Fixed vs editable PayNow QR: which should you use?
A fixed-amount PayNow QR has the payment amount already locked in. When your customer scans it, their banking app shows the exact figure and they confirm. An editable (open-amount) QR just identifies you as the recipient. The customer types in whatever amount they want. Which one you need depends on whether you're collecting a specific amount or accepting variable payments.
What a fixed-amount QR does
A fixed-amount QR encodes three things: who gets paid (your UEN or mobile number), how much (the exact amount), and optionally, a reference (your invoice number or customer identifier).
When the customer scans it, their banking app fills in everything. They see your name, the amount, and the reference. All they do is confirm. No typing, no chance of entering the wrong figure.
This is the QR you want when you're sending an invoice for a specific amount, collecting a quoted price after finishing a job, requesting payment for a product or service with a set price, or any situation where the customer should pay a precise figure.
The reference is the part that makes it useful for tracking. If you put your invoice number in the QR, that reference comes back with the payment when it hits your bank. You can see which invoice was paid without cross-referencing amounts and dates.
What an editable QR does
An editable QR just says "pay this person." The customer scans it and their banking app shows your name, but the amount field is blank. They type in whatever they want to pay.
This is typically what you get from the quick "My QR" option in your bank's app. It's the simplest QR to create: just show or share it, and the payer decides the amount.
It works well when the amount genuinely varies. A tip jar at a cafe. A donation point at a charity event. A counter display where different customers pay different amounts and it doesn't matter who paid what.
Why the distinction matters for businesses
The problem with an editable QR for business collection is simple: you lose control and visibility.
If you send a customer an editable QR for a S$850 invoice, they might pay S$850. They might also pay S$85 by accident, or S$800 thinking they'd already paid part of it, or a round S$900 because they misremembered the amount. You won't know something is wrong until you check your bank and do the math yourself.
And without a reference, you're matching payments by amount and timing alone. Two customers who both owe S$200 and both pay on the same day? You're guessing which deposit belongs to which invoice.
Fixed-amount QR codes with references solve both problems. The amount is correct because the customer can't change it. The match is clear because your reference comes back with the payment.
When to use each type
Use a fixed-amount QR when:
- You're invoicing a customer for a specific amount
- You've quoted a price and the customer has agreed
- You want to track which payments match which invoices
- You're sending the request on WhatsApp or email (the customer should just scan and pay)
Use an editable QR when:
- You're displaying a QR at a counter for walk-in payments of varying amounts
- You're accepting tips or donations
- The payer decides the amount (e.g., topping up a balance, making a partial payment by choice)
- You don't need to track individual payments
How to create a fixed-amount PayNow QR
Some bank apps can do this. In DBS digibank, go to Scan & Pay, then Generate QR, and you can set the amount, a description, and an expiry. OCBC offers SGQR labels with fixed amounts through Velocity. Each bank's flow is different, and the steps can change with app updates.
If you want a single, consistent way to create fixed-amount QR codes across any bank, with your own reference and the option to send on WhatsApp, the DoubleAM PayNow QR generator is free and works with any Singapore bank:
- Enter your UEN or mobile number.
- Set the amount.
- Add a reference (invoice number, customer name, or whatever you use).
- The tool generates the QR. Send it on WhatsApp or share it however you prefer.
The money goes straight from the customer's bank to yours. DoubleAM never holds or touches the funds.
The tracking angle
If you're collecting from more than a handful of customers, the reference is what keeps things manageable. Without it, reconciling payments means opening your bank statement, looking at each deposit, and trying to figure out who sent what based on the amount and the date.
With a reference on every payment, the matching is built in. Each payment arrives tagged with the identifier you chose. If you want those payments tracked automatically in the systems you already use, that's available too through a PayNow integration setup.
For most businesses, the fixed-amount QR with a reference is the one that saves time and prevents mistakes. The editable QR has its uses, but they're narrower than most people think.
Last updated: June 2026.
Frequently asked questions
A fixed-amount PayNow QR has the payment amount already encoded. When a customer scans it, their banking app shows the exact amount to pay. They can't change it. This is useful for invoices and specific payment requests.
An editable (or open-amount) PayNow QR identifies the recipient but leaves the amount blank. The customer scans it and types in whatever amount they want to pay. This works for tips, donations, or counter displays where the amount varies.
Yes. Some bank apps support it: DBS digibank's Generate QR has a description field, and OCBC's SGQR labels carry a reference. A cross-bank tool like DoubleAM's PayNow QR generator also lets you add your own reference (invoice number, customer name) that comes back with the payment, regardless of which bank you use.
Fixed-amount with a reference. It ensures the customer pays the exact amount owed and the reference comes back with the payment, so you can match it to the right invoice without guessing.