BarTender vs Union Label

BarTender9.2Visit Union Label8.7Visit

Higher score BarTender #2 in Label Design Software 9.2/10 30-day trial Free trial✓ 1 of 5 features Visit BarTender

vs

Union Label #6 in Label Design Software 8.7/10 14-day trial Free trial✓ 5 of 5 features Visit Union Label

• BarTender fits best

  Enterprise barcode, RFID, and print automation

• Union Label fits best

  Shipping and GS1 labels with printer choice

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Side by side

Feature	BarTender 9.2/10 Visit ↗	Union Label 8.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.2	8.7
Ranking	#2 in Label Design Software	#6 in Label Design Software
Best for	Enterprise barcode, RFID, and print automation	Shipping and GS1 labels with printer choice
Pricing model	Paid	Paid
Starting price	$199/yr	$199/user/yr
Free plan	—	—
Free trial	30 days	14 days
Free trial length	30 days	14 days
Deployment	Cloud, Desktop	Cloud, Desktop
Platforms	Web, Windows	Web, Windows
Integrations	10 integrations	4 integrations
Features BarTender 1/5 · Union Label 5/5
Barcode support	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Shipping labels	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Compliance labels	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Variable data printing	✓	✓
Print automation	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Specs
Supported printers	Not checked yet	GoDEX, Zebra, Bixolon, TSC, Honeywell, CST, POSCenter, BSmart, Printronix, URSA, iDPRT, Dascom, Argox, Xprinter and ELGIN
Deployment model	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Supports barcode and RFID labels across 100+ symbologies Automates printing through REST API, File Drop, and no-code integrations Adds permissions, audit trails, and centralized document management	Supports shipping, GS1-128, barcodes, QR codes, and variable data Works in browser and Windows Desktop with offline printing Connects with Excel, CSV, SQL databases, APIs, and many printer brands
Cons	No free plan is available Annual pricing starts at $199 for the Starter plan Enterprise features require contacting sales for a quote	The Free offering is a 14-day trial rather than an unlimited free plan RFID encoding and offline printing require the Desktop edition Pro collaboration, API, and GS1 features cost $199 per user per year
Our verdict	BarTender is labeling software for organizations that design, manage, automate, and print product, warehouse, manufacturing, retail, and logistics labels. It supports barcode and RFID label design, dynamic data-driven templates, database… Read the review →	Union Label is label design and printing software for small businesses and teams that need product, warehouse, retail, logistics, or shipping labels. It supports reusable layouts with text, images, 1D and 2D barcodes, QR codes, variable… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• BarTender — where it wins

  • Supports barcode and RFID labels across 100+ symbologies
  • Automates printing through REST API, File Drop, and no-code integrations
  • Adds permissions, audit trails, and centralized document management

  Where it doesn't

  • No free plan is available
  • Annual pricing starts at $199 for the Starter plan
  • Enterprise features require contacting sales for a quote

• Union Label — where it wins

  • Supports shipping, GS1-128, barcodes, QR codes, and variable data
  • Works in browser and Windows Desktop with offline printing
  • Connects with Excel, CSV, SQL databases, APIs, and many printer brands

  Where it doesn't

  • The Free offering is a 14-day trial rather than an unlimited free plan
  • RFID encoding and offline printing require the Desktop edition
  • Pro collaboration, API, and GS1 features cost $199 per user per year

• BarTender9.2/10 · 30-day trial

  A broad labeling platform for organizations that need automation, control, and data-driven printing.

  Visit BarTenderFull verdict →
• Union Label8.7/10 · 14-day trial

  A flexible choice for shipping, GS1, barcode, and variable-data labels.

  Visit Union LabelFull verdict →