How to Make a QR Code for Venmo or PayPal (Get Paid With One Scan)

A payment QR code lets people pay you without spelling out your username or searching for the right account. It is handy for a bake sale table, a tip jar, a market stand or a tutoring flyer.

You have two good options. Venmo and PayPal both give you a personal QR code inside their apps, and that may be all you need. Or you can turn your payment link into a QR code you can size, color and print. This guide covers both, plus how to keep payers safe.

Option 1: Use the QR code inside the app

Both apps can show a QR code tied to your account. In each app, look for the option to scan or show a QR code. Menus change from time to time, so check the app's help pages if you do not see it.

The built-in code is a good choice when you get paid in person and the other person can scan your phone screen. The downside is that it lives on your phone. To put it on a sign or flyer you would need a screenshot, and screenshots often print small or blurry. That is where your own QR code helps.

Option 2: Turn your payment link into a QR code

A QR code can hold any web link, and both services give you a link that opens your account.

Find your Venmo link

Every Venmo user has a profile with a username. Your public profile link usually looks like this:

https://venmo.com/u/yourusername

Replace yourusername with your Venmo username, without the @ sign. The safest way to get the exact link is to use the app's option to share your profile and copy the link it gives you. When someone scans it, it usually opens your profile in the Venmo app if they have it installed. Keep in mind that Venmo is available only in the US.

Find your PayPal link

PayPal offers PayPal.Me, a personal link that looks like this:

https://paypal.me/yourname

If you have not set one up yet, you can create it from your PayPal account. You can also add an amount to the end, for example https://paypal.me/yourname/20, to pre-fill a fixed price like a class fee. Scan and check it before printing.

Step-by-step: Make the QR code in QR Studio

1. Copy your payment link from the Venmo or PayPal app, or type it carefully.
2. Open the QR Studio generator and choose the URL tab.
3. Paste the link. Remove any spaces before or after it. If you leave out https://, QR Studio adds it for you.
4. Keep dark modules on a light background. Brand colors are fine, as long as the contrast stays strong.
5. Add a logo only if it helps. QR Studio switches to high error correction when you add a logo, but keep it small and test the scan.
6. Scan the preview with your phone and make sure it opens your account, with your name and photo.
7. Download the PNG and add it to your sign, flyer or card.

QR Studio builds the code in your browser. Your link is stored only in the code itself, with no account or redirect service in between, and the code does not expire. It keeps working as long as your Venmo username or PayPal.Me link stays the same.

For more on turning links into codes, see how to make a QR code for a link.

Make the code easy to use

Add a short label next to the code, such as "Scan to pay with Venmo: @yourusername" or "Tips welcome — scan to pay with PayPal."

Always print your username or link in plain text under the code. Payers can check it against what they see on their screen, and people who cannot scan can type it in. If you take both Venmo and PayPal, use two separate codes, each with its own label. A single QR code opens one link.

Size and placement

Payment links are short, so the codes are simple and scan easily. Size still matters. A widely used guideline is to make the code about one tenth of the scanning distance in width, then test it:

Place the code at chest or eye level, avoid glossy surfaces under bright lights, and leave a clear white border around it. Our QR code size guide and the post on QR code size for print explain more.

Safety tips for payment QR codes

Payment codes are a target for scammers, because one wrong scan can send money to the wrong person.

If you are showing a code

• Check your printed codes often. A common trick is to stick a fake QR code on top of a real one.
• Use the right account type. If you sell goods or services, check each app's rules. Both have business options, and protections can differ between personal and business payments.
• Never ask payers to share their password or a code sent to their phone. Paying you should never need that.

If you are scanning a code to pay

• Check the link before you open it. Most phone cameras show a preview of the web address. It should be on the real service, like venmo.com, paypal.com or paypal.me, and not a look-alike address.
• Verify the recipient's name and photo in the app before you send anything. If the name does not match the person or business you expect, stop and ask.
• Be careful with codes you did not expect, such as ones in surprise emails or texts, or stickers placed over signs. If anything looks off, open the app yourself instead of signing in through the page.
• You do not need to scan a code to receive money. If someone says you must scan a code or "confirm" a payment to get paid, it is likely a scam.

Testing checklist

Before you print a batch of signs or cards:

1. Scan the code with at least two phones, ideally one iPhone and one Android phone, with and without the app installed.
2. Confirm that the right name, username and photo show up.
3. Print one copy at the real size and scan it from the real distance.
4. If you can, have a friend send a small test payment.

If the code will not scan, work through QR code not scanning.

Frequently asked questions

Can I make a Venmo or PayPal QR code for free?

Yes. Both apps show a free QR code for your account. For a printable version, paste your Venmo profile or PayPal.Me link into the URL tab in QR Studio and download the PNG. There is no signup.

Will my payment QR code stop working?

A static QR code does not expire. It stops working only if the link inside it stops working, for example if you change your Venmo username or your PayPal.Me link. If you change either one, make a new code and replace your old prints.

Can one QR code accept both Venmo and PayPal?

One QR code opens one link. Use two clearly labeled codes, or link one code to a simple web page you control that has buttons for each payment option.

Can I set a fixed amount in the QR code?

A PayPal.Me link can include an amount at the end to pre-fill the payment, and the payer still reviews it before sending. For Venmo, it is simplest to print the amount next to the code.

How do I know a payment QR code is safe to scan?

Check the web address your camera shows, make sure the recipient's name and photo match who you expect, and be wary of codes that look like stickers placed over another code.

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