Everything you need to know about QR code payments

QR codes have probably been around longer than you think. The technology arrived on the scene in 1994, although it wouldn't see widespread use until camera phones became commonplace during the mid to late 2000s. In the 2010s, they began being used as a way to accept payments for the first time.

While QR codes fell out of favour for a time, the use of QR code payments saw a huge resurgence in mid-2020, when COVID-19 not only closed large swathes of the economy, but also raised fears about the risks of using payment methods requiring direct contact.

They remain popular post-COVID due to their convenience, low cost and compatibility with any smartphone. Businesses favour them because they eliminate the need for expensive POS systems, while consumers appreciate their speed and convenience when the payment flow behind the code is properly secured.

When it comes to using QR codes to initiate payments, the technology is well developed, but still in the early stages of adoption - a situation that's changing rapidly as we move closer towards a completely cashless society.

In this article, we'll give you a brief rundown on QR code payments, what they are and how they work. We'll also list some of the industries where they're being rapidly adopted, and explain some of the benefits that QR code payments can offer.

"QR" stands for "Quick Response". That's because, in the early days of the QR code, the technology was intended to track vehicles during manufacturing, plus quickly scan individual components to keep track of inventories.

A QR code is a flat, 2-dimensional abstract pattern made from black bars and squares, set on a white background. QR codes work a little like barcodes: When a scanner "sees" the QR code pattern and decodes it, an action is triggered — in this case, initiating a payment or opening a web page.

Generally, a customer scans a merchant-created QR code with their smartphone, opening a payment flow that passes the relevant transaction details to the payment provider. Ecommpay’s solution works slightly differently: the static code opens a pre-checkout page where the customer chooses or enters the amount before completing the payment through Ecommpay’s payment page.

Two basic types of payment methods are relevant to contactless transactions: Dynamic QR codes and static QR codes.

Static QR codes are simply programmed with a single trigger action, so when customers scan a QR code, this will launch a browser tab and navigate to a webpage that contains a shopping cart or payment information.

Dynamic QR codes offer a more sophisticated payment method: They can auto-fill transaction amounts, allowing a vendor to issue multiple codes for different items. Dynamic QR codes can also inform the vendor of the consumer's location, device type and other analytics.

Ecommpay’s QR code payments solution uses the static model: you generate one code from the Ecommpay Dashboard and it stays active for as long as you need, rather than being regenerated for each transaction or item. Crucially, the payment amount is not encoded in the code itself. It is set by the customer on the pre-checkout page the code opens. This allows a single static code to support open-ended use cases such as tipping and donations, where there is no fixed amount to encode, while still letting you offer preset amounts when needed.

QR code payments can be used to purchase goods and services in two distinct ways:.

Vendors use a QR code generator for payments, displaying them in areas where customers pay for goods and services. The vendor uses a dedicated payment platform or an app to create a code linked to a product or service, and a customer scans this QR code to pay.

Customers can also present QR codes on their own devices for a business to scan. This customer-presented model is common with wallets such as Alipay and WeChat Pay. Ecommpay’s QR code payments solution uses the merchant-presented model instead: you create and display the code, and your customer scans it to pay. Customer-presented QR codes are not part of this product.

You might be familiar with the QR code, but what are the advantages of using this in your own business?

For starters, QR code payments are fast and super convenient. Your customers can scan and pay for goods and services at any time, in any location - without lengthy interactions with staff.

The other major benefit of using a QR code to accept payments is that they tend to be cheaper to set up and less cumbersome than manual point-of-sale card readers.

Finally, QR codes can be integrated into other payment platforms and solutions, creating a robust ecosystem for your business - both online, and in the physical world.

QR codes are already being used extensively to accept payments. Here are just a few of the more popular applications for the technology:

Probably the oldest and most widely used application of the QR code, e-tickets allow customers to present proof of their booking to door staff. They also allow patrons to scan the QR code upon arrival to pay for admission as well.

Diners can scan the QR code outside a venue to launch a browser window that displays a food menu, or use a code on printed flyers or posters to make bookings and even pre-order meals to collect upon arrival.

QR codes work well in major tourist hotspots, where they can be used to issue guidance in multiple languages, while allowing payment for services where traditional point-of-sale equipment would be impractical.

From e-scooters to car rentals and parking, QR code payment systems make it simple to launch an app or account creation page, enabling customers to efficiently pay for a service on the go.

Linking QR code payments to a loyalty card or member's account makes plenty of sense: Once customers see their rewards growing, they'll probably be more likely to spend extra cash.

All of the technology and benefits of QR codes that businesses and customers enjoy would be impossible to implement without smartphones. Wherever we see a rise in the adoption of QR code payments, you can be sure that the popularity of smartphones is growing - especially in emerging markets like the Indian subcontinent and Africa.

According to Bitly's 2026 State of QR Code Scans report, scan rates grew across every major region between 2024 and 2025, led by Europe (+42%) and Latin America (+40%), with North America's more mature market seeing steadier 8% growth.

As the world moves ever closer towards a cashless economy, QR code based payment methods will continue to rise in popularity. According to Juniper Research, global QR code payment transactions reached $5.4 trillion in 2025, and are projected to grow by 50% to $8 trillion by 2029.

Right now, the QR code is big news for mobile payments, revolutionising the consumer landscape and ushering in a new era for integrated payment systems across every sector of the economy.

Ecommpay’s QR code payments solution lets you collect payments through a single static QR code, with no fixed price and no integration required. You create and customise the code entirely within the Ecommpay Dashboard, adding your logo, background image, title, description and a thank-you page so the whole experience matches your brand.

When a customer scans the code, they land on a pre-checkout page where they set the payment amount. You choose how this works for each code:

• Custom amount only, so the customer enters whatever they want to pay
• Preselected amounts only, for fixed donation tiers or set prices
• Preselected amounts plus a custom option, so customers can pick a suggested figure or enter their own

Once they've chosen an amount, they're redirected to the standard Ecommpay payment page to complete the transaction using any payment method available to you, with 3DS authentication and AVS checks included.

Because the code is static, it works anywhere, on printed signage, receipts, table cards, or embedded on a web page, and it stays live indefinitely until you choose to deactivate it. That makes it a natural fit for tips, donations and any pay-what-you-want scenario, from a cafe counter to a nonprofit's donation page.

QR codes also have a role at the checkout itself. When your customers reach the payment page, you can display a QR code that, when scanned by a mobile device, allows for seamless payment using their mobile banking app, or a digital wallet like Google Pay or Apple Pay. This is particularly useful when a customer can't find their card, and it also makes it easier to pay with Google or Apple Pay from a desktop PC or laptop.