Comparison guide
arkalabel.io vs TEC-IT
Both generate barcodes and QR codes in the browser and through an API. TEC-IT covers a wider range of symbologies and sells yearly subscriptions; arkalabel allows commercial use on its free plan, adds ZPL label rendering, and sells monthly or yearly plans that do not renew automatically.
Competitor figures last verified: 15 October 2026.
Feature comparison
| Capability | arkalabel | TEC-IT |
|---|---|---|
| Free usage | Free in the browser with no account. API: free account, 3 requests/second and 5,000/day | Free online generator for non-commercial or private use; sequences limited to 10 barcodes for unregistered users |
| Barcode types | 38 symbologies: linear, retail (EAN, UPC, ISBN), pharmaceutical, postal and 2D (QR, Micro QR, Data Matrix, Aztec, PDF417) | A wider catalogue, including GS1 DataBar and composite codes and 2D codes such as MaxiCode, Han Xin and DotCode |
| QR code generation | Yes, with templates for URL, Wi-Fi, vCard, MeCard, calendar, location, email, SMS, phone and payment codes | Yes, including Wi-Fi, business-card, event and banking codes |
| Image formats | Browser: PNG and SVG. API: PNG, SVG, PDF, JPEG, GIF and TIFF | GIF, JPG and PNG; SVG for subscribers |
| Resolution | API takes 1–24 dots per millimetre (about 203, 300 and 600 dpi at 8, 12 and 24) | Adjustable resolution; up to 600 DPI for subscribers |
| Batch generation | No batch endpoint: one barcode per request | One barcode per row and sequences in the free tool; batch support with a subscription |
| API | REST API with a free account key | Barcode API integration listed as a subscription benefit |
| ZPL labels | Yes: a ZPL label rendering API, and the barcode tool shows the ZPL behind each barcode | Not mentioned on its barcode generator page |
| Privacy and retention | Barcode data is processed in memory and not stored, on every plan | The generator page does not say how long barcode data is kept |
| Commercial use | Allowed on every plan, including Free, with no attribution. Free runs on the beta release channel without a stability commitment | Free output is for non-commercial or private use, with a required backlink; commercial use needs TEC-IT's written approval |
| Pricing | Free, then Plus and Business, paid monthly or yearly with no automatic renewal (see pricing) | €199/year (500 barcodes/month), €999/year (5,000), €4,999/year (50,000); yearly subscriptions that renew automatically |
| Developer integrations | Code examples for cURL, Node.js, Python and C#; no official SDKs | Not detailed on its barcode generator page |
| Watermarks | None on any plan | Not mentioned; free use requires a backlink |
TEC-IT figures come from its own published pages, listed below, and may have changed since 15 October 2026. Check the source before you rely on one. arkalabel figures are on our pricing, documentation and privacy policy.
TEC-IT may fit better if
- You need a symbology arkalabel does not draw, such as GS1 DataBar, MaxiCode, Han Xin or DotCode.
- You want sequences or one barcode per row from the free web tool, without writing code.
- A yearly subscription with a fixed monthly barcode quota suits how you buy software.
arkalabel may fit better if
- You use barcodes commercially and want to start on a free plan, without attribution.
- You also print ZPL labels and want labels and barcodes from one API key.
- You want SVG, PDF or TIFF output, or to pay month by month without an automatically renewing yearly subscription.
Frequently asked questions
Is arkalabel a free alternative to TEC-IT's barcode generator?
arkalabel's generator is free in the browser with no account, and its API has a free plan with 3 requests a second and 5,000 a day. Unlike TEC-IT's free generator, it may be used commercially and needs no backlink.
Can I use arkalabel barcodes commercially?
Yes, on every plan including Free, with no attribution. The Free plan runs on the beta release channel without a stability or uptime commitment; paid plans run on the stable channel.
Does arkalabel support every barcode TEC-IT does?
No. arkalabel draws 38 symbologies. TEC-IT lists more, including GS1 DataBar, composite codes, MaxiCode, Han Xin and DotCode. Check the barcode generator for the current list.
Can I generate barcodes in bulk with arkalabel?
Not in one request: the API returns one barcode per call, within your plan's rate limit. TEC-IT offers sequences and one-per-row generation in its web tool and batch support with a subscription.
Does arkalabel add a watermark?
No. There is no watermark on any plan, free included.
Sources
- TEC-IT Online Barcode Generator, checked 15 October 2026
TEC-IT is a trademark of its owner. arkalabel is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by TEC-IT.