This Cricut is compact, easily transportable and its sleek design means it even looks great on an office counter or worktop. It offers similar features as its rival but comes with a QWERTY keyboard so it feels more like typing on a regular laptop or phone. The problem with USB is that the labeler must always be tethered to another device, making it more difficult to move the printer around. In addition, printing devices that connect solely via USB generally limit you to printing from only the one PC they're connected to, unless you take the time to set up something to act as a print server. (You can set Windows, for example, to share any USB-connected printer, so other PCs on the network can use it.)

Although when you're buying one of the embossing models, you’ll need to factor in extra for the tape and ribbon. Bluetooth is also supported by many label printers, as is Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and Wi-Fi Direct. Ethernet and Wi-Fi, of course, make the printer available on your network, so any computer or mobile devices on the network can send it a print job—assuming the proper software is installed. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct create peer-to-peer connections between the printer and a mobile device or PC. The Brother P-touch Cube Plus is misnamed—it's more of a cube minus, shaped like half a cube at 5 by 2.6 by 5 inches (HWD). But that doesn't stop it from being a solid choice. A head-to-head competitor to Epson's LW-PX400, it offers many of the same key features, including an automatic cutter; a similar range of tape widths, from 3.5mm to 24mm (0.14 to 0.94 inch); and the ability to connect to Windows and macOS systems for printing on your desktop, or to Android and iOS devices for printing on the go. Extras for the Cube Plus include a rechargeable battery and faster speed than the LW-PX400. It's rated at 130% faster, and indeed came in faster on our testing, although the results were recorded using different generations of our test protocol, and so aren't fully comparable. Who It's For If you are specifically hoping to organize your living space, the Epson LabelWorks PX 300 Label Maker is a superb choice. As we tested, we noticed there are several preloaded fonts, and it also allows you to add customizable text styles, icons, and banners. (Plus, it comes with a lifetime warranty!) Setup: First, assembly of each label maker was completed. We timed how long it took to take the product out of the box and prepare it for use, and recorded how useful and detailed the included instructions were.It doesn’t have any major bells and whistles, but it's easy to use and does the labelling job nicely, embossing 49 different characters onto 9mm wide 3D strips.

Standard – This involves coloured toner only for simpler designs. However, the printed parts will be very slightly translucent.Our best overall is the Dymo LabelManager 280 Label Maker. It's a high-quality, handheld label maker with a full QWERTY-style keyboard, rechargeable battery, and customization options. For our best budget option, we recommend the Dymo Organizer Xpress Pro. It's a user-friendly embossing labeler with rotary-style lettering, offering a lot at a very agreeable price tag. How We Tested the Label Makers In addition to handheld options with standard QWERTY keyboards, you can also opt for a Bluetooth model that connects directly to the keyboard on your phone or computer for convenient typing. While this allows for more creative flexibility, some people prefer to use just one device—in that case, an integrated keyboard is preferable. The biggest difference? The latest version offers Bluetooth capabilities, along with a USB cable that gives you the option to print from a computer or mobile device like your phone. It still has a full QWERTY keyboard for on-the-spot printing, too, as well as a full-color screen and full QWERTY keyboard, plus an impressive selection of fonts and customizable lettering options. One of our favorite features from testing the Brother PTD600 was the ability to power it with an adapter or wirelessly with batteries, and we're happy to report that this is also available in the newer model.