How to Do QR Check-In for Free: A Complete Guide (2026)

What is QR check-in for events?

QR check-in replaces paper lists and manual name-searching with a simple scan. Guests arrive, you scan their QR code on your phone or tablet, and they’re checked in instantly — green light for go, audio confirmation, and no double entries.

This guide walks through setting up free QR check-in using AizuPass (Starter tier — $0, unlimited events and guests).

What you need

• A smartphone or tablet with a camera (iOS or Android)
• Guest names and email addresses (a spreadsheet is fine)
• 2 minutes for setup

Step 1: Create your free account

Go to AizuPass and sign up for a free Starter account. No credit card required. You get unlimited events, unlimited guests, and unlimited door staff — all at $0.

Step 2: Import your guest list

1. From the dashboard, create a new event
2. Click Import Guests
3. Upload your CSV — AizuPass auto-detects columns (name, email, guest type)
4. Choose Add mode (new guests) or Merge (update existing)
5. Review the preview and confirm

Supported formats: CSV (any delimiter), copy-paste from a spreadsheet, or Google Sheets.

Step 3: Share QR codes with guests

AizuPass auto-generates a unique QR code for each guest. You have two options:

• Email each guest their QR — confirmation emails send automatically on import
• Share a link — guests open the link and their QR is ready to scan
• Download a ZIP of all QR codes for paper backup

Each QR is a single-use token with no personal data embedded. If someone screenshots a QR, the scanner flags a duplicate.

Step 4: Set up the scanner at the door

1. On the staff device, open AizuPass in a browser (Chrome or Safari recommended)
2. Sign in to your account and open the event
3. Tap Scanner — the camera activates immediately
4. Hold the guest’s QR code in the frame

The scanner gives instant feedback:

• Green — Guest checked in. Proceed.
• Amber — Already checked in. Flag duplicates.
• Red — Not on the guest list.

All scans work offline. If the venue loses internet, scans queue on the device and sync automatically when connection returns.

Step 5: Manage the door

• Multiple staff? — Each staff device scans from the same live guest list. Real-time sync prevents double entries.
• Lost internet? — Offline mode activates automatically. Staff see a queue count so they know what’s pending.
• QR won’t scan? — Search by name from the same screen and tap to check in manually.

Free vs paid check-in features

Feature	Free (Starter)	Pro ($79/mo)	Business ($199/mo)
Unlimited events	✅	✅	✅
Unlimited guests	✅	✅	✅
QR check-in	✅	✅	✅
Offline mode	✅	✅	✅
CSV import/export	✅	✅	✅
Multi-scanner	✅	✅	✅
AI invite builder	—	✅	✅
Guest-type emails	—	✅	✅
White-label branding	—	—	✅
API + webhooks	—	—	✅

Common questions about free QR check-in

Can I really do this for free?

Yes. Starter tier is $0 — no time limit, no guest cap, no hidden fees. You get full QR check-in with offline mode.

What about paid tickets?

If you need paid ticketing, AizuPass charges $0.99 flat per ticket + processing fees (vs Eventbrite’s 3.5% + $1.79). The check-in infrastructure is free regardless.

Does it work offline?

Yes. Scans queue on the device and sync automatically when internet returns. Staff see a pending count.

Can multiple staff scan at the same time?

Yes. Unlimited scanners on the same event — all synced in real-time. Free tier includes this.

What if a guest doesn’t have their QR?

Search by name from the scanner screen and check in manually. No QR required.