Every other free barcode tool watermarks your output or locks transparency behind a paywall. FORGE doesn't. Ten formats, transparent PNGs, built-in scanner, background remover — free.
▲ 4.2M+ barcodes generated · no account · no watermarks
QR CodeCode 128Code 39EAN-13UPC-AUPC-EPDF417Data MatrixITF-14Codabar
What FORGE does
Three tools. One page. Zero friction.
No account. No file uploads to a server. Everything runs in your browser.
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Generate
Create professional barcodes in any format. Download as transparent PNG — white background removed automatically — or standard white PNG. Adjust scale, color, and human-readable text.
10 barcode formats
Transparent PNG download
Timestamped filenames, no duplicates
Color picker, scale slider, HRT toggle
Copy to clipboard
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Strip Background
Upload any barcode with a white background and get a clean transparent PNG back. Separate modes for linear barcodes (feathered edges) and QR codes (hard cut, no module bleed).
Barcode mode with darkness boost
QR mode for pixel-perfect module edges
Adjustable threshold & tolerance
Drag, drop, or paste
Instant preview on both sides
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Read & Decode
Drop any image containing a barcode. FORGE decodes it and shows the content. PDF417 barcodes from US driver licenses are automatically parsed into labeled fields.
All major 1D and 2D formats
AAMVA driver license parsing
WiFi credentials and vCard parsing
URL and geo detection
Copy decoded text button
Supported formats
The ones people actually use.
Not a list of obscure formats you'll never need — just the standards that matter.
2D
QR Code
URLs, WiFi credentials, vCards, text. The most widely scanned barcode on earth.
1D
Code 128
Full ASCII encoding. Standard for shipping, healthcare and industrial tracking.
Yes. Generating barcodes in all 10 formats, stripping backgrounds, and reading/scanning barcodes are completely free with no account, no watermarks, and no daily limits. The only paid feature is the AAMVA developer tool which generates prototype PDF417 barcodes for ID verification testing.
Open FORGE, select your barcode format, enter your data, then click "↓ Transparent PNG". The white background is removed before download — no extra steps needed. You can also use the Strip BG tab to remove the background from any existing barcode image.
PDF417 is a stacked 2D barcode that can store up to 1,850 bytes of data — far more than a QR code at the same size. It's the standard for US driver licenses, boarding passes, vehicle registration, and government ID cards. The AAMVA format (used on all US DLs) is a specific PDF417 structure with standardized field codes like DAQ for license number, DCS for last name, and DBB for date of birth.
Yes. Drop or upload an image of the PDF417 barcode from a driver license in the Read tab. FORGE decodes it and automatically parses the AAMVA fields into labeled cards — name, date of birth, address, license class, expiry date, and more — without sending anything to a server.
No. Everything in FORGE runs entirely in your browser. Your barcode data, uploaded images, and decoded content never leave your device. There is no server, no storage, and no analytics on your content.
QR codes encode data in precise module patterns — the tiny squares. Feathering (soft edge blending) bleeds the background removal mask into adjacent modules, which can corrupt the 7:1:3:1:7 ratio of the finder patterns in the corners and cause misreads. QR mode uses a hard luminance cut with zero blur, preserving every module edge exactly. Barcode mode uses feathering because linear bar edges benefit from anti-aliasing without affecting readability.
FORGE exports PNG files only — the only lossless format that supports transparency. Filenames include a timestamp (e.g. forge-qr-transparent-0412143022.png) so repeated downloads never overwrite each other.
AAMVA is the standard format for PDF417 barcodes on US driver licenses. The developer tool in FORGE lets software developers and QA engineers generate prototype AAMVA-format barcodes for testing ID verification systems, barcode scanners, and compliance software. It is intended for authorized testing purposes only, not for creating false identification documents.
Never. Pay-as-you-go credits roll over indefinitely. Monthly subscribers roll over up to 60 credits maximum (2 months worth). If you cancel a subscription, you keep your remaining balance.
For retail products sold internationally, use EAN-13. For US-only retail, use UPC-A. For shipping and logistics, use Code 128 or ITF-14 (outer cases). For URLs and digital content, use QR Code. For documents, IDs, or anything requiring large amounts of data, use PDF417. For inventory with long alphanumeric codes, use Code 128 or Code 39.
Start generating. It's free.
No account. No watermarks. No limits on the things that matter.