Quick answer
If one PC prints labels whose contents are typed in or limited to counters and dates, BarTender Starter is enough. Move to Professional as soon as label data comes from Excel, CSV or a database; to Automation when your ERP or WMS should send print jobs with nobody clicking print; and to Enterprise when label changes need formal approval or several sites must print the same controlled design.
Which edition should you buy?
BarTender is made by Seagull Scientific. Each higher edition contains everything in the one below it, so you are really buying a level of data connection and control. Use the table to find your starting point.
| Edition | Pick this if… | What it adds | How it is licensed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | A shop, small unit or single user prints product, price or carton labels from one computer. | Label design, all standard symbologies such as EAN-13, Code 128, QR Code and Data Matrix, basic counters, date and time, and RFID tag encoding. | One workstation with unlimited printers from that PC. |
| Professional | Batch numbers, MRP, product names or serials sit in a spreadsheet or SQL table and you want them on the label without retyping. | Connections to Excel, CSV, SQL, Oracle and ODBC sources, more than one workstation, RFID serialisation and smart templates that validate data. | Either a workstation licence with unlimited printers, or a starting bundle of printers plus extra printer licences. |
| Automation | Labels should print by themselves when a batch is confirmed, goods are received or a shipment is dispatched in SAP, Oracle, Tally or your WMS. | BarTender Integration Platform connectors, triggers from an API, file or database event, a print server that serves many clients, and a log of every job with the data printed. | Per printer: an application bundle with a set number of printers, then additional printer licences. |
| Enterprise | You work under GxP or similar rules, or run several plants that must all print one approved label version. | A central label library, approval before any change can print, role-based rights to design, approve or print, multi-site control from one server and a deeper audit trail. | Per printer, with a larger starting bundle than Automation. |
Starting bundles at a glance
The number of printers in the base pack differs between perpetual and subscription purchases. This is what the current part numbers on our product pages describe:
| Edition | Perpetual base pack | Subscription base pack | Add-on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | Workstation, unlimited printers (BTS-WS) | Workstation, unlimited printers | Not needed |
| Professional | Workstation with unlimited printers (BTP-WS) or application with 3 printers (BTP-3) | Workstation with unlimited printers or application with 2 printers | Extra printer licence (BTP-PRT) |
| Automation | Application with 3 printers (BTA-3) | Application with 2 printers (BTA-2) | Extra printer licence (BTA-PRT) |
| Enterprise | Application with 5 printers (BTE-5) | Application with 3 printers (BTE-3) | Extra printer licence (BTE-PRT) |
Perpetual or subscription?
A perpetual licence is bought once and comes with Standard Maintenance and Support (MSA) for a term you choose: 3 years or 5 years. A subscription is paid for a fixed period of 1, 3 or 5 years. Teams that want a capital purchase and long use usually prefer perpetual. Teams that want to start small, keep spending as an operating cost, or test a new line before scaling often prefer a 1-year subscription. Current prices for every part number are shown on each edition's product page, and you can request a formal quotation with GST invoice through the BarTender software enquiry form.
Setting it up
- List your printers. Count how many printers each workstation or server will drive today and in the next year, because per-printer editions are priced on that count.
- Install the printer drivers for your TSC or Printronix models before you design labels, so that label size, darkness and speed come from the right driver.
- Design one master template per label type, using your exact label size and gap or black-mark setting.
- Connect the data (Professional and above). Link fields to your Excel sheet, CSV export or database table, and add validation rules so an empty or wrong-format field stops the print.
- Set up triggers (Automation and above). Decide which ERP or WMS event should fire each label, then test with a handful of real transactions before going live.
- Define approvals and roles (Enterprise). Decide who may edit, who approves and who may only print.
Running costs to plan for
- Support renewal when the MSA term on a perpetual licence ends, or renewal of a subscription.
- Extra printer licences as you add printers on per-printer editions.
- Labels and ribbons that suit your printer and application. See our labels and ribbons.
- Printer upkeep, mainly replacement printheads from the TSC genuine printhead and Printronix genuine printhead ranges.
Common problems and fixes
| Problem | Likely reason | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Staff still copy data from Excel into labels by hand | Starter has no database connection | Upgrade to Professional and link the sheet directly. |
| Wrong batch or MRP printed on cartons | No data checks on the template | Add validation rules in a Professional or higher template. |
| Operators forget to print labels after an ERP posting | Printing is manual | Move to Automation and trigger prints from the ERP event. |
| Two plants print different versions of one label | No central control | Use Enterprise with a single approved library. |
| A new printer will not print from BarTender | Licence count used up, or driver missing | Add a printer licence and install the correct driver. |
Every edition drives TSC and Printronix thermal printers, so one design tool can cover a mixed fleet. Browse all editions in our label design software collection, or see how labelling works in pharma and healthcare and manufacturing.
Frequently asked questions
Can I start with Starter and upgrade later?
Yes, you can move to a higher edition later. Each edition includes everything in the one below it, adding database links, automated printing or approval control as you go up. Ask us how your existing licence and support term are treated when you change edition.
Which edition prints labels straight from SAP, Oracle or Tally?
Automation and Enterprise. Both include the BarTender Integration Platform, which connects to SAP, Oracle, Tally and WMS systems and prints when a transaction is posted.
When does Enterprise make sense over Automation?
Choose Enterprise when every label change must be approved before printing, when you need role-based rights, or when several sites must share one central library. Automation covers hands-free printing and job logging without that governance layer.
How many printers come with each BarTender bundle?
Starter and the Professional workstation licence allow unlimited printers from one PC. Automation perpetual starts with 3 printers and subscription with 2. Enterprise perpetual starts with 5 printers and subscription with 3. Extra printer licences can be added.
What does the MSA term mean on a perpetual licence?
It is the period of Standard Maintenance and Support bundled with the perpetual licence, which you choose as 3 or 5 years at purchase.
Does BarTender Starter support RFID?
Yes. Starter can encode RFID tags. Professional and the higher editions add RFID serialisation.
Where can I see BarTender prices?
Current prices for each part number are shown on the edition product pages. For a multi-printer or multi-site project, ask for a quotation through the BarTender enquiry form.
Do you provide a GST invoice for BarTender licences?
Yes. Every BarTender licence bought from buytscprinters.com is billed by Infinite Solutions with a GST invoice.
Need help choosing? Call +91 98110 11467, WhatsApp +91 93110 11467 or contact us. buytscprinters.com is run by Infinite Solutions, New Delhi, an authorized TSC and Printronix partner.