Choosing to implement ID cards into your business is always a good idea and offers a range of benefits. Whether you’re doing it to improve staff morale, add more security, manage visitors and contractors, or boost your marketing – businesses benefit from ID cards and all steps of the process, including software.

The technology and services included in ID card production software have moved from simply designing a template and printing. ID card software provides customizable templates for your card designs and can also help add variable data via barcodes, smart card chips and magnetic strips, and a database of information collected from the ID cards.

Quality software will even have biometric options that capture personalised information like signatures and fingerprints and are completely compatible with webcams and digital cameras.

Deciding on the best ID card software for your business needs is a decision that will help you get the best out of your ID card system in the workplace and will allow your identity solution to grow alongside your business.

We have listed the various options available when choosing ID card printing software. Each type of software is available in different tiers based on your business size – so remember to check depending on your requirements.

EasyBadge software

As the name suggests, EasyBadge is ID card software designed to make the production process easier. With options of Lite, Professional and Enterprise – all of which are upgradable as your business grows – you can choose an edition that suits your business. EasyBadge is a trusted software for businesses large and small. 

One of the key reasons EasyBadge is so popular is that it’s full of high-quality features that provide professional service at an affordable price. It is incredibly user-friendly and can be used by beginners and experts alike. EasyBadge offers 24/7 support and takes the hassle out of photo capture and data transfer. The software is compatible with Windows software, and the app can be used on both iPhone and Android devices.

EasyBadge Lite

EasyBadge Lite is the entry-level of the ID card software and is ideal for small to medium-sized businesses, as it provides enough details for a business to manage a high-quality ID card system whilst still being affordable.

This ID card software allows you to record up to 100 ID cards on a single database. 

Use variable barcodes on your design, batch print your plastic cards connect with an existing database, and magnetic coding with your ID cards (to improve your security within the workplace), to name a few. EasyBadge Lite also offers a web print service, a free mobile app, and a badge design wizard, which makes it easy to design professional quality card designs and ensures the system works via both printed ID cards and digitally on the mobile app.

EasyBadge Professional

The EasyBadge Professional package offers everything the Lite edition offers and more. This upgraded software allows for an unlimited number of records and databases.

As your business grows, EasyBadge can grow with you, and the increased number of ID cards and database records provide you with greater detail and data gathering on your team. This helps you manage and understand your business better. 

EasyBadge Enterprise

Enterprise is the top-tier package in the EasyBadge range and offers everything EasyBadge Professional does, including unlimited records and databases. EasyBadge Enterprise offers MIFARE® encoding as an extra, ideal for those who need specific encoding for their access control systems. 

MIFARE® is a type of RFID (radio frequency identification) that provides contactless access. This provides real-time insights, data-gathering, and speed of use.

By choosing this option, you are futureproofing your business and increasing security. 

CardPresso Software

CardPresso offers a five-tiered set of options depending on the size of your business, each of which is packed with features and options. CardPresso is an affordable ID card software compatible with Windows and Mac and offers online help and support.

CardPresso XXS

CardPresso XXS is the basic option of CardPresso. It offers all the features you’d expect from card design software, including printing using predefined templates, signature acquisition, 1D barcodes and magnetic encoding.

The XXS package offers a full setup on a USB key, USB key protection, a PDF digital manual, card templates, clipart, and shapes. It also has a template browser, 1D barcodes, a built-in image editor, image effects, import images from clipart, open images from files and Signature acquisition. 

CardPresso XXS is ideal for small businesses looking to implement a new ID card system. 

CardPresso XS 

CardPresso XS offers the same features as XXS but with the inclusion of using variable QR codes. It also improves the database capabilities by offering XLS, XLSX, CSV and TXT files and flexibility with database creation and editing.
XS is a simple software for small companies with occasional need for card printing.

CardPresso XM

CardPresso XM is the middle option within the CardPresso software range. Ideal for medium-sized businesses and organisations like schools. This upgrade to the software manages regular card printing as its most noticeable feature as it is capable of batch printing.

XM adds local MS Access and SQLite connection, photos saved on your database, FaceCrop tool for face recognition and 2D barcodes.

CardPresso XL

CardPresso XL is ideal for larger companies such as universities and hospitals. XL offers signature acquisition, ODBC connection, RFID contactless direct encoding, smart card direct encoding, smart card plug-ins, internal and external RFID encoder support, fingerprint acquisition, multi-layout card designs, auto-print, and user allowances, to name a few.

CardPresso XXL 

The top tier option in the CardPresso range, the XXL edition adds advanced features like DESFire, Web Print Server and a net license of up to 16 computers in the same sub-net and scope. CardPresso XXL is designed for high security and efficiency and is ideal for banking, police and governments, among other organisations.

CardExchange

CardExchange Producer ID card is one of the most popular ID card design and production software available. There are 5 tiers available, all designed with your business needs in mind. 

This ID card production software is compatible with Windows.

The five tiers are Go, Premium, Professional, Business and Enterprise, and each offers an increasing number of features based on individual requirements.

CardExchange GO

Cost-effective and easy to use, CardExchange GO comes with a built-in card design wizard to enable you to quickly and easily create and print ID cards and badges. This is ideal for smaller businesses and organisations. 

CardExchange GO offers multiple languages, a local licence, a card template manager, template migration tools, sample card templates, a card design wizard, manual data entry, and import and export templates.

This version of ID card software prints standard-size (CR-80) cards and can hold up to 5 card templates. 

CardExchange Premium

The most popular version of CardExchange Producer, the Premium edition, allows unlimited card templates and enables you to connect to external databases with unlimited records.

This version of CardExchange updates the previous version and adds grouping of templates and automation of manual insert actions. 

The most popular improvement is that the Premium option can create all sizes of ID cards and holds unlimited created card templates.

CardExchange Professional 

The Professional edition brings increased database connectivity by supporting SQL and Oracle databases and allows for the storage of photos and images in your database.

The focus on databases and managing information is the choice for established medium to large businesses.

CardExchange Professional offers all the features of the previous options and adds unlimited layouts per template.

CardExchange Business

You will need the Business edition for chip and contactless card encoding, including MIFARE® Classic.

The penultimate tier of CardExchange ID card software adds unlimited access to all the available functions of CardExchange and unlimited database server connections.

CardExchange Business offers MIFARE encoding, a radio frequency ID card. This technology is ideal for larger businesses that use access control systems and can be managed in real-time.

CardExchange Enterprise

With all the features of previous editions plus MIFARE® DESFire EV1 and MIFARE® SAM AV2 encoding, active directory read/write (LDAP), CardExchange Enterprise is available as a local or network license.

CardExchange Producer Enterprise allows you to use Python Scripting Language to customize parts of the software unique to your business if required.

Enterprise is the top tier of CardExchange ID card software. It is ideal for large businesses focusing on professionalism, up-to-date technology and future-proofed ID cards. 

What to look for when choosing ID card software

The primary consideration of choosing ID Card Software is that it is suitable for your business and easy to use. Whether you choose EasyBadge, CardPresso or CardExchange, you must ensure that it fits within your business growth plans and that it is compatible with your existing system and printer. 

ID cards help make business more efficient and secure – it is important that the software you use continues these two principles. The software needs to be easy to use and will continue to be effective as your business moves forward.

For more information on what software is best for your requirements, please get in touch with a member of our expert team. We’ll be happy to help!