Free Barcode Generator — CODE128, EAN, UPC, QR Alternative
Barcodes still run the world of retail, inventory, shipping and library systems. PikDraw's Barcode Generator emits scanner-ready CODE128, EAN-13, UPC-A and other industry-standard symbologies as crisp PNG or SVG — entirely in your browser, free.
What is the Barcode Generator — 10+ Symbologies, PNG & SVG?
Barcode Generator is a client-side barcode encoder built on jsbarcode. Pick a symbology, type your data, and export a high-resolution PNG or vector SVG that scans reliably with any phone or laser scanner.
Key features
- CODE128, CODE39, EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A, UPC-E, ITF, ITF-14, Codabar, MSI
- Automatic checksum calculation
- Live validation per symbology
- Configurable bar height, width, margin
- Custom HEX foreground / background
- Optional human-readable text
- PNG and SVG export
- 100% client-side — values never upload
How it works
Your input is validated against the chosen symbology's grammar. jsbarcode encodes the value into a sequence of bar widths and renders directly to an SVG element. For PNG export we re-rasterise the SVG into a canvas at retina resolution and call toBlob('image/png').
Why use this tool
Most online generators paywall after a few exports or watermark the output. PikDraw runs jsbarcode locally, exports cleanly to PNG and SVG, never asks for a sign-up, and never sees your data — which matters when encoding internal SKUs.
Common use cases
- Retail product labels (EAN-13 / UPC-A)
- Warehouse and inventory tags (CODE128)
- Library and asset management (CODE39 / Codabar)
- Shipping labels (CODE128 / ITF-14)
- Event ticketing
- Internal asset tracking
- Educational demos of barcode standards
How to use this tool
- Pick a symbology — CODE128 (most flexible, alphanumeric), CODE39 (classic industrial), EAN-13 (retail products), UPC-A (US retail), ITF (interleaved 2-of-5), Codabar (libraries / blood banks). The tool validates your input against the selected symbology.
- Enter the value — CODE128 accepts any ASCII; EAN-13 needs 12 digits (checksum auto-calculated); UPC-A needs 11 digits. Validation runs live so invalid input is flagged immediately.
- Adjust appearance — Bar height (40–200 px), bar width (1–4 px per module), text display toggle, font size, margin. Foreground and background colours can be any HEX — but black-on-white is safest for scanners.
- Download PNG or SVG — PNG for raster usage (labels, social, slides). SVG for print, packaging and anywhere infinite scalability matters.
Who should use this
Small retailers labelling products, warehouse managers tagging stock, librarians cataloguing books, event organisers issuing tickets, developers testing barcode workflows.
How to get started
Pick a symbology, type the value, tweak colours if needed, click Download. SVG for print, PNG for digital.
Best practices
- Black bars on a white background = highest scanner reliability
- Bar width ≥ 2 px ensures clean scans at standard print resolutions
- Always print human-readable text below the bars as a fallback
- SVG export for any unknown final print size
- Test scan with a phone before bulk-printing
Pro tips
- Stick to black bars on white for guaranteed scanner reliability.
- Set bar width ≥ 2 px when printing under 600 dpi.
- EAN-13 and UPC-A have rigid digit counts — the tool tells you the expected length.
- Export SVG when feeding into a label printer or vector design tool.
Expert insights
💡 Pick the Right Symbology
Retail products → EAN-13 or UPC-A. Internal inventory → CODE128. Libraries → CODE39 or Codabar.
💡 Vector for Print
Export SVG whenever the final print size is unknown — it scales infinitely without blurring.
💡 Black on White Always
Coloured barcodes look cool but trip up older scanners — keep it monochrome for production use.
Limitations to be aware of
- No QR codes here — see our QR Generator
- No Data Matrix / Aztec / PDF417 in v1
- Single-barcode rendering — for label sheets use a label tool
- Symbology validation reflects standards strictly
Frequently asked questions
- Which barcode symbologies are supported?
- CODE128, CODE39, EAN-13, EAN-8, UPC-A, UPC-E, ITF, ITF-14, Codabar and MSI. CODE128 is the most flexible (any ASCII); EAN/UPC are required for retail products.
- Is the checksum calculated automatically?
- Yes — for EAN, UPC and ITF the checksum digit is computed and appended automatically. Type the data digits; the tool finalises the encoded value.
- What's the difference between PNG and SVG export?
- PNG is a raster image — best for digital use (web, social, slides). SVG is vector — infinitely scalable, ideal for print, labels and packaging where you don't know the final size.
- Will my barcode scan reliably?
- Yes when printed on white at ≥ 300 dpi with the default bar width. For wallet-sized cards print at 600 dpi; for shipping labels 200 dpi is usually enough. Test with a phone scanner before bulk-printing.
- Is my input value uploaded?
- No. We use jsbarcode entirely client-side to render directly into a canvas. Values, render and export all stay in your browser.
- Need a QR code instead?
- Use our QR Generator. Barcodes encode short alphanumerics for inventory and retail; QR codes encode URLs, vCards, Wi-Fi credentials and arbitrary text.