- Label design software at a glance
- Eleven label design tools worth a look
- Which label design tool to start with
- Every product variation needs its own barcode
- Design-led label makers versus barcode label software
- Questions to ask before you choose label software
- Signs you've outgrown making labels in a word processor
- My plain advice on choosing label design software
- Frequently asked questions
The best label design software lets you create product, shipping or barcode labels and print them on sheets or a label printer without fighting a word processor. Some are free online label makers for small brands, while others are barcode label programs built for warehouses and factories. Eleven options follow in no particular order.
A label's got two jobs. It has to look right on the shelf and scan right at the till or in the warehouse, and the tools that are good at one aren't always good at the other. That's why the list mixes both.
The eleven label design tools below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, and every description comes from the vendor's own website, read this week. If you're designing labels as part of your brand, my piece on product labels and packaging as a marketing asset is worth a read first.
Label design software at a glance
I checked the free plan column on each tool's own website, as of Oct 2026. Yes means the site names a free plan, a free version, a free allowance or an open source version. Trial only means a time-limited trial. Not stated means the pages I read named neither, even where there's a button inviting you to start for free, so check the vendor's page before you sign up.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aulux Barcode Label Maker | Barcode label maker software | Simple barcode label printing | Trial only |
| Avery Design & Print | Free label making software | Printing on Avery sheet labels | Yes |
| Barcode Studio | Barcode maker software from TEC-IT | Barcodes as graphics for print | Not stated |
| BarTender | Barcode label design and printing software | Manufacturers printing labels at scale | Trial only |
| Canva | Online design tool with a label maker | Custom product labels for small brands | Yes |
| gLabels | Free label designer for Linux | Free label and business card printing | Yes |
| Label LIVE | Label printing software for Mac and Windows | Mac users with thermal label printers | Trial only |
| Labeljoy | Barcode label printing software | EAN barcodes for retail products | Not stated |
| LABELVIEW | Barcode label design application from TEKLYNX | Compliance and product labels | Trial only |
| Maestro Label Designer | Online label printing and design software | Printing on OnlineLabels sheets and rolls | Trial only |
| ZebraDesigner | Label and barcode design software | Owners of Zebra label printers | Not stated |
Eleven label design tools worth a look
Aulux Barcode Label Maker
Best for: Small shops and warehouses that want easy barcode label software with 30-plus barcode types, a free online generator and a downloadable trial.
Avery Design & Print
Best for: Anyone printing on Avery sheet labels who wants free label making software with matching templates for each product.
Barcode Studio
Best for: Designers and small manufacturers who want barcodes created as image files for print layouts, from a specialist barcode software maker.
BarTender
Best for: Manufacturers and warehouses that want barcode label design, printing and automation at scale, starting with a 30-day trial.
Canva
Best for: Makers and small brands who want a free online label maker for designing custom labels in the browser.
gLabels
Best for: Linux users who want a free program for designing and printing labels and business cards, with no account or subscription.
Label LIVE
Best for: Mac and Windows users with label printers who want variable data from spreadsheets and locked designs, starting with a 14-day free trial.
Labeljoy
Best for: Retailers and producers who want EAN barcode design and label printing from a downloadable program they can try for free first.
LABELVIEW
Best for: Businesses that want a barcode label design application for product and compliance labels, with a 30-day trial download.
Maestro Label Designer
Best for: Small businesses who print on OnlineLabels sheets and want an online label designer with templates and a free trial mode.
ZebraDesigner
Best for: Businesses with Zebra printers who want label and barcode design software made by the printer maker itself.
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Which label design tool to start with
- Free and in the browser: Canva or Avery Design & Print.
- Free on Linux: gLabels.
- Retail barcodes without the complexity: Labeljoy or Aulux Barcode Label Maker.
- Mac users with a label printer: Label LIVE.
- Printing on OnlineLabels sheets: Maestro Label Designer.
- Warehouses and factories: BarTender, LABELVIEW or ZebraDesigner.
- Barcodes as artwork for print: Barcode Studio.
Every product variation needs its own barcode
GS1 US, the standards body behind UPC barcodes in the US, says the most important thing to understand is that each variation of each product you sell requires a unique barcode.
So a candle in three scents and two sizes is six barcodes, not one. Count every variation before you design a label template, and make sure your software can pull the right barcode for each one rather than relying on someone to swap it by hand.
Design-led label makers versus barcode label software
Design-led tools focus on how the label looks: fonts, colours, images and templates for jars, bottles and boxes. They're ideal for small brands printing on sheets.
Barcode label software focuses on accuracy and volume. It connects to spreadsheets or business systems, prints serial numbers and barcodes, and drives thermal label printers in a warehouse or on a production line.
Questions to ask before you choose label software
- Does it support the barcode types my retailers need?
- Can it pull product data from a spreadsheet?
- Does it work with my label printer or sheet labels?
- Can I lock templates so staff can't move things by accident?
- Does it run on Mac, Windows, Linux or in a browser?
- Can I print in batches with variable data?
Signs you've outgrown making labels in a word processor
- Labels shift when you print them. Use real templates.
- Barcodes don't scan at the till. Use barcode software.
- You retype product details for every batch. Import from a spreadsheet.
- Staff change the design by accident. Lock the layout.
Do you make label design or barcode software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing label design software
Decide first whether your labels are mainly brand artwork or mainly data. A small brand printing a hundred jar labels needs a different tool from a warehouse printing thousands of shipping labels a day.
Then print a test sheet and scan every barcode before a full run. It's dull, but it's far quicker than reprinting a whole batch. Packaging decisions sit around the label too, and my guide to high-impact product packaging covers the rest of the box.
Frequently asked questions
What is label design software?
Label design software lets you create labels, add text, images and barcodes, and print them on sheets or a label printer.
Is there free label design software?
Yes. Several tools in this list describe free online label makers, and one is a free program for Linux.
Do I need a different barcode for each product size?
Yes. GS1 US says each variation of each product you sell requires a unique barcode.
What software do I need for a thermal label printer?
Barcode label software that's built to drive label printers, often from the printer's own maker.
Can I make labels from a spreadsheet?
Many barcode label tools import data from spreadsheets so you can print batches with variable text and barcodes.
Is there label software for Mac?
Yes. At least one desktop tool here runs on Mac and Windows, and browser tools work on any computer.
