One Church Check-In works with three brands of label printer: Dymo, Zebra, and Brother. All three print the same name, visitor, and security labels, so the right choice comes down to the device running your check-in station and how your check-in area is set up.
This article helps you pick a printer before you buy one. When you're ready to install it, each printer has its own setup guide, linked at the bottom of this page.
Start with your device
The quickest way to narrow the choice is to look at what will run the check-in station.
A Windows or Mac computer - use a Dymo or a Zebra. These printers plug into the computer by USB and need helper software that only runs on a computer.
An iPad, iPhone, or Android phone or tablet - use a Brother. Brother is the only printer a phone or tablet can print to directly.
Tip: You are not locked in by the device. The Prints To setting lets one station send its labels to a printer attached to another station. A tablet can print to a Dymo or Zebra on a nearby computer, and a computer can print to a Brother that belongs to a tablet. The station holding the printer must be switched on and running the check-in app. See How do I edit an existing check-in station?.
Compare the printers at a glance
| Dymo | Zebra | Brother |
Works with | Windows and Mac computers | Windows computers (recommended). Mac is possible but technical. | iPad, iPhone, and Android phones and tablets |
Connects by | USB cable to the computer | USB cable to the computer | Wi-Fi (recommended) or Bluetooth |
Supported models | LabelWriter 450 and 550, including Turbo. We recommend the 550 Turbo. | ZD models recommended. Also GX420d, GK420t, ZQ510, ZD420/421, ZD620/621, and ZQ320. | QL-710W, QL-720NW, QL-810W, and QL-820NWB |
Labels | Large White Shipping Labels, 2 5/16" x 4" | 3" x 2" direct thermal labels | 62mm continuous roll (DK-2205) only, about 2.4" tall |
What you install | DYMO Connect | The Zebra driver and QZ Tray (which may ask you to install Java) | Nothing extra. Setup is guided inside the check-in app. |
Does not work | Third-party labels on the LabelWriter 550 | LP2844Z and ZSB Series | QL-1100 series, die-cut rolls, and the sample roll in the box |
Strengths and trade-offs
Dymo
Works well when:
You want the fewest pieces to install on a computer. One program, DYMO Connect, is all it needs.
Your church uses Macs. Dymo runs on Mac with its own software, unlike Zebra.
You like knowing when a roll is running low. The LabelWriter 550 reports how many labels are left, and the station shows the count.
Keep in mind:
It only works with a computer station. A tablet has to send its labels to that computer using Prints To.
The LabelWriter 550 only prints on Dymo-brand labels with the RFID chip in the core. Plan your label budget around that.
Plug the printer into the same USB port every time. Switching ports can create duplicate copies of the printer on the computer.
Install DYMO Connect only. Having more than one Dymo program installed causes problems.
Zebra
Works well when:
You already own a Zebra, since most Zebra desktop models are supported.
Your stations run on Windows, where Zebra is supported by its official driver.
You want a smaller label. Zebra uses 3" x 2" labels.
Keep in mind:
Setup has three parts: the Zebra driver, a printer name that contains the word Zebra, and QZ Tray running on the same computer. The station's Settings > Printer page has a checklist that shows which part is missing.
On a Mac, Zebra has no official driver. You have to install CUPS instead, which is technical, and labels print at lower quality. We recommend Windows for Zebra wherever possible.
If QZ Tray's certificate expires, you'll need to reinstall the latest version.
If a Dymo and a Zebra are plugged into the same computer, the station uses the Dymo.
Brother
Works well when:
Your stations are iPads or tablets, including self-check-in kiosks.
You want a wireless printer that can sit anywhere on your Wi-Fi, with no cable back to a computer.
You need a mobile check-in table. Brother printers can run from a portable battery.
You want setup handled inside the app. A guided flow finds the printer, checks the roll, and prints a test label.
Keep in mind:
The printer and the tablet must be on the same Wi-Fi network, and Brother printers only join 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. A tablet on the guest network and a printer on the staff network can't see each other.
A Brother printer accepts one connection at a time. Give each tablet its own printer rather than pointing two stations at the same one.
The printer's address can change after a router restart. Ask whoever manages your network to give it a reserved IP address.
Only the 62mm continuous roll (DK-2205) works, so stock up on that roll specifically.
The printer choice is saved on the device itself. Using Reset Station clears it, and you'll need to set the printer up again.
Which setup fits your church?
One welcome desk or kids desk with a computer
A Dymo is usually the shortest path. If you already own a Zebra and the desk runs Windows, a Zebra works well too. Both connect by USB, so the printer doesn't depend on your Wi-Fi.
Your church uses Macs only
Choose a Dymo, or run check-in on tablets with a Brother. Avoid Zebra on a Mac unless someone on your team is comfortable with the CUPS setup in How do I install CUPS for Zebra printer support on Mac?.
Self-check-in kiosks on iPads or tablets
Pair each tablet with its own Brother printer. If you would rather keep one printer at a staffed desk, set the tablets' Prints To to a computer station with a Dymo or Zebra. That computer then needs to stay on and running the check-in app during every service.
Mobile or pop-up check-in
For events like VBS, an outdoor service, or an overflow table, a Brother on a portable battery paired with a tablet is the most portable setup. Make sure the printer and tablet can both reach the same 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network at that location.
Your Wi-Fi is split into several networks
If your building has separate guest, staff, or 5 GHz networks, a computer with a USB Dymo or Zebra avoids Wi-Fi setup for the printer entirely. If you choose Brother, confirm both devices share a 2.4 GHz network before your first event.
You already own printers from more than one brand
Mixing brands is fine. Each station uses the printer attached to it, and labels built in the label designer print on all three brands. See the next section before assigning labels.
Labels work on every printer
Labels you design at Events > Check-In > Labels print on Dymo, Zebra, and Brother printers alike, so you only need one design for each type of label. See How do I design a custom check-in label?.
Older, printer-specific labels are different. They only print on the brand they were written for, so a Dymo label assigned to an event will not print at a Brother station. If your church uses more than one brand, rebuilding those older labels in the label designer avoids this.
Tip: Whichever printer you choose, test every check-in station before your first event, and confirm labels actually print.
Other Helpful Articles
Setting up
Labels and troubleshooting