as
Select barcode format
Options
Select barcode format
Options
as

Free Barcode Generator FAQ

1. What is the Free Barcode Generator?

The Free Barcode Generator is an open-source online tool that allows users to easily create various formats of one-dimensional barcodes. It supports multiple encoding types and enables users to generate barcodes in real-time and in bulk, completely free of charge.

2. How do I use this barcode generator?

Using it is very simple:

  • Enter the content you want to encode in the input box, with each line corresponding to one barcode.
  • Use the tabs to switch between different encoding types (such as Code128, EAN / UPC, Code39, ITF, MSI Plessey, Pharmacode, Codabar).
  • Select the encoding format and barcode style in the options.
  • The system will generate the corresponding barcode in real-time.

3. What types of barcodes does this tool support?

Our tool supports various common barcode formats, including:

  • Code128 (including Code128A, Code128B, Code128C, GS1-128)
  • EAN / UPC (including EAN-13, EAN-8, EAN-5, EAN-2, UPC-A, UPC-E)
  • Code39 (including Code39, Code39 Extended)
  • ITF (including ITF-14)
  • MSI Plessey (including Mod 10, Mod 11, Mod 1010, Mod 1110)
  • Pharmacode
  • Codabar
  • GS1 DataBar (including Omnidirectional, Limited, Expanded, Stacked)
  • Publishing (including ISBN, ISMN, ISSN)

2D barcode formats, including:

  • QR Code
  • Data Matrix
  • PDF417
  • Aztec Code

4.What's the different between these barcodes?How do I choose?

Below is a brief introduction to common barcode formats and their typical application scenarios:

(1). Code128 Series

  • Code128A/B/C: High-density alphanumeric barcodes supporting full ASCII characters. Version A includes control characters, Version B includes uppercase and lowercase letters, and Version C is optimized for numbers (double-digit compression).

Scenarios: Logistics labels, warehouse management, medical device identification.

  • GS1-128: A subset of Code128, embedding GS1 application identifiers (e.g., batch numbers, expiration dates).

    Scenarios: Retail supply chains, food traceability, pharmaceutical industry.

(2). EAN / UPC Series

  • EAN-13: 13-digit universal product barcode, with the first 3 digits as the country code.

    Scenarios: Supermarket retail products (e.g., packaged food, daily necessities).

  • EAN-8: Shortened version (8 digits) for small packaging.

  • UPC-A: 12-digit North American product barcode, without a country code.

    Scenarios: U.S./Canada retail (e.g., books, electronics).

  • UPC-E: Compressed version of UPC-A (6 digits) for very small products (e.g., lipstick).

  • EAN-5/EAN-2: Supplementary codes, typically used for price or version identification.

(3). Code39

  • Standard Code39: Supports numbers, uppercase letters, and some symbols (e.g., “-”, “.”), with variable length.

    Scenarios: Industrial asset tracking, automotive parts.

  • Code39 Extended: Extended ASCII character set, compatible with lowercase letters.

    Scenarios: Library management, government document identification.

(4). ITF-14

  • A numeric barcode designed for corrugated boxes, 14 digits (including 1 packaging indicator).

    Scenarios: Outer box logistics, wholesale warehousing (e.g., scanning entire boxes of goods).

(5). MSI Plessey

  • Legacy numeric barcode, supporting Mod 10/11 check algorithms.

    Scenarios: Supermarket inventory management (gradually being phased out), warehouse shelf labels.

(6). Pharmacode

  • Pharmaceutical industry-specific numeric barcode, high fault tolerance, encoding only 1~131070.

    Scenarios: Drug packaging line automation (e.g., pill counting, anti-counterfeiting).

(7). Codabar

  • Early numeric barcode, supporting start/stop characters like “$” and “:”, flexible length.

    Scenarios: Blood bank labels, courier documents, membership card numbers.

(8). GS1 DataBar Series

  • Omnidirectional: Small size, for tiny products (e.g., fruits, cosmetics).

  • Expanded: Supports additional data (e.g., weight, expiration date).

    Scenarios: Fresh food, coupons.

(9). Publishing Industry Barcodes

  • ISBN: 13-digit International Standard Book Number (originally 10 digits).

  • ISSN: 8-digit periodical number.

  • ISMN: Music publication code.

    Scenarios: Book/magazine copyright pages, online bookstore databases.

Selection Recommendations

  • Retail products: Prefer EAN/UPC or GS1 DataBar.

  • Logistics/warehousing: Code128/ITF-14.

  • Industrial scenarios: Code39/Codabar.

  • Pharmaceutical/special industries: Pharmacode or GS1-128.

Compatibility, data capacity, and printing requirements of different barcodes should be evaluated based on specific equipment.

5. Can I generate multiple barcodes at once?

Yes, this tool supports bulk generation. You just need to enter one barcode content per line in the input box, and the system will generate a corresponding barcode for each line. For bulk-generated barcodes, you can click the "Start Scrolling" button in the bottom right corner, and the page will automatically scroll to display all generated barcodes. You can also use the settings button below to adjust the scrolling rate.

6. Can I customize the style of the generated barcodes?

Yes. In the options section, you can adjust the following parameters:

  • Encoding format
  • Whether to display text (Yes/No)
  • Barcode length (mm)
  • Barcode height (mm)

7. How do I download or save the generated barcodes?

You can download or save barcodes in the following ways:

  • Click the download button above the output box to choose to download as PNG, JPG, GIF, or SVG format.
  • If only one barcode image is generated, it will be downloaded directly.
  • If multiple barcode images are generated, the system will package all images into a ZIP file for download.

8. Can I get links to the barcodes?

Yes, you can get two types of links:

  1. Barcode image link: Click the "Copy Barcode Link" button to copy, in the format: https://www.barcodegenerator.tech/api/barcode/Code128/ABC-abc-1234
  2. Current page link: Click the "Link to This Page" button to copy, in the format: https://www.barcodegenerator.tech/en/Code128?data=ABC-abc-1234

These links can be easily shared or embedded in other applications.

9. Are the barcodes generated by this tool legally valid?

The barcodes generated by our tool are technically accurate, but whether they have legal validity depends on your intended use and relevant regulations. If you need to use them for commercial purposes, we recommend consulting relevant industry standards and legal requirements.

10. What's the quality of the generated barcodes? Are they suitable for printing?

The barcodes generated by our tool have high-quality resolution and are fully suitable for printing. However, we recommend conducting small-scale tests before formal large-scale use to ensure they can be scanned and recognized normally in your specific application scenarios.

11. Can I use this tool on mobile devices?

Yes, our barcode generator is web-based and compatible with various devices. Whether you're using a computer, tablet, or smartphone, you can easily access and use this tool.