Healthcare QR codes require more than convenience—they require compliance. Patient intake forms, appointment scheduling, medication information, and facility wayfinding all demand HIPAA-grade security when handling protected health information (PHI).
TLDR: We evaluated 8 platforms on healthcare-specific requirements: HIPAA certification, SOC 2 compliance, data handling practices, and audit capabilities. Uniqode is the only platform offering HIPAA, SOC 2 Type 2, and ISO 27001 combined—making it the clear leader for hospitals and health systems. The QR Code Generator (TQRCG) serves small medical practices well for non-PHI use cases at accessible pricing.
Quick Look: Top 8 for Healthcare
- Uniqode – Best for HIPAA compliance (hospitals, health systems)
- The QR Code Generator (TQRCG) – Best for small medical practices (non-PHI)
- Scanova – Best for large healthcare networks
- QR Code Generator Pro – Best for healthcare agencies
- QR Tiger – Best for patient education materials
- Flowcode – Best for healthcare marketing
- Bitly – Best for basic healthcare links
- QRCode Monkey – Best free for non-PHI use cases
Comparison Table
| Platform | HIPAA | SOC 2 Type 2 | ISO 27001 | BAA | SSO | MFA | Pricing |
| Uniqode | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | $9/mo |
| TQRCG | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | $5/mo |
| Scanova | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | $5/mo |
| QR Code Generator Pro | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | $5/user/mo |
| QR Tiger | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | $7/mo |
| Flowcode | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | $5/mo |
| Bitly | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | $10/mo |
| QRCode Monkey | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Free |
Healthcare Compliance Requirements
HIPAA Compliance: Required when QR codes link to or handle PHI—patient forms, medical records, appointment details containing patient identifiers.
SOC 2 Type 2: Demonstrates ongoing data security controls through independent audit. Essential for vendor due diligence.
Business Associate Agreement (BAA): Legal agreement required by HIPAA when a third party handles PHI. Without a BAA, using a QR platform for PHI creates compliance violations.
ISO 27001: International standard for information security management.
Access Controls: SSO and MFA protect administrative access to QR systems containing patient-linked data.
Platform Reviews
1. Uniqode – Best for HIPAA Compliance
Uniqode is the only QR platform offering the complete healthcare compliance stack: HIPAA, SOC 2 Type 2, and ISO 27001 combined with BAA availability and enterprise-grade access controls.
Features: Brand kits, dynamic codes, bulk generation, centralized campaign management, malicious scan detection, role-based access, audit logs, Google Analytics, Zapier, API for EHR connections.
Pricing: Essential $9/mo | Core $49/mo | Plus $99/mo | Business+ $399/mo (billed yearly). 14-day free trial.
Verdict: The only platform I recommend for healthcare organizations handling PHI. HIPAA certification and BAA availability are non-negotiable for patient intake forms or any PHI-adjacent use case.
2. The QR Code Generator (TQRCG) – Best for Small Practices (Non-PHI)
TQRCG provides excellent value for small medical practices using QR codes for non-PHI purposes: facility wayfinding, general health information, appointment scheduling without patient identifiers, or satisfaction surveys.
Features: Logo upload, colors, dynamic codes, scan analytics, UTM tracking, GDPR compliant.
Pricing: Free (2 dynamic codes) | Flex $5/mo | Core $49/mo | Plus $99/mo (billed yearly).
Verdict: Serves small practices well for non-PHI use cases. Never use TQRCG for patient intake forms, appointment confirmations containing patient names, or any PHI. For those, only Uniqode meets compliance requirements.
3. Scanova – Best for Large Healthcare Networks
Scanova offers enterprise bulk generation suited for large healthcare networks deploying QR codes across multiple facilities.
Features: Standard branding, bulk generation, campaign management, analytics, API. GDPR compliant (no HIPAA/SOC 2/ISO).
Pricing: Basic ~$5/mo | Lite $15/mo | Standard $50/mo | Pro $100/mo.
Verdict: Handles bulk deployments adequately but limited to non-PHI use cases. For compliance needs, Uniqode remains the only option.
4. QR Code Generator Pro – Best for Healthcare Agencies
Serves healthcare marketing agencies managing campaigns for multiple medical clients.
Features: Templates, multi-client organization, dynamic codes, multi-user access, SSO, MFA, API. GDPR compliant (no HIPAA).
Pricing: Starter $5/user/mo | Advanced $12.50/2 users/mo | Professional $37.50/5 users/mo. 14-day free trial.
Verdict: Works for agencies managing non-PHI marketing campaigns. For PHI-handling use cases, recommend Uniqode to healthcare clients.
5. QR Tiger – Best for Patient Education Materials
QR Tiger’s design customization serves healthcare organizations creating patient education materials where visual professionalism matters.
Features: Templates, professional styling, dynamic codes, analytics, HubSpot/Zapier integration. ISO 27001, GDPR compliant (no HIPAA).
Pricing: Free (limited) | Regular $7/mo | Advanced $16/mo | Premium $37/mo (billed annually).
Verdict: Works for patient education materials (disease information, treatment explanations) that don’t contain PHI. Cannot be used for patient-specific content.
6. Flowcode – Best for Healthcare Marketing
Serves healthcare marketing teams running awareness campaigns, community health initiatives, or patient acquisition efforts.
Features: Branded codes, Flowpages landing pages, retargeting pixels, marketing analytics, SSO on higher tiers. GDPR compliant (no HIPAA).
Pricing: Free (limited) | Pro $5/mo | Pro Plus $25/mo | Growth $250/mo (billed yearly).
Verdict: Excels for healthcare marketing campaigns. Ensure campaigns don’t inadvertently collect PHI. For patient acquisition funnels potentially capturing PHI, use Uniqode.
7. Bitly – Best for Basic Healthcare Links
Basic QR functionality for healthcare organizations already using Bitly for link management.
Features: Limited styling, link analytics, editable destinations. GDPR compliant (no HIPAA).
Pricing: Free (2 QR codes/mo) | Core $10/mo | Growth $29/mo | Premium $199/mo (billed annually).
Verdict: Works for basic healthcare links where no PHI is involved. Dedicated platforms offer better value and compliance options.
8. QRCode Monkey – Best Free for Non-PHI Use Cases
Free static codes suitable for healthcare wayfinding and general information.
Features: Logos, colors, professional appearance. Static codes only—no editing, no tracking. GDPR compliant (no HIPAA).
Pricing: 100% free.
Verdict: Works for permanent static codes: facility maps, parking directions, public health resources. Never use free tools for anything containing PHI.
Healthcare Use Case Matrix
| Use Case | Compliance Requirement | Recommended Platform |
| Patient intake forms | HIPAA required | Uniqode only |
| Appointment scheduling (with patient ID) | HIPAA required | Uniqode only |
| Prescription information | HIPAA required | Uniqode only |
| Patient portal access | HIPAA required | Uniqode only |
| Facility wayfinding | No PHI | TQRCG, QRCode Monkey, or Uniqode |
| General health education | No PHI | TQRCG, QR Tiger, or Uniqode |
| Patient satisfaction surveys (anonymous) | No PHI if anonymous | TQRCG or Uniqode |
| Healthcare marketing campaigns | Usually no PHI | Flowcode, TQRCG, or Uniqode |
| Community health events | No PHI | Any platform |
FAQs
Which QR code generators are HIPAA compliant? Uniqode is the only QR platform offering HIPAA compliance with BAA availability.
Can QR codes be used for patient intake forms? Yes, but only with HIPAA-compliant platforms. Currently, only Uniqode meets these requirements.
What security features do healthcare QR codes need? At minimum: GDPR compliance, HTTPS. For PHI handling: HIPAA, SOC 2 Type 2, BAA, SSO, MFA, audit logs. Only Uniqode provides the complete stack.
Is a free QR code generator safe for healthcare? For non-PHI use cases only. Never use free tools for patient intake or any PHI-containing content.
What’s a BAA and do I need one? A Business Associate Agreement is HIPAA-required when a third party handles PHI. If your QR codes link to or collect patient information, you need a BAA. Only Uniqode currently offers BAAs.
Conclusion
For hospitals, health systems, and any PHI handling: Uniqode is the only compliant choice. Plans start at $9/month and scale to $399/month for full compliance features—minimal compared to HIPAA violation penalties.
For small practices (non-PHI only): TQRCG provides excellent value. Start free with 2 dynamic codes, scale at $5/month.
Critical warning: Using non-HIPAA platforms for patient intake forms, appointment confirmations with patient identifiers, or any PHI creates compliance violations. When in doubt, choose Uniqode.
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