The Zebra and Dymo label printers are two of the most popular brands for businesses both small and large. They’re known for their high-quality thermal printing and ease of use, reliability and quick processing speeds. But, unfortunately, they are not entirely compatible brands when it comes to accessories and labels themselves.
Each of these brands is very exacting when it comes to how their printers work and what types of labels can be used. Printers are designed to work with specific grades and size of paper and adhesive, which means that using the wrong kind of label can mean misalignment, malfunction or maintenance issues further down the line.
Which Brand?
It is worth thinking very carefully about which kind of label printer you require before committing to buying. Both the Dymo and the Zebra printers have their benefits and uses, and both have certain things to consider. The following is a rundown of the features and benefits of each brand.
Dymo
The Dymo range is seen as something of an institution for e-commerce sellers. Models like the LabelWriter4XL are incredibly user friendly and easy to set up, which means that you can pick one up and get it working straight away with very little fuss. One of the things it boasts above anything else is how consistent it is when it comes to alignment of labels, and that it maintains clear and crisp quality.
Perhaps because of this, Dymoprinters are exacting when it comes to what labels they use. They don’t support widely used standard thermal labels and will only take their own specifically designed labels that have black mark sensing on the back and special notches and perforations between each label. For some, this may be a dealbreaker, but it is also worth considering that Dymo printers also tend to be quite inexpensive, and the labels they take are widely available.
Zebra
The Zebra range of label printers is viewed as quite high-end, reflected in their generally much higher retail price. They are known for their ultra-fast processing and printing speed and are often the choice for those who are seeking to print in large quantities in quick succession. Even at its highest speeds, it can maintain consistently high quality and it also compatible with fanfold labels.
In contrast to the incredible user-friendliness of Dymo printers, Zebras can be fiddly to set up and needs a little work to ensure your computer can send it jobs. Some sellers choose to use a third-party driver. But once your printer is set up and ready to work Zebras are known for their durability, and consumables for it, such as labels, can be found in any retail outlet or online just like LG Business Systems offer.
What to Consider when Buying a Label Printer
Of course, there are plenty more brands out there in terms of label printers and it is always worth shopping around. But before you commit to buying you should always consider:
- How regularly it will be used
- How many labels will be printed daily
- Is it something you are going to use long term or a simple stop-gap until you expand your operation?
Depending on how you respond to these issues, you might want to consider either putting some money aside for the more expensive Zebra if you want something that is going to last a long time. Or conversely, you might want to cost-save with the Dymo printer so you can pool your money into your product and branding.