Backfeed vs ZPL Viewer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Backfeed
This app helps manage and print labels using Zebra thermal printers. It offers automatic network discovery, printer setup, and live status monitoring. Local printing of PDFs and images is available with a one-time unlock, while cloud printing from anywhere requires a subscription.
- Automatic Zebra printer discovery
- Printer setup via Bluetooth or IP
- Live printer status monitoring
- Custom label size management
- Test printing and diagnostics
- Local PDF/image printing
- Remote printing via cloud subscription
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Print 4x6 shipping labels and your own PDFs and images from your Mac, iPhone or iPad straight to a Zebra thermal printer. You don't need a driver. Backfeed also sets up, calibrates and troubleshoots the printer, and that part is free. FREE, WITH NO ACCOUNT • Add a Printer walks you through it: it finds Zebra ZD printers on your network, sets up a new one over Bluetooth and puts it on your Wi-Fi, or adds one by its address • Shows live status: ready, out of paper, head open, paused • Calibrates to the labels you have loaded, and reads the label size from the printer's gap sensor • Print Settings: darkness, print speed, tear off or peel off, and media type, with Undo • A test label that fits the labels you have loaded: edge marks and a ruler show whether it's lined up, a solid band shows print quality, and it lists the printer's model, connection, firmware and settings in plain words • Fixes common problems: clears stuck jobs, reboots the printer, resets print geometry settings with one tap, switches a printer back to ZPL, and restores printer defaults while keeping Wi-Fi • For technicians: an advanced console for raw ZPL and SGD commands BACKFEED LOCAL: ONE-TIME PURCHASE Print your own files over your local network, for good. • Open a PDF or image in Backfeed, use Open With, or drag it onto the Mac window • A 4x6 label PDF from your shipping software prints at full size on a 4x6 label • A letter-size page with a 4x6 label on it prints just the label, at full size • The preview shows exactly what the print head will print, at your label's size • It needs no account, and nothing leaves your network BACKFEED CLOUD: SUBSCRIPTION Print to your printers from anywhere. • The printer connects out to the Backfeed relay, so you don't need a VPN or port forwarding • Includes everything in Backfeed Local, for as long as you subscribe • Plans for 1 printer, 5 printers, or up to 25 • 14-day free trial for eligible new subscribers • Export or delete your cloud data from inside the app ONE PURCHASE, EVERY DEVICE Backfeed runs natively on Mac, iPhone and iPad. Backfeed Local and Backfeed Cloud are Universal Purchases: buy once and use them on every device signed in to the same Apple Account. NO ANALYTICS, ADS OR TRACKING Backfeed ships no analytics SDK, no advertising and no third-party trackers. SUPPORTED PRINTERS Zebra ZD410, ZD411 and ZD421 network printers with direct thermal labels. Bluetooth setup works on models that have Bluetooth. Automatic discovery needs your device and printer on the same network; otherwise add it by its address, or use Backfeed Cloud. TERMS AND PRIVACY Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Backfeed Terms of Service: https://backfeed.cloud/terms Privacy Policy: https://backfeed.cloud/privacy Backfeed Cloud is an auto-renewing subscription. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase, and renews automatically unless it is cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel your subscription in your Apple Account settings. Backfeed is an independent app for managing Zebra thermal label printers. Zebra and ZD are trademarks of their respective owners; Backfeed is not affiliated with Zebra Technologies.
ZPL Viewer
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ZPL Viewer – View, Edit & Preview Zebra Labels Easily Need a fast, reliable, and convenient way to open, preview, and edit ZPL files on your iPhone or iPad? ZPL Viewer is the essential tool for warehouse operators, e-commerce sellers, logistics professionals, and developers working with thermal print labels and Zebra Programming Language (ZPL). Whether you are handling Amazon FBA carton tags, USPS shipping labels, inventory barcodes, or custom warehouse manifests, ZPL Viewer brings clarity and speed to your label workflow. Key Features Instant Visual Preview: Render ZPL code into clear, high-resolution label previews instantly. Code & Live Editor: View raw ZPL code, tweak elements like text, position (^FO), fonts (^CF), or barcodes (^BC), and save changes on the fly. Smart File Filter: Easily organize and filter your file library by format (ZPL, LBL, TXT, or All). Seamless File Import: Import ZPL files effortlessly from Files, iCloud, or external storage. Built-in Search: Quickly locate any stored label or manifest by name. Sample Files Included: Test features immediately with free built-in label samples. Perfect For: E-commerce & Sellers: Amazon FBA, eBay, Etsy, and Shopify shipping label validation. Logistics & Warehousing: Warehouse pallet manifests, hazmat chemical warnings, and inventory tracking. Developers & Designers: Debugging and prototyping ZPL code without needing physical Zebra thermal printers. Simplify your label workflow today. Download ZPL Viewer and check your Zebra labels anywhere! Subscription Plans: Weekly Pass: $2.99 / week — Unlimited access for 7 days. Monthly Pass: $4.99 / month — Flexible month-to-month access. Yearly Pass: $19.99 / year — Best value (Save 70%). Legal & Support Links: Terms of Service: https://codigitalsolutions.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://codigitalsolutions.com/privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Backfeed at 17.0 against ZPL Viewer's 26.5. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Backfeed sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and ZPL Viewer sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
| Parameter | Backfeed | ZPL Viewer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 — better | 26.5 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 5 MB | 8 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Robert Owens | CODIGITAL SOLUTIONS |
In-app purchases
Backfeed
- Cloud — 1 Printer14 Days trial$3.991 Month
- Cloud — 5 Printers14 Days trial$15.991 Month
- Cloud Pro14 Days trial$39.991 Month
- Backfeed Local$9.99
ZPL Viewer
- Pro Access$2.997 Days
- Pro Access$4.991 Month
- Pro Access$19.991 Year








