Reply To: Your favorite sub-$100 barcode generating software

If you’re prepared to go just beyond $100, try https://www.easybarcodetech.com/ebc.html

To make barcodes without leaving InDesign, here are some solutions:

There is a free solution for code 39 barcodes: https://www.barcodesinc.com/free-barcode-font/

EAN 13; EAN 8 have a few free or paid solutions:

EAN Barcode Generator by Konstantin Smorodsky: https://creative.adobe.com/addons/products/899#.U-C20kgfY0E

Skilldrick’s ISBN barcode generator: https://github.com/skilldrick/id_barcode

Marc Autret’s Book Barcode: https://www.indiscripts.com/store/BKBC

So far as QR codes go, there are a ton of free code generators online, and since CC, InDesign has had the ability to generate them without plug-ins. Since CC 2014 it is also possible to create variable QR codes.

What I’ve found with some dedicated barcode creation software is that they can create one barcode at a time, but if I have to create hundreds – even thousands – of barcodes, then they are no good for that purpose. There are plug-ins that will generate various varieties of barcodes as part of a Data Merge (or apply the barcodes to a database in general) but there is only an ROI if this work is being done often.

Otherwise Eugene’s link is a good one, and there is always search results from looking up the following in your favourite search engine: “open source barcode creation software”. Also, if you are on the Mac OSX, do a search in the app store for “barcode” as there may be an affordable app worth downloading. Just remember – you get what you pay for!