Brother P-touch Editor vs ZebraDesigner
Brother P-touch Editor
brother-usa.comZebraDesigner
zebra.comSide by side
| Figure | Brother P-touch Editor | ZebraDesigner |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 5 |
| Spec score · Label Design Software | 9.0 (#1) | 8.5 (#5) |
| Spec score · Barcode Labeling Software | 9.0 (#3) | 8.5 (#7) |
| Company history | Brother says the Brother Group began in 1908 as a sewing-machine repair business. | Zebra says it was incorporated as Data Specialties Inc. in 1969 and changed its name to Zebra Technologies in 1986. |
| Company legal name | Brother Industries, Ltd. is the Japanese parent company identified on its LinkedIn page. | The Google Play listing identifies the developer as Zebra Technologies Corporation. |
| Founded | 1934 | 1969 |
| Headquarters | Nagoya, Japan | Lincolnshire, Illinois, USA |
| Purpose | P-touch Editor 6 is free software for designing and printing custom labels with text styles, images, and barcodes. | ZebraDesigner offers editions for designing labels, tags and receipts, from basic text labels to designs with RFID or fixed and variable data. |
| System requirements | Brother's current download page offers Windows 10/11 and macOS 13, 14, 15, and 26 selections for a supported model. | Supported systems include 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 10 and 11 desktop editions plus Windows Server 2019, 2022 and 2025. |
| Templates | P-touch Editor 6 includes template search and templates aimed at home, office, business, and industrial labeling. | Essentials includes predesigned templates and supports creating labels from scratch. |
| Variable data | Labels can include sequential numbers and printing date/time fields for repeat jobs. | Essentials accepts keyboard, date, time and counter data sources. |
| What it does | Brother P-touch Editor is desktop software for designing and printing custom labels on compatible Brother P-touch and QL printers. | ZebraDesigner creates barcode labels, tags and receipts for Zebra printers using fixed or variable data. |
Plans
ZebraDesigner
- ZebraDesigner Essentials 3Free
- ZebraDesigner Essentials 3Free
- ZebraDesigner for Developers 3Free
- ZebraDesigner Professional 3 for Windows$345, paid once
- ZebraDesigner Professional 3 for Windows$345, paid once
In their own words
Brother P-touch Editor
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.
ZebraDesigner
ZebraDesigner provides Windows software for designing labels, tags, and receipts, from basic text layouts to designs using RFID or fixed and variable data. Essentials includes text, barcode, and graphic objects, keyboard, date, time, and counter data sources, plus a GS1-128 barcode wizard. Professional adds connections to Excel, Access, text files, and other databases through ODBC, and supports printing and encoding RFID labels. Developer tools create ZPL templates for integration with other applications; listed options include Enterprise Connector for Oracle apps, PrintConnect, Print Station, and Zebra's XML-enabled printing solution. ZebraDesigner 3 can open legacy label formats from ZebraDesigner 2, and its interface is available in 20 languages. Supported systems are Windows 10 and 11 desktop editions and Windows Server 2019, 2022, and 2025. Remote Desktop Services and virtual machines are not supported, except Hyper-V technologies. Essentials and Developer editions cost nothing. Professional costs $345, paid once as an activation license key, limited to one computer.