What Is BarTender Label Software, and Which Edition Do You Need?
In short
BarTender is label design and printing software from Seagull Software. It designs barcode labels, RFID tags and cards, pulls data from databases and business systems, and automates printing. Over 250,000 companies use it, and it supports over 12,000 printer drivers. Editions range from Starter for one designer to Enterprise for controlled, multi-site printing.
BarTender is label design and printing software made by Seagull Software. You design a label once, connect it to your data, and print the right label on almost any label printer.
It is one of the most widely used tools in the field. BarTender says over 250,000 companies have chosen it, and Seagull reports that BarTender supports over 12,000 printer drivers.
We supply BarTender licences in Hong Kong alongside the barcode printers it drives. Details are on our label design software page.
What does BarTender actually do?
BarTender covers three jobs:
- Design. A drag-and-drop editor for labels, barcodes, RFID tags and cards, with the fonts and graphics your standards require.
- Connect. Labels pull data from databases, spreadsheets or business systems instead of being typed by hand.
- Print and control. Printing can be triggered automatically, and larger editions add approvals, security and audit history.
BarTender’s Intelligent Templates let one template produce many label variations based on the data. That means fewer files to maintain when products, languages or customers change.
Why not just use the printer’s free software?
The free tools that come with a printer are fine for occasional, one-off labels. They struggle when:
- Label data comes from a database or ERP and must never be retyped.
- Several printer brands are in use and designs must print the same on each.
- Labels need serial numbers, validation or a record of what was printed.
- Many people print, and someone needs to control who can change a design.
That is the point where dedicated label software pays for itself in avoided mistakes.
What does BarTender look like in daily use?
A few typical examples:
- Warehouse: when an order is picked in the warehouse management system, BarTender prints the carton label and shipping label automatically.
- Retail: head office updates prices in a spreadsheet or database, and each store prints shelf and price labels from the same template.
- Manufacturing: a line operator scans a work order, a data-entry form fills the rest, and BarTender prints a serialised product label.
- Healthcare and labs: staff print specimen or asset labels from a form that validates each entry before printing.
In each case, nobody retypes data into a label, which is where most labelling errors start.
Which BarTender edition do you need?
BarTender sells four on-premises editions. Each includes the label designer and business data connections.
| Edition | BarTender’s summary | Users per licence | Good fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | ”Design and print labels in minutes” | Single user | One person designing and printing labels |
| Professional | ”Be more data-driven with pre-configured, dynamic tools” | Single user or unlimited | Labels printed from databases and data-entry forms |
| Automation | ”Boost productivity with flexible, automated labeling” | Unlimited | Printing triggered by ERP, WMS or other systems |
| Enterprise | ”Streamline teams and enforce accountability” | Unlimited | Multi-site operations that need approvals and control |
Source: BarTender pricing page.
A rough guide: if someone presses Print, Starter or Professional is usually enough. If a system should print without anyone pressing Print, you need Automation or above.
How is BarTender licensed?
Licensing depends on the edition. Starter and Professional are available as workstation licences, which BarTender says allow unlimited printers from a single user or PC.
Automation and Enterprise are licensed for unlimited users. Cloud subscriptions are licensed by printer. We will check which model is most economical for your number of designers, users and printers.
Is there a cloud version?
Yes. BarTender Cloud comes in Essentials, Automation and Enterprise editions. BarTender describes the cloud option as zero-footprint, meaning there is less to install and maintain locally.
Cloud suits companies with several sites or remote users. On-premises suits companies that want everything inside their own network.
Can BarTender connect to our systems?
Yes, and this is usually the main reason to buy it. BarTender says templates connect to more than 20 pre-configured databases or file types, including SQL Server, Oracle and MySQL. It also integrates with business systems such as ERP, WMS and MES.
When a connection needs custom work, our software development team handles the integration between your system and BarTender.
Which printers does BarTender work with?
BarTender prints through its own printer drivers, which Seagull Software publishes for label, marking and coding printers from many brands. Seagull reports over 12,000 supported printer drivers.
That matters if you run mixed fleets, such as Zebra and Honeywell printers side by side. One label design prints the same on both, so you do not keep separate versions for each brand.
Does BarTender handle RFID?
Yes. BarTender says you can encode RFID inlays as easily as adding a barcode to a label template. You also need an RFID-capable printer and RFID labels.
How do you get started?
- List the labels you print today and where their data comes from.
- Note your printer models.
- Decide who designs labels, who prints them, and whether a system should trigger printing.
Send us that list. We will recommend an edition, check that your printers are supported, and help with installation and training.
Frequently asked questions
What is BarTender used for?
BarTender is used to design and print labels, barcodes, RFID tags and cards, and to automate label printing from business systems such as ERP and warehouse management systems.
How many companies use BarTender?
BarTender says over 250,000 companies have chosen it.
Source: BarTender - homepage
Will BarTender work with my printer?
Very likely. BarTender officially supports over 12,000 printer drivers, and you can check your model on the driver download page.
What are the BarTender editions?
The on-premises editions are Starter, Professional, Automation and Enterprise. BarTender Cloud comes as Essentials, Automation and Enterprise.
Source: BarTender - Pricing and editions
Can BarTender connect to our database or ERP?
Yes. BarTender says label templates connect to more than 20 pre-configured databases or file types, and it integrates with business systems such as ERP, WMS and MES.
Can BarTender encode RFID tags?
Yes. BarTender says you can encode RFID inlays as easily as adding a barcode to a label template.
