The 5 Greatest Label Printing Software program I Examined and Suggest

Having led a nonprofit devoted to sending sanitary pads to areas going through shortage, I’ve personally navigated the challenges of managing shipments and making certain every parcel reaches its vacation spot with the correct info.

Operating such an initiative typically required me to make use of the greatest label printing software program, and belief me, it’s not as simple because it appears. From getting the correct sizes to making sure the labels stick correctly, there’s a whole lot of behind-the-scenes work that goes into it. The method can turn into much more overwhelming if you’re counting on outdated or inefficient instruments. The flawed software program can result in errors, wasted time, and a whole lot of frustration.

That is why discovering the correct label printing answer is essential. By streamlining your entire course of, you’ll be able to scale back guide effort and have peace of thoughts that each label is printed exactly.

My prime 5 greatest label printing software program suggestions for 2025

With so many choices accessible, I understand how overwhelming it may be to search out the correct one. That’s why I’ve compiled a listing of the very best label printing software program instruments for 2025 that can assist you select the one that most closely fits your wants and makes your labeling duties hassle-free.

These instruments aren’t only for nonprofits. Companies can use them for product transport, faculties for occasion provides, and people for organizing private shipments.

Regardless of the trade, the correct label printing software program could make the duty simpler and extra environment friendly.

What I search for in the very best label printing software program

When testing the very best label printing software program, I give attention to the next key options to make sure it meets the wants of companies that require environment friendly, high-quality label creation and printing:

• Label design flexibility: I assess whether or not the software program gives a variety of design choices, permitting customers to create labels of varied shapes, sizes, and layouts. The software program ought to assist customized dimensions and templates for various label codecs (e.g., transport labels, product labels, barcode labels, and packaging). It also needs to enable for superior design customization, together with font kinds, coloration schemes, borders, and alignment instruments to create professional-looking labels.
• Barcode and QR code technology: I examine whether or not the software program consists of built-in instruments to generate barcodes and QR codes. The flexibility to simply create totally different barcode sorts (e.g., UPC, EAN, Code 128) and customise their measurement, density, and alignment is crucial. For companies that require product monitoring or stock administration, having strong barcode and QR code technology options ensures correct, scannable labels. I additionally have a look at whether or not the software program permits for simple testing of barcode high quality earlier than printing.
• Integration with databases and spreadsheets: The perfect label printing software program ought to be capable to combine with databases, spreadsheets, and different software program techniques to streamline the label technology course of. I assess whether or not the device helps importing information from CSV recordsdata, Excel spreadsheets, or stay databases. This function is especially helpful for printing giant batches of labels with distinctive information, corresponding to product names, costs, or transport addresses. I examine if the software program gives mail merge-like performance to automate the inhabitants of labels with dynamic information.
• Assist for various printing strategies: I consider whether or not the software program is suitable with varied label printers, together with desktop, industrial, and cellular printers. It ought to assist each thermal switch and direct thermal printing strategies. Moreover, the software program ought to enable customers to regulate print settings corresponding to print velocity, decision, and label alignment to optimize high quality and effectivity based mostly on the kind of printer getting used.
• Template library: I assess whether or not the software program gives a wealthy library of pre-designed templates and layouts to hurry up the label creation course of. Templates needs to be accessible for varied industries, together with retail, logistics, meals and beverage, and healthcare. This function is particularly beneficial for customers who have to create customary labels rapidly with out ranging from scratch. I additionally examine if customers can save their customized designs as templates for future use.
• Batch printing: The software program ought to assist batch printing, which is essential for companies that have to print giant portions of labels without delay. I assess whether or not the device permits customers to handle print jobs effectively by queuing a number of label designs or printing in bulk based mostly on dynamic information. Printing lots of or hundreds of labels with minimal intervention is crucial for streamlining operations, particularly in high-volume environments.
• Integration with stock and transport techniques: I examine if the label printing software program integrates with fashionable stock administration, transport, and e-commerce platforms (e.g., Shopify, Amazon, UPS, and FedEx). This integration permits companies to routinely generate transport labels and monitor and optimize stock with out manually coming into information. It streamlines order achievement and ensures consistency between order information and the printed labels.

The record under comprises real person critiques from our greatest label printing software program class web page. To qualify for inclusion within the class, a product should:

• Embody templates for varied sorts of labels (e.g., transport, stock)
• Permit non-technical customers to design and print labels
• Present options to categorize labels and modify them by batch
• Ship WYSIWYG label designers with choices to pull and drop
• Assist a number of languages and various kinds of barcodes
• Adjust to laws or trade requirements corresponding to GS1-128

This information has been pulled from G2 in 2025. Some critiques have been edited for readability.

After testing Avery Design & Print, I discovered it to be a extremely handy device for creating and printing Avery labels, stickers, and different customizable designs.

One of many largest benefits was how easy it was to format the whole lot for printing on Avery stickers. I did not should spend time adjusting margins or worrying about alignment—the whole lot match completely proper from the beginning. This made your entire course of easy and saved me a whole lot of time.

Establishing the software program was simply as simple. Downloading and putting in Avery Design & Print took only some minutes, and I might bounce straight into my challenge with none pointless steps or issues.  There was no steep studying curve, and the intuitive workflow allowed me to begin instantly.

One other function I appreciated was the power to retailer Avery templates and designs for future use. This was particularly helpful after I wanted to make minor tweaks or reprint a design with out ranging from scratch. Having my earlier templates available made redesigning fast and hassle-free.

Nonetheless, just a few drawbacks stood out. The person interface might use some enhancements when it comes to UX design. Whereas practical, sure components felt outdated, and navigating by means of the device wasn’t as seamless as I’d have preferred.

Additionally, the free templates had been considerably restrictive, notably concerning font sizes and design flexibility. I discovered myself restricted when it comes to artistic freedom, which was irritating after I needed to experiment with totally different kinds.

Lastly, switching between options generally felt sluggish, which interrupted my workflow. It wasn’t a dealbreaker, however the occasional sluggish response did make the expertise really feel much less fluid.

What I dislike about Avery Design & Print:

• The person interface felt considerably outdated and may gain advantage from a extra trendy UX design. Whereas practical, navigating by means of the device wasn’t as seamless as I had hoped, making some duties really feel clunky.
• The free templates had been restrictive, notably in font sizes and design flexibility. I discovered it irritating after I needed to experiment with totally different kinds however was restricted by the device’s built-in constraints.

What G2 customers dislike about Avery Design & Print:

“In comparison with skilled design software program, Avery Design & Print may provide fewer superior enhancing instruments. This may very well be a disadvantage for customers needing particular design components.”

– Avery Design & Print Evaluate, Med A.

I used to be impressed by Label LIVE’s highly effective batch printing, which allowed me to effortlessly automate order printouts and label technology. The method was extremely environment friendly—by merely dumping a accurately formatted CSV or XML file right into a monitored folder, Label LIVE took care of the remainder. This saved me an incredible period of time and streamlined my workflow considerably.

One other facet I appreciated was the What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG) designer interface, which supplied a seamless printing expertise throughout totally different printers. I even examined it on an 80mm printer, and the outcomes had been surprisingly crisp and well-aligned.

One other sturdy level was the software program’s deep integration with programming logic, as I might dynamically present or disguise components based mostly on situations. Moreover, the power to combine instantly with spreadsheets utilizing variables made it simple to automate and customise label technology with out guide intervention.

Nonetheless, there have been just a few downsides. The error messages may very well be extra user-friendly and descriptive, as I typically discovered myself troubleshooting points by means of trial and error. A extra detailed clarification of the issues would have saved me appreciable time.

Moreover, the print preview function didn’t work as anticipated—even when my label printer was listed and chosen because the default. The software program nonetheless reported that no printer was discovered. This was irritating, as I needed to undergo additional steps simply to confirm how the label would look earlier than printing.

Lastly, fine-tuning label sizes for particular printers required extra effort than I anticipated, which made the preliminary setup a bit tedious.

What I dislike about Label LIVE:

• The error messages weren’t descriptive sufficient, forcing me to troubleshoot points by means of trial and error. A clearer clarification of issues would have saved me appreciable time and frustration.
• The print preview function didn’t all the time acknowledge my chosen default printer. Regardless of being listed, the software program reported that no printer was discovered, requiring additional steps to confirm label formatting earlier than printing.

What G2 customers dislike about Label LIVE:

“Label creation may very well be sooner. When printing greater than 100 totally different labels, the method can take as much as 10 minutes, which will be time-consuming.”

– Label LIVE Evaluate, Tommy Y.

After testing BarTender, I discovered it to be a strong and versatile barcode label printing software program. It’s broadly used for creating and printing barcodes, RFID tags, and extra

One in every of its largest strengths is the availability of pre-built templates, which considerably sped up the design course of. As a substitute of ranging from scratch, I might select from varied templates and customise them to suit my wants. This was particularly useful when working below tight deadlines, as I might rapidly tweak current designs slightly than constructing the whole lot from the bottom up.

Moreover, BarTender’s means to pull variable information from exterior databases or Excel added a strong automation layer. This function allowed me to create dynamic labels with out manually inputting info, which is a large benefit for companies dealing with large-scale labeling.

Nonetheless, regardless of these benefits, deployment and person entry management had been obscure. The tenderware lacks clear documentation on limiting person permissions, making it difficult to handle entry for various staff members. I needed to experiment fairly a bit earlier than determining one of the simplest ways to regulate person settings, which was irritating.

One other main draw back is the steep studying curve. Whereas BarTender gives spectacular performance, getting snug with all of its options took appreciable time. YouTube tutorials can be found, however they’re very basic and don’t go into sufficient depth to handle extra particular points. A extra structured and detailed assist system would have made the training course of a lot smoother.

What I dislike about BarTender:

• The dearth of clear documentation for managing person permissions made deployment and entry management complicated. I needed to experiment extensively earlier than discovering an efficient strategy to management person settings, which was time-consuming.
• BarTender has a steep studying curve regardless of its highly effective options. The accessible YouTube tutorials had been too basic and didn’t present the depth wanted for extra particular points, making the training course of tougher than it needs to be.

What G2 customers dislike about BarTender:

“It’s difficult to grasp the deployment course of, product limitations, and tips on how to set person restrictions, making it tough for finish customers to navigate.”

– BarTender Evaluate, Larry M.

I discovered MarkMagic to be extremely customizable. The flexibility to export and import totally different codecs made it extraordinarily versatile, permitting me to work with varied file sorts seamlessly. This flexibility was notably helpful when coping with a number of labeling necessities throughout totally different platforms.

One other main plus was the truth that MarkMagic runs fully within the browser, eliminating the necessity for software program set up. This made it extremely handy to entry from any machine with out worrying about system compatibility or updates. Moreover, the graphical person interface (GUI) was simple to be taught, making the onboarding course of easy and intuitive.

I additionally appreciated how effortlessly MarkMagic built-in with current techniques, permitting for fast implementation with out requiring main changes. Its cloud-based nature was one other large profit for me, because it ensured accessibility from anyplace whereas lowering the necessity for native storage or upkeep.

Nonetheless, the person interface may very well be modernized to enhance the general person expertise. Some components felt outdated, and a extra polished design would improve navigation and usefulness.

One specific difficulty I encountered was with textual content formatting in J-Magic, which felt a bit clunky. Adjusting textual content kinds and placements wasn’t as easy as I’d have preferred, requiring extra guide tweaking than anticipated.

Moreover, I faced challenges in correctly formatting photographs to be used on kinds, which generally required additional effort to make sure right alignment and backbone.

What I dislike about MarkMagic:

• The person interface may gain advantage from modernization. Some components felt outdated, and a extra polished design would enhance navigation and general usability.
• I encountered challenges with textual content formatting in J-Magic, which was not as easy as anticipated. Adjusting textual content kinds and placements required extra guide effort than anticipated.

What G2 customers dislike about MarkMagic:

“I’ve encountered challenges with MarkMagic when utilizing two-dimensional (2D) barcodes, as they take considerably longer to generate in comparison with one-dimensional (1D) linear barcodes. Moreover, formatting photographs accurately to be used on kinds has been problematic.”

– MarkMagic Evaluate, Craig L.

Loftware Cloud is a extremely environment friendly and user-friendly labeling answer, splendid for environments that demand fast label creation below stress. Its ease of use allowed me to design and print labels quickly, whilst a newbie, saving beneficial time I’d have spent studying a brand new device. 

One of Loftware Cloud’s standout advantages is its scalability, making it a powerful match for organizations of all sizes. Whether or not you are printing easy labels or managing high-volume, advanced label manufacturing, the software program adapts simply to evolving enterprise wants. 

When it comes to designal, Loftware Cloud excels with varied options that make label creation each artistic and practical. The drag-and-drop performance made it simple to design professional-quality labels, even with out superior graphic design expertise. Pre-defined templates had been extremely useful for streamlining the design course of, whereas the power to save customized designs as templates ensured consistency throughout a number of tasks. Including barcodes to labels was equally simple, requiring solely the choice of the suitable barcode symbology—no technical experience was obligatory.

I used to be additionally impressed with the multi-printer configuration, which allowed for seamless printing throughout varied areas or groups. The flexibility to distribute the workload throughout a number of servers considerably enhanced the system’s efficiency, making certain that label printing remained easy and uninterrupted even throughout high-demand intervals.

Nonetheless, Loftware Cloud does have some drawbacks that I encountered throughout my use. One difficulty was the occasional bugs that disrupted my workflow, making sure duties extra irritating. Particularly, I discovered that error messages weren’t all the time clear, making it tough to pinpoint the supply of the difficulty and troubleshoot successfully.

The configuration course of will also be considerably advanced. A number of steps are concerned, and for customers unfamiliar with the platform, it may possibly take longer than anticipated to get the whole lot arrange correctly.

Moreover, whereas I appreciated the power to write in JavaScript for extra superior label customization, the script editor felt restricted. The small window and lack of a monospace font made it tough to work with and fewer user-friendly than I’d have most well-liked. A extra intuitive scripting interface would have tremendously improved the expertise.

Lastly, the dealing with of area sizes within the label design was considerably inconsistent. Through the design course of, the fields appeared to take up extra horizontal area than they really did when printed. This discrepancy led to some misalignment points, requiring trial and error to make sure that the fields had been positioned accurately on the ultimate label.

What I dislike about Loftware Cloud:

• I encountered occasional bugs that disrupted my workflow, making sure duties extra irritating. The dearth of clear error messages made troubleshooting difficult, slowing the method.
• The configuration course of was extra advanced than I anticipated, with a number of steps concerned. This made setup take longer than anticipated, particularly for customers unfamiliar with the platform.

What G2 customers dislike about Loftware Cloud:

“Generally, labels don’t generate accurately based mostly on the serial quantity. There are additionally a number of bugs, corresponding to modifications not making use of instantly and solely reflecting after logging out and logging again in.”

– Loftware Cloud Evaluate, Abhash Okay.

When selecting between CMYK or RGBF for label printing, you need to print in CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black) mode, as that is the usual coloration mannequin for printers. RGB (Crimson, Inexperienced, Blue) is good for digital screens however doesn’t translate precisely to print, affecting coloration high quality.

5. Which is the very best free label printing software program?

Label Reside is one of the greatest free-label printing software program choices. It gives a easy, user-friendly interface with important options like barcode creation, template choice, and print preview. Discover different free label printing software program.

Might all of your labels stick the place they belong!! 

The perfect label printing software program I examined gives varied options to fulfill totally different enterprise wants, from ease of use and customization to highly effective integrations and high-volume printing capabilities.

However keep in mind, your necessities may differ relying on the scale of your enterprise or the complexity of your labels, so it’s all the time a good suggestion to check out just a few choices earlier than deciding on one. 

And don’t neglect, whereas it’s essential to get the proper label printed, it’s simply as vital to put it on the correct field. As a result of, let’s face it, the very last thing you need is for that “fragile” label to finish up on a field filled with rubberbands as an alternative of glassware.

Design and customise labels like a professional with the greatest graphic design software program.