Brother P-touch Editor vs Cloudlabels

Brother P-touch Editor 6 is free software for designing and printing custom labels. It supports styled text, images and barcodes, including QR code labels, and tables can contain text, numbers, symbols or barcode data. Designs can draw on more than 700 clip-art items, frames, patterns and shape tools. For text, users can choose installed TrueType or OpenType fonts or fonts included with the software. Search helps find templates and previously created labels. Label content can be drawn from Excel and other databases, including for mailing lists and asset-management labeling. Brother lists JPEG, GIF, BMP, PNG and TIF/TIFF image support. Barcode and specialty labels may be printed individually or in batches. Printing requires connecting a compatible P-touch or Brother QL printer to a PC through USB or Bluetooth. Brother describes the software as compatible with Windows and Macintosh and says it works with select P-touch and QL models. The Windows version is listed as 6.0. For macOS 10.15 or higher, Brother directs users to download the app from the App Store.

Cloudlabels turns spreadsheet, CSV and Shopify catalog data into barcode labels for printing. Users can import Excel or CSV files, enter items manually, then export data back to either format. The Design Center places text, barcodes, QR codes and images on a canvas and links them to data columns. Supported formats include EAN-13, UPC-A, CODE-128, Code 39, DataMatrix, GS1 DataMatrix, EAN-8, UPC-E and QR. Shopify syncing covers products and variants, with changes that can be pushed back to the store. The browser-based service requires no installation and is listed for web and iOS. Paid plans export 600 DPI PDFs, support Avery and HERMA sheets, and allow printing from any starting position on a partly used sheet. The free plan is limited to 20 items and 20 labels per month, with 300 DPI exports carrying a watermark and one user. Paid options include Starter Pack at $19, paid once and Pro at $19.90 a month; a 7-day trial is listed.