Looking for a free shipping label generator that works for Indian couriers?
Most shipping software charges monthly fees - Rs 500 to Rs 5000+ per month. That's a significant cost for small sellers shipping 10-50 packages daily.
The good news: you can create professional shipping labels for free. In this guide, I'll compare the best free options for Indian e-commerce sellers and help you choose the right one.
Quick Comparison: Free Label Generators
| Tool | Truly Free | Barcode | Multiple Templates | Works Offline | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edesy | Yes | Yes | 4 styles | Partial | Small-medium sellers |
| Canva | Partial | No | Many | No | Design-focused sellers |
| Shiprocket | No (Free trial) | Yes | Limited | No | High-volume sellers |
| Delhivery Portal | Yes (contract) | Yes | 1 | No | Delhivery users only |
| Word/Excel | Yes | No | DIY | Yes | Very low volume |
| Google Docs | Yes | No | DIY | Partial | Occasional shipping |
| AfterShip | Partial | No | Limited | No | International sellers |
Let's look at each option in detail.
1. Edesy Shipping Label Generator
Website: shiplabels.edesy.in
Overview
Edesy's shipping label generator is built specifically for Indian sellers. It's completely free, requires no signup, and generates professional labels with barcodes in seconds.
Features
- 4 professional templates - Courier, Classic, Minimal, Branded
- Auto-generated barcodes - Unique for each shipment
- AWB number generation - Based on order ID and PIN
- Real-time preview - See label as you type
- Instant PDF download - Print-ready A6 format
- No signup required - Start immediately
- Mobile friendly - Works on phones and tablets
Templates Available
- Professional Courier - Industry standard with barcode
- Classic Traditional - Elegant, decorative design
- Minimal Clean - Modern, simple layout
- Bold Branded - Vibrant, colorful design
Pricing
Completely free for basic use. No hidden limits.
Pros
- Truly free with no trial period
- Multiple template options
- Barcode generation included
- Works with all Indian couriers
- No account needed
Cons
- Manual entry (no order import)
- No bulk generation yet
- No tracking integration
Best For
Small to medium sellers (5-100 packages/day) who want professional labels without monthly fees.
2. Canva
Website: canva.com
Overview
Canva is a design tool with shipping label templates. It's not built for shipping specifically, but you can create custom labels with your branding.
Features
- Thousands of design templates
- Drag-and-drop editor
- Custom branding options
- Team collaboration
- Export as PDF/PNG
Pricing
- Free tier - Limited templates and features
- Pro - Rs 500/month (more templates, features)
Pros
- Maximum design flexibility
- Great for branded packaging
- Easy to use interface
Cons
- No barcode generation
- No shipping-specific fields
- Time-consuming for each label
- Not practical for daily shipping
Best For
Sellers who want highly customized, branded labels for special shipments or marketing materials.
3. Shiprocket
Website: shiprocket.in
Overview
Shiprocket is India's largest shipping aggregator. While it's a paid service, it offers automatic label generation from your orders.
Features
- Multi-courier integration
- Automatic label generation
- Order import from Shopify/WooCommerce
- Tracking dashboard
- Rate comparison
Pricing
- No free tier - Pay per shipment
- Shipping charges: Rs 25-100+ per shipment
- Additional platform fees may apply
Pros
- Automated workflow
- Multiple couriers in one place
- Good for scaling
Cons
- Not actually free
- Overkill for small sellers
- Per-shipment costs add up
Best For
Medium to large sellers (100+ packages/day) who need automation and don't mind per-shipment costs.
4. Delhivery Partner Portal
Website: partners.delhivery.com
Overview
If you have a business account with Delhivery, you can generate labels through their partner portal.
Features
- Official Delhivery label format
- Integrated AWB generation
- Pickup scheduling
- Tracking integration
- COD management
Pricing
Free for Delhivery partners (shipping charges apply separately).
Pros
- Official format for Delhivery
- Integrated tracking
- No additional label cost
Cons
- Only works for Delhivery shipments
- Requires business contract
- Minimum volume requirements
- Can't use for other couriers
Best For
Sellers exclusively using Delhivery with regular volume.
5. Microsoft Word/Excel Templates
Overview
The DIY approach - create labels manually in Word or Excel using templates.
How It Works
- Download a shipping label template
- Fill in sender/recipient details
- Print and cut to size
Pricing
Free (if you have Microsoft Office)
Pros
- Completely free
- Works offline
- Full customization control
Cons
- Very time-consuming
- No barcode generation
- Inconsistent formatting
- Error-prone manual entry
- Not scalable
Best For
Very occasional shipping (1-5 packages per month) or when you need a backup method.
6. Google Docs/Sheets
Overview
Similar to Word/Excel but cloud-based and truly free.
How It Works
- Create a label template in Google Docs
- Duplicate for each shipment
- Fill in details and print
Pricing
Free with Google account
Pros
- 100% free
- Accessible anywhere
- Shareable with team
Cons
- Same limitations as Word
- No shipping-specific features
- Manual and slow
- No barcode
Best For
Sellers who already use Google Workspace and ship occasionally.
7. AfterShip Shipping Label Template
Website: aftership.com/tools/shipping-label-template
Overview
AfterShip offers a free label template tool, primarily designed for international shipping.
Features
- Basic label generation
- Multiple size options
- PDF download
Pricing
Free tier available with limitations.
Pros
- Simple interface
- International shipping focus
Cons
- Limited customization
- No barcode for free tier
- Not optimized for Indian formats
- Limited templates
Best For
Sellers doing international shipping who already use AfterShip.
Feature Comparison Table
| Feature | Edesy | Canva | Shiprocket | Delhivery | Word |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Forever | Yes | Partial | No | Yes* | Yes |
| No Signup | Yes | No | No | No | Yes |
| Barcode | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Multiple Templates | 4 | Many | Few | 1 | DIY |
| Indian Format | Yes | DIY | Yes | Yes | DIY |
| Mobile App | Web | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Bulk Print | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Order Import | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
*Requires business contract
Which Free Tool Should You Choose?
Choose Edesy If:
- You want free labels with no signup
- You need professional templates
- Barcodes are important to you
- You ship 5-100 packages daily
- You use multiple couriers
Choose Canva If:
- Brand design is priority
- You're doing one-time branded packaging
- You have design skills
- Barcodes aren't needed
Choose Shiprocket If:
- You ship 100+ packages daily
- Automation is worth paying for
- You need multi-courier management
- Order import is essential
Choose Delhivery Portal If:
- You only use Delhivery
- You have a business contract
- Official format is required
Choose Word/Google Docs If:
- You ship less than 5 packages monthly
- You need a backup method
- Cost is the only consideration
Why Most "Free" Tools Aren't Really Free
Many shipping label tools advertise as "free" but have hidden catches:
1. Free Trial Only
Tools like Shiprocket offer free trials, then charge per shipment or monthly fees.
2. Feature Limits
Free tiers often remove essential features like barcodes, multiple templates, or PDF export.
3. Volume Limits
Some tools cap free usage at 10-20 labels per month.
4. Account Required
Most require signup with email, phone, and business verification.
What Makes Edesy Different
- Actually free - No trial period, no hidden fees
- No signup - Start generating labels immediately
- All features included - Barcodes, templates, PDF export
- No volume limits - Create as many labels as you need
How to Get Started with Free Label Generation
Step 1: Assess Your Needs
- How many packages do you ship daily?
- Do you need barcodes?
- Is branding important?
- What's your budget (if any)?
Step 2: Try Before Committing
Most free tools let you try without signup. Test with a few labels:
- Try Edesy - Professional templates with barcode
- Try Word/Docs - If you prefer DIY
Step 3: Choose Based on Results
Pick the tool that:
- Creates labels fastest
- Looks most professional
- Works with your printer
- Fits your workflow
Printing Tips for Free Label Tools
Paper Recommendations
| Paper Type | Best For | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Thermal stickers | High volume, self-adhesive | Rs 2-3/label |
| Regular A4 | Low cost, cut to size | Rs 0.5-1/label |
| Sticker paper | Medium volume, easy application | Rs 1.5-2/label |
Printer Settings
- Quality: Normal or Draft (saves ink)
- Size: A6 (4x6 inches) or actual size
- Margins: Minimal/None
- Color: Black & white works for most
Cutting Tips
If using A4 paper:
- Print 4 labels per page
- Use paper cutter for clean edges
- Clear tape to attach to package
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a completely free shipping label generator?
Yes! Edesy's shipping label generator is completely free with no signup, limits, or hidden fees.
Can I generate barcodes for free?
Edesy's Professional Courier template generates barcodes automatically at no cost. Most other free tools don't include barcode generation.
Which free tool works with Delhivery?
All free label generators work with Delhivery - they don't check or limit which courier you use. Edesy's labels include all information Delhivery requires.
Can I print labels from my phone?
Yes, most free tools work in mobile browsers. Generate the PDF and print via:
- Bluetooth thermal printer
- Cloud print (Google Cloud Print alternative)
- Save and print from computer later
How many labels can I generate for free?
With Edesy, there's no limit. Generate as many labels as you need. Some other tools limit free users to 10-50 labels per month.
Do I need to download software?
No. The best free tools work entirely in your web browser. No downloads, installations, or updates needed.
Conclusion
For most Indian e-commerce sellers, here's my recommendation:
| Your Situation | Best Free Option |
|---|---|
| Starting out (under 10/day) | Edesy or Word templates |
| Growing (10-100/day) | Edesy |
| Scaling (100+/day) | Consider Shiprocket (paid) |
| Delhivery only | Delhivery Portal |
| Design focus | Canva |
Start with Edesy - it's free, requires no signup, and creates professional labels with barcodes in seconds.
When you're shipping 100+ packages daily and need automation (order import, bulk print), consider upgrading to a paid solution like Shiprocket.
But for most small and medium sellers, free tools are more than enough to create professional shipping labels.
Ready to create your first label?
Try Edesy Free - No signup, no fees, professional results.
Or explore our template options to find your style.