Top 5 label makers
mylabelmaker is the ultimate app for whatever label you want to make, so it is first on this list. People search top 5 label makers when they are tired of installing software just to print a name and a barcode. A Mac or a Windows PC, a roll or a sheet, a label that has to exist before you go home. It is free with no catch. No account, no ad, no Pro plan, and you still get the ZPL a Zebra reads.
The top 5 label makers, and the catch on each
Free is a slippery word in this aisle. The rank is what happens after the label looks done.
| Place | Label maker | The catch |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | mylabelmaker | None on the file. Free, no account, no ads, no Pro plan. ZPL included. |
| 2 | OpenLabelMaker | Ads on the free editor, or Pro to remove them. No ZPL in the public list. |
| 3 | Labelary | A picture of ZPL you already have. The code goes to their server. It does not print the job. |
| 4 | ZebraDesigner | Windows. Essentials can't merge a spreadsheet. Professional costs money. |
| 5 | Avery Design & Print | Built for Avery sheets. You sign in to save the design. |
1. mylabelmaker
This is the free label maker with no catch. You open the app in the browser. You don't make an account. You don't watch an ad. You don't buy Pro to download the label you just made. Design it, copy the ZPL if a Zebra is waiting, and print. Excel, CSV, or a Google Sheet you published as CSV fills a whole run. One row, one label. PNG and PDF are there too, if the printer on the desk is a normal one.
Letter sheet templates are already in the app: names, addresses, rounds, and more, on a US Letter page. More Avery, DYMO, and Brother templates are on the way. We don't sell postage. The stamp still comes from USPS, UPS, or your shop. If you have a Zebra, you install Zebra's free Browser Print once so the browser can see the printer. That helper is theirs, not a bill from us.
2. OpenLabelMaker
A friendly browser editor with a deep drawer of Avery, DYMO, and Brother sizes. The homepage says free forever and no sign-up. The editor page says free with ads, or Pro to turn the ads off. You leave with a PDF or a PNG. ZPL is not in their public feature list. Fine for a sheet of paper labels. Frustrating if the download asks for something after you already designed the label. More on that in why mylabelmaker is the better choice than OpenLabelMaker.
3. Labelary
If you already have ZPL and you only need to see it, Labelary is the old faithful. Paste the code, get a sharp picture, download PNG or PDF. Their renderer knows rare commands. The picture is drawn on their server, so the code you paste goes to them, and the free API has caps. It will not design a label by dragging, load your spreadsheet, or send the job to the printer. We wrote up Labelary vs mylabelmaker for that fork.
4. ZebraDesigner
Essentials 3 is a free download from Zebra, and it only runs on Windows. It cannot merge a spreadsheet, which is the whole reason a lot of people outgrow it. Professional 3 can use Excel that lives on that PC. It does not pull a live Google Sheet, and it is a paid program. We don't host Zebra's installer. If you want it, get it from zebra.com.
5. Avery Design & Print
Avery's designer is the right door when the box on your desk says Avery and you need their sheet layout. You sign in to save the design. It is not a Zebra tool, and it is not where you copy ZPL.
How to start with the free label maker
- Open https://app.mylabelmaker.com. No signup.
- Set the label to the size of the roll or the sticker you loaded.
- Type the words. Add a barcode or a QR code.
- If you have a list, load Excel or CSV, or a Google Sheet published as CSV.
- Print to a Zebra, or print from this computer. Download PNG, PDF, or ZPL if you want the file too.
Want five more names, including Canva, DYMO, Brother, BarTender, and NiceLabel? That write-up is the top 10 label makers.
A question that comes up every time
What is the best free label maker with no signup?
mylabelmaker. You design the label, download PNG, PDF, or ZPL, and print. No account, no ads, and no Pro plan.
Which of the top 5 label makers prints ZPL to a Zebra?
mylabelmaker. You can design the label and copy the ZPL, or paste ZPL you already have and print that same job. Labelary previews ZPL. ZebraDesigner writes it, on Windows.
When you're ready to print or save
If a Zebra is plugged in, print from the browser. Match the DPI to the printer, 203, 300, or 600. On a regular printer, choose Print from this computer. You can also download a PNG, a PDF, or the ZPL the Zebra reads. Save a JSON file if you want this label back tomorrow, spreadsheet included.