AR: Buy GTINs/UPC/EAN barcodes vs MSL: Store Locatorsfor Shopify (2026)
AR: Buy GTINs/UPC/EAN barcodes helps Shopify merchants acquire barcodes (GTINs/UPCs/EANs) for their products, primarily to improve their chances of approval and performance on marketplaces like Google Shopping. It caters to merchants who need GTINs but don't require brand registration for those codes. In contrast, MSL: Store Locators is designed for merchants with physical stores, enabling them to easily create a store locator on their Shopify site, improving customer experience and driving foot traffic to brick-and-mortar locations. The apps address entirely different needs: one focuses on product compliance and online marketplace performance, while the other focuses on connecting online customers with physical store locations. AR: Buy GTINs emphasizes simplicity and ease of GTIN acquisition, offering test barcodes and auto-adding features. MSL: Store Locators is more feature-rich, focusing on customization and scalability for businesses with multiple locations. The main differentiator is that AR: Buy GTINs provides products, where MSL: Store Locators provides features to support retail locations. The 'Selling in person' shared Shopify category reflects that increased marketplace presence is often intended to sell more in person.
At a Glance
AR: Buy GTINs/UPC/EAN barcodes
66 reviews
MSL: Store Locators
31 reviews
Detailed Overview
AR: Buy GTINs/UPC/EAN barcodes
Buy GTINs / barcodes for your products so they are more likely to get approved in marketplaces.
Key Features
- With valid GTIN / UPC barcodes your products are more likely to get approved.
- Skip manual work and auto add new GTIN barcodes to products.
- You will receive 10 barcodes for testing.
- Non-brand registered GTINs, require no annual renewal.
- These are GTIN13 numbers (13 digits). Add a zero in front to make GTIN14.
MSL: Store Locators
List out all your offline stores in single page to help your customers to find nearby store quickly.
Key Features
- Easily add update and delete the store using bulk import method.
- Set your custom design on map using your own Custom Map styling JSON
- Clustering Feature helps you to combine markers combined into a single cluster.
- Easily search the store by different filter options in locator
- Support with all themes. Easy in installation.
Feature Comparison
| Rating | 4.9/5 | 4.8/5 |
Rating AR: Buy GTINs/UPC/EAN barcodes4.9/5 MSL: Store Locators4.8/5 | ||
| Reviews | 66 | 31 |
Reviews AR: Buy GTINs/UPC/EAN barcodes66 MSL: Store Locators31 | ||
| Primary Function | Provides GTIN/UPC/EAN barcodes for products | Creates a store locator for physical stores |
Primary Function AR: Buy GTINs/UPC/EAN barcodesProvides GTIN/UPC/EAN barcodes for products MSL: Store LocatorsCreates a store locator for physical stores | ||
| Target Audience | Merchants selling on marketplaces like Google Shopping who need GTINs but don't require brand-registered codes. | Merchants with multiple physical stores who want to help customers find nearby locations. |
Target Audience AR: Buy GTINs/UPC/EAN barcodesMerchants selling on marketplaces like Google Shopping who need GTINs but don't require brand-registered codes. MSL: Store LocatorsMerchants with multiple physical stores who want to help customers find nearby locations. | ||
| Key Feature | Bulk purchase of GTINs/UPCs | Bulk import of store locations |
Key Feature AR: Buy GTINs/UPC/EAN barcodesBulk purchase of GTINs/UPCs MSL: Store LocatorsBulk import of store locations | ||
| Value Proposition | Improved product approval and performance on online marketplaces. | Increased foot traffic to physical stores and improved customer experience. |
Value Proposition AR: Buy GTINs/UPC/EAN barcodesImproved product approval and performance on online marketplaces. MSL: Store LocatorsIncreased foot traffic to physical stores and improved customer experience. | ||
| GTIN Registration | Non-brand registered GTINs | N/A |
GTIN Registration AR: Buy GTINs/UPC/EAN barcodesNon-brand registered GTINs MSL: Store LocatorsN/A | ||
| Customization | Limited to GTIN format | Custom Map Styling JSON |
Customization AR: Buy GTINs/UPC/EAN barcodesLimited to GTIN format MSL: Store LocatorsCustom Map Styling JSON | ||
- Conversion Audit
- Speed Audit
- SEO Audit
Conversion Audit
Our Verdict
Choosing between these apps depends entirely on your business needs. If you're looking to improve your product listings on marketplaces and require GTINs, especially if you don't need brand-registered ones, then AR: Buy GTINs/UPC/EAN barcodes is the clear choice. However, if you operate physical stores and want to enhance your online presence by connecting customers to your brick-and-mortar locations, MSL: Store Locators is the more suitable option.
MSL: Store Locator is most valuable to businesses with an established retail presence, and AR: Buy GTINs is beneficial for businesses that need to list on a marketplace that requires those codes. There is no overlap in functionality, and both solve very different merchant needs.
Common Questions
Does AR: Buy GTINs/UPC/EAN barcodes provide brand-registered GTINs?
No, the GTINs provided are not brand-registered. The app description explicitly states this and advises testing with included GTINs first, especially if marketplaces like Amazon or Bol require brand registration.
Can MSL: Store Locators integrate with all Shopify themes?
The app description claims support for all themes and mentions easy installation.
Which app is easier to set up?
AR: Buy GTINs/UPC/EAN barcodes seems simpler to set up, involving primarily purchasing and assigning barcodes. MSL: Store Locators requires configuring store locations and customizing the map display, though it is described as 'easy in configuration'.
If I only sell online, which app is more useful?
AR: Buy GTINs/UPC/EAN barcodes is more useful if you only sell online and want to improve your product listings on marketplaces. MSL: Store Locators is specifically for merchants with physical storefronts.
Are the GTINs purchased from AR: Buy GTINs unique?
The app description states they sell unique barcodes from a bulk supplier.
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