How to Add QR Code and Barcode to WooCommerce Invoice

To add a QR code or barcode to a WooCommerce invoice, use an invoicing plugin such as Challan, enable the QR code or barcode option in its settings, and the code will appear automatically on every generated PDF invoice. The code can encode the order ID, invoice number, payment link, or other order details. This guide covers both methods: using a plugin and generating a code manually.

How to Add a QR Code to a WooCommerce Invoice Using Challan

You need the Pro version of Challan to add a QR code to WooCommerce invoices. Here is the full process.

Step 1: Install and activate the plugin

Log in to your WordPress admin panel. Go to Plugins > Add New, then click Upload Plugin and select the Challan Pro file you purchased. Activate it once the upload finishes.

Step 2: Open Challan settings

Go to Challan > Settings. The Pro settings panel gives you full control over how your invoices and packing slips look and behave.

Step 3: Find the QR code option

Under the General Settings or Settings tab, scroll down to the section for enabling QR codes and barcodes on invoices.

Step 4: Enable the QR code toggle

Turn on the QR code option and save your changes.

Step 5: Open an order

Go to any WooCommerce order page. The Challan panel appears on the left side of the order screen.

Step 6: Generate the invoice

Click Invoice to download the PDF. The QR code now appears on the document.

Step 7: Test the scan

Scan the QR code with a smartphone. It should take the customer to their order status page, showing full order details. Challan Pro also attaches this invoice to the customer’s order confirmation email automatically.

How to Add a Barcode to a WooCommerce Invoice Using Challan

Barcodes follow the same setup path as QR codes.

Step 1: Go back to Challan settings

Return to Challan > Settings, in the same panel where you enabled the QR code.

Step 2: Enable the barcode toggle

Turn on the barcode option and save your changes.

Step 3: Regenerate the invoice

Go back to the order page and click Invoice again. The barcode now appears on the PDF alongside any enabled QR code.

Step 4: Use the barcode for product feeds

If you run product feed marketing on channels like Amazon, Google Shopping, Facebook, or eBay, the barcode can display identifiers such as EAN, GTIN, or UPC. A plugin like CTX Feed, also built by WebAppick, can generate the product feeds these channels require. When a customer scans the barcode, they can find the same product across platforms, which builds trust in your listings.

What to Include in Your Invoice QR Code or Barcode

A QR code and a barcode can hold different types of order and product data. Use the table below as a reference when deciding what to encode.

Data Type	Best Encoded In	Typical Use
Order number	QR code or barcode	Order lookup and verification
Invoice number	QR code or barcode	Accounting and record matching
Payment link	QR code	Fast, contactless payment
Customer name and address	QR code	Shipping and delivery confirmation
Product UPC, EAN, or GTIN	Barcode	Inventory scanning and product feeds
Total amount due	QR code or barcode	Quick payment verification
Coupon or tracking code	QR code	Marketing and fulfillment tracking

QR codes can hold more data and are better suited to links or multi-field information. Barcodes are the standard for identifying individual products, especially when you also list those products on marketplaces or ad platforms.

Best Plugin for WooCommerce QR Code and Barcode Invoices: Challan

Challan is a WooCommerce invoicing plugin built by WebAppick, the team behind CTX Feed, a WooCommerce product feed plugin with over 80,000 active installations. Challan automatically generates PDF invoices, packing slips, shipping labels, and credit notes, and it can add a QR code or barcode to each invoice without manual editing.

The free version, available on WordPress.org, covers invoice generation, email attachment, packing slips, and bulk download. The Pro version adds QR codes, barcodes, custom fields, multi-language and multi-currency support, tax and VAT fields, credit notes, watermarks, and custom paper sizes.

Key Features

• Automatic PDF invoice generation attached to order confirmation emails
• QR code and barcode support for order and product data
• Packing slip, shipping label, and credit note generation
• Custom fields, custom CSS, and branded templates
• Multi-language and multi-currency support for international stores
• Bulk download and export in PDF or CSV format

Pricing starts from around $29 per year for a single site on the annual plan, with lifetime license options also available. Check the official Challan pricing page before publishing, since plans and tiers can change.

If your store needs to generate Swiss or German-style QR-bill payment codes specifically, verify with the plugin vendor whether that regulatory format is supported, since it is a different standard from the general order-data QR code covered in this guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Key Takeaways

• Add a QR code or barcode to WooCommerce invoices through a plugin like Challan, which handles generation and email delivery automatically.
• QR codes work best for links, payment pages, and multi-field order data. Barcodes work best for product identifiers like UPC, EAN, or GTIN.
• Barcodes on invoices help connect your store to product feed marketing on platforms like Amazon, Google Shopping, and Facebook.
• WooCommerce has no native invoicing, so a dedicated plugin is required regardless of whether you need QR codes or barcodes.
• Check current pricing and feature tiers on the plugin’s official page before purchasing, since plans can change.