AR: Buy GTINs/UPC/EAN barcodes vs SKUGenfor Shopify (2026)
AR: Buy GTINs/UPC/EAN barcodes and SKUGen both address barcode management on Shopify, but cater to different merchant needs. AR: Buy GTINs is primarily positioned as a solution for acquiring GTINs/UPCs to improve product approval and performance on marketplaces like Google Shopping. Its strength lies in its simplicity and focus on providing barcodes, while acknowledging limitations related to brand registration. SKUGen, on the other hand, is a more comprehensive SKU and barcode management tool. It's designed for stores with growing catalogs that require automated SKU generation, custom label printing, and duplicate protection. The key difference is that AR: Buy GTINs offers a way to *obtain* GTINs, whereas SKUGen offers tools to *manage* and *generate* SKUs and barcodes (including GTINs, UPCs, EANs and Code 128) based on product data and also print labels. AR: Buy GTINs is valuable for merchants needing to quickly acquire barcodes for marketplace compliance, while SKUGen is beneficial for merchants seeking a robust system to organize their product data and streamline labeling processes.
At a Glance
AR: Buy GTINs/UPC/EAN barcodes
66 reviews
SKUGen
54 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.
SKUGen
SKU Generator, print retail barcode labels, custom product label printing and duplicate protection.
Key Features
- Automatic and bulk SKU generation with prefixes, suffixes and duplicate checks
- Bulk barcode generation (GTIN, UPC, EAN, Code 128)
- Retail barcode labels with custom templates, layouts, sizes and images
- Print labels from Shopify products, variants or CSV files, including Stocky
- QR codes, Liquid label templates, Automatic SKU generation upon product creation
Feature Comparison
| Rating | 4.9/5 | 4.2/5 |
Rating AR: Buy GTINs/UPC/EAN barcodes4.9/5 SKUGen4.2/5 | ||
| Reviews | 66 | 54 |
Reviews AR: Buy GTINs/UPC/EAN barcodes66 SKUGen54 | ||
| Core Function | Buying GTINs/UPCs | SKU & Barcode Management, Label Printing |
Core Function AR: Buy GTINs/UPC/EAN barcodesBuying GTINs/UPCs SKUGenSKU & Barcode Management, Label Printing | ||
| GTIN Management | Provides GTINs (non-brand registered) | Generates GTINs, UPCs, EANs and Code128 |
GTIN Management AR: Buy GTINs/UPC/EAN barcodesProvides GTINs (non-brand registered) SKUGenGenerates GTINs, UPCs, EANs and Code128 | ||
| Label Printing | No Label Printing Features | Customizable retail barcode label printing |
Label Printing AR: Buy GTINs/UPC/EAN barcodesNo Label Printing Features SKUGenCustomizable retail barcode label printing | ||
| Target Merchant | Merchants needing quick GTINs for marketplace approval | Merchants with growing catalogs needing SKU/barcode management & label printing |
Target Merchant AR: Buy GTINs/UPC/EAN barcodesMerchants needing quick GTINs for marketplace approval SKUGenMerchants with growing catalogs needing SKU/barcode management & label printing | ||
| Ease of Use | Likely simpler due to focused functionality | Potentially steeper learning curve due to broader feature set |
Ease of Use AR: Buy GTINs/UPC/EAN barcodesLikely simpler due to focused functionality SKUGenPotentially steeper learning curve due to broader feature set | ||
| Value Proposition | Easy GTIN acquisition for marketplace compliance | Comprehensive SKU/barcode management and label creation solution |
Value Proposition AR: Buy GTINs/UPC/EAN barcodesEasy GTIN acquisition for marketplace compliance SKUGenComprehensive SKU/barcode management and label creation solution | ||
Our Verdict
For merchants primarily concerned with quickly obtaining GTINs/UPCs to satisfy marketplace requirements, especially if brand registration isn't a necessity, AR: Buy GTINs/UPC/EAN barcodes appears to be the more straightforward choice, based on its higher rating and focused functionality. The inclusion of test barcodes allows merchants to evaluate the fit before committing further.
If, however, the merchant requires a complete SKU and barcode management system, including automatic SKU generation, custom label printing, and duplicate protection, SKUGen is the better option. Its broader functionality caters to businesses with larger catalogs and complex inventory needs, even if the rating is marginally lower.
Common Questions
Which app is better for selling on Google Shopping?
Both can help, but AR: Buy GTINs provides the actual GTINs often required. SKUGen can generate GTINs but assumes you have a source for valid number ranges. SKUGen facilitates barcode creation using GTIN ranges the merchant provides.
Can I print labels with AR: Buy GTINs/UPC/EAN barcodes?
No, AR: Buy GTINs focuses on providing GTINs/UPCs and does not offer label printing capabilities.
Which app handles duplicate SKUs?
SKUGen includes duplicate SKU checking functionality as part of its SKU generation feature.
Are the GTINs from AR: Buy GTINs/UPC/EAN barcodes brand registered?
No, the description explicitly states that the GTINs are *not* brand registered and may not work on marketplaces requiring brand registration (like Amazon & Bol).
Can I create custom label templates with either app?
Only SKUGen offers customizable label templates. AR: Buy GTINs does not provide label printing functionality.
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