Adobe vs. Uniqode: Which QR Code Generator Is Worth Your Time?

Be it engaging your customers at their favorite retail outlet or getting feedback about their experience, QR Codes are the MVPs of all consumer engagement needs in the physical world. 

If you’re convinced about the value of QR Codes in your business but can’t decide if Adobe’s static QR Codes suit you or Uniqode's QR Code Generator will be a better pick, I’ll help you gauge which solution is worthwhile. i have used them both and here is my opinion.

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links or sponsored content, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links at no extra cost to you. Please read the full disclosure for more information.

Uniqode is a powerful QR Code solution for businesses looking to create and share digital business cards effortlessly. On the other hand, Adobe is a well-known image and creative management software that offers a wide range of products and services, along with a static QR Code generator. 

In this comparison, we’ll evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of both QR Code generators. We’ll explore these platforms' pricing, unique features, and customer service to help you gauge which solution fits your needs perfectly. 

Features to consider while choosing a QR Code Generator

When choosing any QR Code maker for your individual or business needs, you must keep a few things (or features) in mind. These will help you assess the solution's compatibility with your needs. We will also use these features to assess both Uniqode and Adobe's QR Code solutions as we

1. Both static and dynamic QR Codes

Pick a QR Code generator that offers both static QR Codes and dynamic QR Codes. 

Static QR Codes are permanent and non-trackable. It means you can't edit the QR Code-linked content on the backend or track the analytics after you use them. However, it can help you with a one-time campaign that doesn't require editing, analytics, or customization. 

On the other hand, dynamic QR Codes are trackable and let you update the content without making it from scratch or redeployment. They also come with different features like customization, safety, integrations, analytics, etc. 

Choosing a solution that offers both will help you scale up faster and more efficiently. And the best part, you don't have to use two different tools for your varying QR Code needs, as all your information and data will be stored in a single dashboard. 

Both, Adobe and Uniqode QR Code generator provide static QR Codes for free. 

You can create static QR Codes using Adobe’s free QR Code generator by simply visiting the website and creating a QR Code. You can also personalize the style and color of your generated QR Code.

Although Adobe QR Code generator doesn't offer dynamic QR Codes, Uniqode does. 

Dynamic QR Codes are your best bet if you are using QR Codes for ongoing campaigns and want to scale up as you go. They are not only editable but also trackable. With Uniqode, you can closely evaluate the performance of your QR Codes, thanks to the built-in analytics and Google Analytics integration. It also comes with several enterprise-grade features, which we'll discuss in the upcoming sections. 

2. Ease of use

The whole purpose of using software or a tool is to simplify your life. This means that when you choose a QR Code maker, you need a solution that is easy to use so you don't spend a considerable amount of time figuring out how to make the best use of it. If you find a solution that is challenging to use, then the outcome of it would be just frustration and lower productivity. 

When it comes to both Adobe and Uniqode, I experienced a great level of ease and didn't require any additional support to figure out how to use them. While with Adobe, you can only create URL-based QR Codes, with Uniqode, you get a variety of options which I liked.

Also, Adobe lets you download your QR Codes in JPEG, PNG, and SVG formats. Uniqode offers this and EPS and PDF formats for seamless sharing capacity. 

If you are wondering if you can only use Adobe to create QR Codes for Adobe forms, the answer is you can use, in fact, both Adobe and Uniqode. These are the steps you need to follow to create QR Codes for the same: 

1. Head over to Uniqode/Adobe and paste the form URL in the 'Website URL' section.
2. Choose the template, customize the colors, and add your brand logo (only in Uniqode).
3. Download the Adobe form QR Code in PNG or the preferred format. 

3. Customizability

When you have the ability to fully customize your QR Code content, it allows you to have more creative control over your campaigns. Having access to more content templates that provide an extensive list of use cases enables you to maximize the potential of QR Codes. 

For example, if you have created packaging for your product and desire a QR Code that complements the color scheme, you can easily achieve that with the right content template.

Using Adobe's QR Code generator:

• You can only create one QR Code, meaning no bulk QR Code creation capabilities that will match the needs of a packaging or enterprise company. 
• Adobe comes with a limited color palette with 5 primary colors. So, it might not really align with your brand style. 
• Adobe offers two QR Code styles, so you can create a QR Code that doesn't resemble the generic ones out there.  
• You cannot alter the shape of the QR Code. Thus, if a circular QR Code would better fit the look of your goods, Adobe won't let you make one. 
• Customization possibilities aren't broad enough, and their generator doesn't support adding a logo or CTA text below the QR Code.

On the other hand, here's what my experience with Uniqode customizability feature looked like:

• You can create multiple custom QR Codes in bulk in just a few minutes.
• Personalizing the QR Code and pattern to your tastes is simple, as you can select from various QR Code shapes and color palettes. 
• You can generate a QR Code with a logo, edit the background, and add a frame, right from Uniqode dashboard. 
• Additionally, they give you access to a large selection of typefaces and enable you to add audio, video, sliders, tables, and files to your landing page, giving you more flexible options for your QR Code requirements.

On this front, Uniqode allows more options for customization compared to Uniqode. 

4. Scannability

Ensuring the QR Code is easily readable is often overlooked. 

Your QR Codes can look as professional and creative as you want them to be, but if people can't scan them and interact with the content, it won't matter at all. 

For this reason, you require a QR Code solution that notifies you of the QR Code's scannability as you customize its appearance. 

I have found that free solutions may not have all the features that are necessary to ensure that printed QR codes work properly, even when they are damaged. For example, error correction is an important feature that can help ensure the integrity of the codes even when they are scratched or smudged. On the other hand, paid QR code providers like Uniqode offers a more robust solution, with high-resolution QR codes that include error correction and real-time scannability scores. 

This can be particularly important for businesses that rely on QR codes for marketing or other purposes. Free solutions could lack features like error correction that allows printed QR codes to withstand damage like scratches and smudging yet still work just fine. Contrarily, paid QR Code providers like Uniqode offers robust, high-resolution QR Codes with error correction and real-time scannability scores. 

Adobe's QR Code generator

• Adobe QR Codes do not always ensure successful scanning. It is because they lack any error correction or scannability features. 
• Even though Adobe provides SVG, a high-resolution vector format for QR Codes, the pattern can fade with time and make the QR Code unreadable.

Uniqode QR Code generator:

• On the other hand, Uniqode offers four levels of error correction based on the Reed-Solomon Error Correction algorithm. 

Level L: 7% of data can be restored.

Level M: 15% of data can be restored.

Level Q: 25% of data can be restored.

Level H: 30% of data can be restored.

• Uniqode also has a real-time scannability score that will help you deploy QR Codes that are working.

Hence, Uniqode does better with scannability since the Adobe QR Code generator does not have this feature.

These were all the must-have features you must look for in any QR Code generator. Let's now look at the features that a premium one will allow you to access. 

Features that you can unlock with a premium QR Code Generator 

You can unlock other useful features with a premium QR Code generator. These advanced features allow you to white-label your QR Codes, track their performance, and provide security for enhanced functionality.

Below are some characteristics of a premium dynamic QR Code generator to help you with the marketing initiatives:

1. Analytics

As a data-oriented marketer, it's crucial to use accurate analytics. Without them, it's like flying blind in the dark. QR Codes are no exception to this rule. To make your QR Code campaign successful and profitable, you need visibility into the demographics you're targeting. This will help you attract the right audience and achieve a positive ROI.

• With Adobe's QR Code solution, you can add QR Codes to the necessary marketing materials. But you don't get any insights into audience engagement, the demographics of the scanners, or the overall performance of the QR Codes.

With Uniqode, you can get real-time analytics at your fingertips with card scan analytics. 

• You can access the dashboard that provides information such as where, when, which device was used to scan a QR Code, and even audience engagement. 
• You also get integration with third-party tools such as Google Analytics for a detailed analysis of your campaigns, including user behavior. 
• It also provides card scan analytics depending on location (permission-based), time of day, device type, and operating system of the scanning device.

2. Safety and Security

It's crucial for any QR Code platform to have strong security measures in place to safeguard user data. This becomes even more critical when catering to diverse audiences as the risk of security breaches increases. 

Ensuring the security of QR Codes is paramount to building trust with users and maintaining data privacy. Your QR Code platform must incorporate robust, industry-leading security features to protect user data. 

I analyzed the security features of both the solutions and here's what I found:

Adobe's QR Code generator

• It is a free online option that only generates static QR Codes. However, static QR Codes from free QR Code generators mostly don't meet the safety standards compared to a paid solution where both dynamic and static QR Codes comply with the industry security standards. 

Uniqode QR Code generator

• It makes data collection and customer interaction safe and secure with advanced security measures.
• The solution is GDPR and SOC-2 Type II Compliant, making it one of the safest QR Code generators out there.
• To further secure user accounts, it provides multi-user access management, SSO integration via SAML, URL-based phishing detection, and many more. 

I recently discovered a new feature called 'Uniqode Shield' by Uniqode, which is quite impressive. This feature helps maintain data sanity and accurate campaign analytics by identifying abnormal user scan behavior and filtering them out. It's great to see such measures in place to protect user data and ensure data privacy.

3. Collaboration and Integration

It's true that integration features can greatly enhance the functionality of any platform. If you're looking to move your QR Code campaign data onto a different software or analyze it with third-party tools like Google Analytics, you need a reputable and paid QR Code generator.

• However, with Adobe’s QR Codes, you are restricted from these opportunities because no third-party collaborations or integrations are available, primarily because it is a free solution.

With Uniqode, on the flip slide, 

• You can seamlessly integrate the solution with your organization's Microsoft Azure Active Directory. User administration and authentication are made simple with this integration. 
• 4000+ integrations with CRMs, sales, and HR tools like Zapier, Salesforce, Integromat, or Workato.
• Add multiple users and configure their levels of access.
• Manage & identify QR Codes with labels.

Adobe vs. Uniqode QR Code Generator: Which one is more affordable?

Now that you're well versed with the features, let's look at the Uniqode and Adobe pricing. 

Adobe is a 100% free QR Code solution, meaning you don't have to spend a penny to create a QR Code. But like with any free QR Code solution, you have certain limitations with this one, too, like we discussed in this article. 

I was initially confused with Adobe Express's premium plan and was under the impression that there is a paid version of the QR Code generator as well. But this plan gives you access to all the features and solutions of Adobe at a single cost of $9.99/month, but the QR Code generator is always free, whether you take this plan or not. 

Uniqode is a dedicated, premium QR Code solution. In addition to offering customized enterprise QR Code solutions, it provides four standard subscription plans. It is important to note here that Uniqode is still a free QR Code generator if your requirements are simply static QR Codes. If you want to upgrade it to dynamic QR Codes, then you can choose from any of the following pricing plans:

1. Starter plan ($5/month billed annually)

• It’s suitable for individuals with minimal QR Code requirements.
• Allows the creation of up to 3 QR Codes and 25,000 annual scans.
• Ideal for personal use or solopreneurs.

2. Lite ($15/month billed annually)

• It’s suitable for micro teams of 2 to 5 people.
• Allows the creation of up to 50 QR Codes and 500,000 annual scans.
• It provides more capacity for small teams.

3. Pro ($49/month billed annually)

• It’s a popular option for small teams of around 10 people. 
• Allows the creation of up to 250 QR Codes and 1,000,000 annual scans.
• This plan provides great room for flexibility and scalability.

4. Plus ($99/month billed annually)

• It’s designed for mid-size teams of 50-250 people.
• Allows the creation of up to 500 QR Codes and 2,000,000 annual scans.
• Suitable for businesses with an expanding network.

5. Enterprise (custom pricing)

• It’s designed specifically for large teams.
• Allows the creation of unlimited QR Codes and scans based on pricing.

Adobe vs. Uniqode: Which QR Code generator is worth the investment? 

If you're looking for an image-based solution with basic QR-based functionality, Adobe might be a good option for you. However, if you need more advanced features like trackable, editable, and scalable QR Codes, as well as seamless CRM integration and excellent security compliance, then Uniqode QR Code maker would be the ideal choice. 

With its impressive features and several use cases, Uniqode is safe to use globally, making it a top pick for many. Ultimately, the decision is yours to make based on what you deem is the right fit for your needs.