logo
logo
  • Home
  • Power Sources and Cables
  • Phones
  • Office Tech
  • Smart Home Devices
  • Wearable Tech
  • Rising Tech
  • Office Tech

The Best Barcode Scanners to Streamline Workflows

Rising Tech Review Team
Written By Rising Tech Review Team
Last updated: Apr 24, 2025, 05:09 PM
Affiliate Disclosure ↓
Barcode scanner

A barcode scanner is a must-have device for warehouses, convenience stores, supermarkets, libraries, and other businesses. It makes it easy to check inventory and get prices quickly when the customer is at checkout. Barcode scanners come with different features aimed at making work easier for you. Here’s our list of the best barcode scanners in 2025 you should consider.

View all Contents
  • Best Barcode Scanners Buying Guide
    • What Is a Barcode Scanner?
    • Why Do You Need a Barcode Scanner?
    • Things to Consider When Buying a Barcode Scanner
    • Barcode Scanner Price Range
    • How We Choose the Best Barcode Scanner
  • People Also Asked
  • Your Trust, Our Core Commitment
  • Contributors
  • Related Reads

Our Top Picks of Barcode Scanners

  • NADAMOO Wireless Barcode Scanner: Best Overall (Shop Now) →
    Read more about this barcode scanners ↓
  • Tera D5100 Barcode Scanner: Runner Up (Shop Now) →
    Read more about this barcode scanners ↓
  • WoneNice USB Laser Barcode Scanner: Honorable Mention (Shop Now) →
    Read more about this barcode scanners ↓
  • Fangtek Handheld USB Barcode Scanner: Most Convenient (Shop Now) →
    Read more about this barcode scanners ↓
  • Inateck Bluetooth Barcode Scanner: Also Consider (Shop Now) →
    Read more about this barcode scanners ↓

Detailing the Best Barcode Scanners of 2025

NADAMOO Wireless Barcode Scanner

Best Overall
image
Check On Amazon

This barcode scanner comes with a receiver that allows data to be transmitted wirelessly to either one or multiple recipients. The best barcode scanner can transmit to a distance of 400m in open air and 100m in a room.

Product Pros
  • Receiver is plug and play
  • Long-distant wireless transmission mode
Product Cons
  • Can’t read 2D barcode and barcode under plastic or foil paper.

Tera D5100 Barcode Scanner

Runner Up
image
Check On Amazon

The D5100 is another great offering from Tera Store. Like their Pro model, this one also boasts a plug-n-play operation. It does not require any additional software or drivers. You simply have to plug it in, and it’s ready to use. It comes with a USB cable for wired connectivity and a wireless connector when you want to go hands-free. 

This barcode scanner features a sturdy, anti-shock silicon construction that is IP54-rated for water and dust proofing. The handle is thoughtfully curved and extended, and the mug is pretty ergonomic for long-time use. It is equipped with a 2,000 mAh battery and also incorporates a battery level indicator for added convenience. 

Product Pros
  • Durable and accurate 
  • Supports up to 25 different languages 
  • Delivers over 40 hours of continuous scanning
Product Cons
  • Customers complain about receiving defective units 

WoneNice USB Laser Barcode Scanner

Honorable Mention
image
Check On Amazon

The scanner allows for easy connectivity with all devices. It’s compatible with Windows, Linux, and Mac and operates with Excel, Word, Novell, and others. The best barcode scanner operates using the visible laser light of 650 – 670nm wavelength.

Product Pros
  • Durable anti-shock design
  • Easy and comfortable to use
Product Cons
  • Can’t connect with devices without a full USB port.

Fangtek Handheld USB Barcode Scanner

Most Convenient
image
Check On Amazon

This barcode scanner is ideal for use in a wide range of places where barcodes may be hidden under plastic, wrinkled, scratched, or under direct sunlight. The best barcode scanner has quick successive scanning that moves to the next cell with each scan.

Product Pros
  • Can read low quality barcodes
  • High scanning speed of 200times/sec
Product Cons
  • Isn’t easy to program

Inateck Bluetooth Barcode Scanner

Also Consider
image
Check On Amazon

The scanner comes with a great battery that allows for 15 days of use when on a full charge. The best barcode scanner is easy to set up and use.

Product Pros
  • Prolonged connection distance of 35m
  • Strong recognition ability
Product Cons
  • Bluetooth may sometimes un-pair itself.

Best Barcode Scanners Buying Guide

Barcode scanners are useful for many different reasons, though they’re mainly seen in counters for shops and malls. They’re still widely used today for the recording of products and are vital to the buying and selling of many goods. Whether you’re looking to buy one for your business or for personal purposes, we have a guide to help you find the best barcode scanners out there.

What Is a Barcode Scanner?

Barcode scanners, as their name implies, are special types of scanners that read a code of lines, known commonly as a barcode. Barcode scanners are typically used to record purchases at shops and malls and are vital to those businesses to more easily track transactions.

Why Do You Need a Barcode Scanner?

Here are some reasons why barcode scanners are vital to many businesses even to this day.

They manage inventory

By far, the most popular reason as to why they’re used is because barcode scanners make inventory management much easier. In this day and age, most modern shops and markets use barcodes to record the outflow of products in the form of purchases. Before barcode scanners, businesses had to manually track every item that they bought and sold, which was taxing and prone to human error, which happened often.

The introduction of barcodes made inventory management a breeze. With a simple scan, the market’s internal database is updated, letting it record transactions in real time. This eliminates human error from the equation while also letting the computer do the tiresome and mundane work of counting inventory.

They’re convenient and easy to use

Barcode scanners are incredibly easy to use, and even first-time employees can get the hang of using them after a few tries. Most products come with barcodes that are easily scanned by the scanner, and the scanning process takes no more than a second. Some models even allow you to bring the scanner directly to the product for easier scanning. This allows your employees to handle more customers at once, which can improve your operations and efficiency overall.

Things to Consider When Buying a Barcode Scanner

While all barcode scanners do pretty much the same thing, there are differences between them, and you’ll want to consider these differences before buying one.

Scanning method

Barcode scanners are made with different scanning methods, and different scanning methods may appeal to different people. For example, some scanners require direct contact with the barcode so that they can recognize it. This can be useful for items with flat surfaces, but it is more trouble on smaller items or processes that require multiple scans, such as in retail.

Other types of scanners use video cameras and make use of software to recognize the barcode within the image. This is more sophisticated than traditional barcode scanners, and as such is more expensive, but may be worth it for the business in the long run.

Type

Aside from the scanning methods used, barcode scanners come with different designs that are suited for different lines of work. For example, pen wand scanners are portable and cost-effective as they don’t require any moving parts. On the other hand, scanner guns are best used for retail as you can scan barcodes from a distance, which can be great if the barcode is found in an odd spot on the product.

Barcode scanners can also be found on the top of counters or surfaces. These types of scanners are used in amusement parks and some retail stores, as it allows for easy scanning. Simply place the barcode above the surface for it to be scanned. This can be easier to use for retail in many situations but can be difficult to use for larger products that can be difficult to place above the scanner surface.

Price

Finally, there’s the price to consider when getting a barcode scanner. Barcode scanners have become cheaper over the years, but they can be quite expensive if you’re buying multiple or one with advanced features. When considering the price of a barcode scanner, think of how much your business would benefit from a cheap scanner versus an advanced one. If you think that a fancy scanner counter is better than your average scanner gun, then you can opt for that instead. At the end of the day, the price is what dictates your purchase, especially considering that it’s used for a business.

Barcode Scanner Price Range

Depending on the type of scanner as well as the technology used, you could either save up quite a bit of money or shell out some of your funds on a barcode scanner. Pen wand scanners, for example, can be as cheap as $50 apiece. Barcode gun scanners can go for as cheap as $35, too.

The more expensive barcode scanners will, of course, come with additional features. For example, some barcode scanners can be hooked up directly to a Windows computer, whereas others come with more high-quality scans. Expect a price increase of up to $50, depending on the type of scanner that you’re looking for.

How We Choose the Best Barcode Scanner

We choose the best barcode scanners based on a number of factors, including price, type, size, and customer reviews.

People Also Asked

What are barcode scanners used for?

Barcode scanners are specialized scanners that can recognize and read a certain series of bars, known as a barcode. They are typically used for scanning the barcodes of retail products, clothing, and other products.

Are barcode scanners still relevant?

Barcodes are still essential to almost any retail business. Most, if not all products available in supermarkets today come with barcodes, and scanning of these barcodes updates the internal database and inventory count of the business. Currently, barcodes are the most popular method for inventory management in businesses.

Can I scan barcodes with my phone?

Yes, you can. Certain smartphone apps can scan the barcodes of various products. In fact, there are certain barcode scanners that make use of video cameras to recognize barcodes. Barcode scanner apps use the same principle.

Your Trust, Our Core Commitment

At Rising Tech, earning and maintaining your trust is the cornerstone of our mission. We're dedicated to transparency, impartiality, and the relentless pursuit of truth in every article, review, and recommendation we publish. Our commitment to these principles ensures that you, our valued reader, are always equipped with reliable and unbiased information. Let us be your trusted guide in the ever-evolving world of technology.

Contributors

Rising Tech Review Team
Rising Tech Review Team
At Rising Tech, we’re a team of tech lovers who believe technology should enhance your life, not complicate it. We're passionate about bringing you the latest and greatest in smart home devices, wearable tech, office gadgets, phones, and computers. Our goal is simple: to help you understand your options and make the best choices—no fluff, no bias.
Printers & Scanners
Related Reads
  • Tera Pro Industrial Wireless Barcode Scanner Review
  • 5 Signs You Might Need a Document Scanner
  • The Best Document Scanners for Home and Office Use
  • Is there a Difference Between Document Scanners and Printers?
Back to top
logo

©2025. All Rights Reserved

  • About Us
  • FAQ
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy
  • Terms
Contact

contact@risingtech.org

We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission at no cost to you. Click here to learn more about our process.