a tool built specifically for branded QR codes and link tracking—one that ties every scan back to your contact and works alongside cold outreach—Clkly's QR code builder is purpose-built for that job. Create custom codes in seconds, track performance at country level, and manage bulk campaigns without friction.
- Set up branded QR codes and styled short links in under 30 seconds
- Track clicks at country, city, device, and referrer level—instantly
- Manage hundreds of codes across folders, campaigns, and clients
- Embed your logo and custom colours for consistent brand presence
- Use QR codes as a trigger in workflows to tag contacts and send follow-ups