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BarTender vs Cway

Both stand on label and artwork management software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.

BarTender

Free trial AndroidAPIiPhone+3

BarTender covers label design, printing, integrations, automation, and on-premises controls in one product family. Its annual plans and Windows requirements should be checked against your deployment needs.

Visit BarTender

Cway

Paid APIMacWeb+1

Choose Cway if packaging operations need shared artwork workflows, review tools, asset controls, and product data management. Look elsewhere if you need a free plan or if the paid monthly plans do not fit your budget.

Visit Cway

The facts

BarTenderCway
Free planA free trialNo
Open sourceNot publishedNot published
Runs onAndroid, API, iPhone, Self-hosted, Web, WindowsAPI, Mac, Web, Windows
Lowest paid planStarter: $199 a yearStarter: €450 a month
Plans published43
MakerNot publishedNot published
Websitebartendersoftware.comcwaysoftware.com
On label and artwork management software#1 of 17#2 of 17

BarTender: what it does well

  • Supports over 100 barcode symbologies and standards
  • Includes more than 400 label templates
  • Works with over 11,000 printer drivers
  • Offers REST APIs and no-code automation
  • Can operate without an internet connection

What to know first

  • No free plan is listed
  • Enterprise pricing requires contacting sales
  • Listed operating systems are 64-bit Windows environments
  • Automation and enterprise features require higher tiers

Cway: what it does well

  • Automates workflow stages, task ownership, status visibility, and notifications.
  • Reviewers can annotate, compare versions, and track decisions.
  • Asset library includes metadata, version history, and access controls.
  • Supports PDF, AI, EPS, JPG, PNG, TIFF, and 100+ formats.
  • Enterprise includes unlimited SKUs and ERP/MDM integrations for PIM.

What to know first

  • No free plan is available.
  • Starter costs €450 a month.
  • Pro is capped at 1,000 SKUs.
  • Integrations and APIs are custom-built upon request.

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