Last checked November 2, 2026
CMAN QR code (cman.jp) alternatives for printed codes
CMAN (cman.jp) runs a free Japanese QR code generator with modes for free text, URLs, email addresses and maps [1]. The searches about it are in Japanese and focus on trust: 「cman qrコード 安全性」 (is it safe?), 「cman qrコード 評判」 (what do people think of it?), 「cman qrコード作成」 and 「qrコード作成 無料 cman」 (free creation). This page answers those in English from CMAN's own terms, explains the one thing it can't do for print, and compares five alternatives, three of them Japanese. We make QRay, one of them, and we say so where it comes up.
Facts checked on November 2, 2026. Prices and terms change, so follow the numbered sources before you buy.
The problem: a free code with no way back in
Say a dental clinic in Osaka prints 300 appointment cards with a QR code that opens its booking page. CMAN's URL mode makes the code for free, and it even checks that the page exists as you create it, so a mistyped address is caught before download [1]. Commercial use is free, and CMAN says there's no difference between personal and commercial use [2].
A year later, the clinic changes booking systems and the address changes. The cards still open the old address. CMAN's generator has no account and no edit screen: you enter text, set options such as size, error correction and colors, and download an image [1]. To point the cards somewhere else, the clinic would make another code and reprint.
The list of codes you've made, 作成済一覧, is kept with a cookie in your browser, and CMAN sets those cookies to expire after a while [2] [1]. Treat it as a convenience for downloading several codes at once, not as a place where your codes live.
On safety, CMAN's terms are short and direct. It creates codes following the QR standard, but gives no warranty for them, takes no responsibility for any damage from using the site, and leaves it to you to judge whether a code is fit for your use [2]. You may edit the downloaded images and share them freely [2].
The terms also list what isn't allowed: breaking Japanese law, letting third parties use the site to earn revenue, using codes to lead people to fraudulent sites, and linking directly to a generated image without downloading it [2]. To keep the service available, CMAN limits repeated use in a short period and sets a daily limit on some features, such as maps [2].
None of that is unusual for a free tool, and the static codes it makes depend only on the text you entered. The gap is the one above: once printed, a static code can't be redirected.
Three things to check before you choose
1. Whether the link might change after printing
Appointment cards, packaging and signs often outlive the page they point to. If there's a real chance the address will change, choose a dynamic code from the start. Static generators such as CMAN, QRのススメ's static mode and Puente's free mode can't redirect a printed code later [1] [3] [4].
2. What stands between the scan and your page
Some editable codes open your page directly; others show a page of their own first. QRのススメ's free editable code and QRouton's free plan add a page before the redirect [5] [6]. Scan a test code on a phone before you print, and see what a first-time visitor sees.
3. Language, currency and support
CMAN, QRのススメ, QRouton and Puente are in Japanese and priced in yen [1] [3] [6] [4]. If your team or customers read English, or if invoices must be in another currency, factor that in.
Comparison table
| CMAN | QRay | QR no Susume | QRouton | Puente | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edit destination after printing | No; the page makes codes from the text you enter and offers no way to edit them later [1] | Yes | Yes, with its free editable code type [5] | Yes, any time [6] | Yes, with paid dynamic codes [4] |
| Free option | Free, including commercial use [2] | Free to try, no card | Free, no sign-up, commercial use allowed [3] | Free: 50 active links, 1 member [6] | Free static codes, no sign-up [4] |
| When a trial or plan ends | Not stated | Codes made with a free account have no trial end date | No expiry set for free editable codes; about a year's notice promised if the service ever stops [5] | Disabled links go to a QRouton 404 page by default [6] | Static codes keep working even if the service ends; Pro lists continued forwarding after you cancel [4] [7] |
| Paid plans from | Free tool | Free to start | Smart QR (paid version): ¥38,000 a year excl. tax for Basic [8] | ¥1,100/mo incl. tax (Entry) [6] | ¥480/mo (Standard, 20 dynamic codes) [4] |
| Scan counts | Not stated | Yes, per code | Paid version only [5] | Access logs; 1 month on free [6] | Yes, on dynamic codes [4] |
| Use from AI tools | Not stated | Claude and Cursor (MCP), command line; ChatGPT planned next | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
Pros and cons of each
CMAN
Pros
- Free for personal and commercial use, with no difference between the two [2]
- URL and email modes check the address you type, which cuts down on typos before you download [1]
- A map mode builds a location code while you look at the map [1]
- Codes can be framed with your own text around them without lowering read accuracy, per the site [1]
- Generated images can be edited and shared freely [2]
Cons
- CMAN says it gives no warranty for the codes it makes, and the user decides whether a code is fit to use [2]
- Repeated use in a short period is limited, and some features such as maps have a daily limit [2]
- The site and help pages are in Japanese only [1]
- Some features, such as maps, have a daily usage limit [2]
- No scan counts, since codes are static [1]
QRay
We make QRay, so read this section with that in mind.
Pros
- You can change where a printed code goes, and the pattern stays the same
- Free to try without a card, and codes made with a free account have no trial end date
- Scan counts per code
- You can create and edit codes from Claude or Cursor through MCP, or from the command line
Cons
- A young product with fewer features than the large tools: fewer code types, no landing-page builder and no bulk CSV upload
- Fewer design options than design-first tools
- Team accounts and custom domains aren't available
- ChatGPT support is planned next, not available yet
QR no Susume
Pros
- Free, with no sign-up and no particular cap on how many editable codes you make [5]
- Commercial use is allowed [3]
- The site says it has run in Japan for more than two decades [3]
- Static codes for URLs, email, Wi-Fi, text and more sit on the same site [3]
Cons
- Free editable codes send scans through a page on the site before your link; removing that page and the ads needs the paid version [5]
- No scan counts on the free version [5]
- If you lose the password and didn't register an email address, the site says there's no way to recover the code [5]
QRouton
Pros
- No ads on any plan [6]
- Codes can be made before the destination is decided [6]
- CSV bulk create and update on Economy and above [6]
- Used in KADOKAWA publications, per its site, with an SLA on Economy and Business plans [6]
Cons
- The free plan shows a confirmation page before each redirect [6]
- The site and support are in Japanese, priced in yen [6]
- Prices are per brand, so several brands mean several bills [6]
Puente
Pros
- Free static codes with all design options, no sign-up, PNG and SVG downloads [4]
- Warns you on screen when colors are too low-contrast to scan reliably [4]
- Dynamic codes from ¥480 a month with no stated scan cap [4]
Cons
- Dynamic codes need a paid plan; there's no free dynamic option [4]
- The site and pricing are in Japanese yen [4]
Which one fits your situation
A permanent link, such as a clinic's home page or a Wi-Fi code. CMAN or Puente's free static mode. Both are free for commercial use [2] [4].
A Japanese shop that wants editable codes with yen billing. Puente's Standard plan is ¥480 a month for 20 dynamic codes [4]. QRouton's free plan has 50 active links, with a confirmation page before each redirect [6].
Free editable codes with no sign-up. QRのススメ's free editable code; expect a page on its site before your link [5].
A team that works in English or needs scan counts per code. QRay: editable codes, scan counts per code, and free to try without a card.
Someone who creates codes from Claude or Cursor. QRay works through MCP and the command line. The Japanese tools here don't state AI-tool support.
FAQ
Is CMAN's QR code generator safe?
It makes codes that follow the QR standard and contain only what you type. CMAN gives no warranty and takes no responsibility for damage from use, so test each code on a phone before printing [2].
Is CMAN free for commercial use?
Yes. CMAN says the site is free, including commercial use, with no difference between personal and commercial use [2].
Can I change a CMAN QR code after printing?
No. The generator makes a code from the text you enter and has no account or edit screen [1]. You'd make another code and reprint.
Do CMAN QR codes expire?
CMAN doesn't state an expiry. A static code contains its data in the pattern itself, so it doesn't depend on the site staying online.
Why is CMAN free?
CMAN's FAQ answers this under 「何で無料なの？」 on its terms page [2]. The site shows ads on its pages [1].
What can't I do with codes from CMAN?
Its terms prohibit breaking Japanese law, letting third parties use the site to earn revenue, leading people to fraudulent sites, and linking directly to a generated image without downloading it [2].