The True Cost of Per-Label E-Label Pricing

Per-label pricing seems affordable at first. But as your wine portfolio grows, the costs add up quickly. Here is a comparison with flat-rate pricing.

David Wippel Gründer von Glasswise

David Wippel

Founder of Glasswise

When comparing e-label providers, pricing is often the first thing wineries look at. And per-label pricing sounds simple enough: you pay for each label you create. But as your wine portfolio grows, those per-label costs can add up in ways you might not expect.

How per-label pricing works

With per-label pricing, you pay a fee for each wine you publish as an e-label. This fee typically recurs annually. So if you have 20 wines this year and 25 next year, your costs grow with each new wine.

On the surface, this seems fair. You pay for what you use. But there are hidden costs:

  • New vintages count as new labels. Even if the wine is essentially the same, a new vintage often means a new label and a new charge.
  • Annual recurring charges. You pay for each label every year, not just once. A wine bottled in 2024 still costs you in 2025, 2026, and beyond.
  • Pricing grows linearly. More wines = proportionally more cost. There is no economy of scale.

The flat-rate alternative

Glasswise charges a flat rate of EUR 99 per year. This includes:

  • Unlimited e-labels
  • Unlimited users
  • Unlimited updates to existing labels
  • Custom brand design
  • Central wine data management
  • Marketing QR code features

Whether you have 5 wines or 500, the price stays the same.

Cost comparison: per-label vs. flat-rate

Here is what the numbers look like at different portfolio sizes:

Number of winesPer-label (approx.)Glasswise flat-rate
5 winesEUR 25-50/yearEUR 99/year
10 winesEUR 50-100/yearEUR 99/year
20 winesEUR 100-200/yearEUR 99/year
30 winesEUR 150-300/yearEUR 99/year
50 winesEUR 250-500/yearEUR 99/year

The break-even point is typically around 10-15 wines. Beyond that, flat-rate pricing saves you money every year.

Beyond the price tag

Cost is only one factor. Per-label pricing can also create behavioral problems:

  • Hesitation to add new wines. Every new label costs money, so you might delay adding a new vintage or a limited release.
  • No room for experimentation. Want to create a special e-label for an event wine? With per-label pricing, that is an extra cost. With flat-rate, it is included.
  • Budget unpredictability. Your e-label costs fluctuate with your portfolio size, making it harder to plan.

What matters beyond pricing

When choosing an e-label provider, also consider:

  • Design options. Can you customize the e-label to match your brand? Most per-label providers use generic templates.
  • Data management. Does the tool help you manage your wine data centrally, or is it just an e-label generator?
  • Longevity guarantee. How long will your e-labels stay online? Your wines could be on shelves for years.
  • Migration flexibility. Can you switch providers without losing your QR codes?

These are the factors we explored in detail in our 5 Factors Guide for Choosing the Right E-Label Tool.

Ready to stop paying per label?

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