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Innovation
QR Codes in Email Signatures: Do They Work?
October 31, 2025 5 min read
Emily Nakamura
Marketing Director at Siggly
QR codes in email signatures are trendy, but are they actually useful? Let's examine the pros, cons, and best use cases.
Potential Use Cases
- vCard/contact download
- Event registration
- App download
- Physical-digital bridge (print emails)
The Reality
- Reading on same device — Most people read email on their phone, making QR scanning impractical
- Clickable links are easier — In digital context, just link directly
- Takes up space — QR codes need to be large enough to scan
When QR Codes Make Sense
- Emails that will be printed
- Conference/event contexts
- Contact card download (vCard)
- Bridging to mobile app
Best Practices If Using
- Make it large enough to scan (50px minimum)
- Include text explaining what it does
- Also include a regular link
- Test that it actually works
Bottom line: For most email signatures, a clickable link is more practical than a QR code.