Basic, Professional or Enterprise?

Basic barcode generating software will only get you so far. If you simply need a few linear or 2D barcodes and print a low volume per day, a basic barcode generating program may work for you. But if you need to design compliance labels and have to satisfy numerous industry-standard barcode requirements, a pro version may be more suitable.

If you are not sure which version will work best for you, here are the general differences:

Basic Barcoding Software

Basic programs are for small companies. They work well if you only need a few barcodes, like for a small retail or if you sell product to only a few vendors. Generally they either create simple labels or just generate barcodes that are then pasted into other programs, like Word, for printing. Price range: $40-$200. 

Professional Barcoding Software

Professional versions also create labels but offer more advanced barcodes, industry-standard barcodes and compliance symbols. In addition, they communicate in native printer languages and provide database support. This type of software is good for small to mid-size operations that print quite a few barcodes and have strict compliance needs to satisfy. Price range: $200-$500. If this is the type of barcoding software that seems applicable to your company, see the side-by-side comparison above to compare products.

Enterprise Barcoding Software

This type of software is for large operations. Enterprise editions work with databases, native printer languages and multiple printers. Price range: $500-1000. If you are looking for a barcode solution for a large-scale facility with demanding barcode requirements, contact NiceLabel, BarTender, Loftware or TEKLYNX to discuss their enterprise solutions.

In this site, you’ll find articles related to Barcode Software , as well as comprehensive reviews and a side-by-side comparison to help you make an informed decision on which barcode software is right for your barcode and compliance labeling needs. At TopTenREVIEWS — We do the research so you don’t have to.™

What to Look for in Barcode Software Pro Versions

Before purchasing barcode software, define your barcode needs. Prior to contacting a barcode consultant know what barcodes you need, what compliance requirements you have to satisfy and what printers you want to use. In addition, take advantage of the free demo. See if the demo can work with your database and print sample barcodes to make sure that they are readable by your scanners. We also recommend that you set high standards for customer support. If you have any bad experiences during the trial or presale process you should consider another company.

Below are the criteria TopTenREVIEWS used to evaluate Barcode Software Professional:

• Barcodes: We considered what category of barcode fonts the program includes. We also estimated the number of fonts provided. Some software providers list only the core type and others relate all variations of a type, accordingly the total number is a bit subjective.

• Connectivity/ Communication: This rating criterion relates how barcodes can be exported or printed as well as how data can be imported or linked into the program. The best barcode software can print to any kind of printer, supports native printer languages and Unicode, can work with popular databases and more.

• Label Designer: The label designer is the tool that creates labels. We evaluated the barcode label designers’ basic features such as font choices, image options and alignment tools. We also evaluated its more complex capabilities such as date stamping, check digit creation, serialization and templates.

• Label Design Ease of Use: We think all software should be easy to use and users should be able to produce a simple barcode label without having to confer with the help section.

• Help/ Support: Since most barcode software is complex, exceptional customer support is vital. We evaluated all levels of customer support from product training to the support terms. The best barcode software providers give free support through a variety of methods including email, telephone and chat support. Some also go beyond basic support and offer paid services like onsite training, priority care and web training.

To read the reviewers comments on the best professional barcode software, see NiceLabel Pro .