A comprehensive comparison of every major wine e-label provider in Europe. Bottlebooks, U-Label, IMERO, Glasswise, APyS, LITTLEWINE, and more. Pricing, features, and what matters.
David Wippel
Founder of Glasswise
Choosing an e-label provider is a long-term decision. Your QR codes will be printed on labels for years. Switching later is possible but adds work. This guide compares every major provider so you can make an informed choice.
Disclosure: This guide is written by the Glasswise team. We have tried to be fair and factual. We include our own strengths and weaknesses alongside every competitor. We encourage you to evaluate multiple platforms before deciding.
Before comparing extra features, every e-label provider must deliver the compliance basics mandated by EU Regulation 2021/2117:
All providers listed below meet these requirements. The differences start with everything else: design, pricing, data management, and long-term guarantees.
| Provider | Pricing | Custom Design | Data Hub | Marketing QR | Guarantee | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bottlebooks | Per label/year | No | Yes (PIM) | No | 10 years | Large operations, PIM needs |
| U-Label (Scantrust) | From EUR 230/yr | Template customization | No | No | Not specified | Enterprise, anti-counterfeiting |
| IMERO (e-label.eu) | Tiered (EUR 60-900) | No | No | No | 10+ years | Quick setup, price lists |
| Glasswise | EUR 99/yr unlimited | Yes (full) | Yes | Yes | Wine-long (forever) | Brand-focused wineries |
| APyS | Bundled with ERP | No | Via ERP | No | Tied to ERP contract | Existing APyS ERP users |
| LITTLEWINE | Free | No | No | No | Not guaranteed | Budget, privacy-focused |
| ScanThisWine | Free | No | No | No | Not guaranteed | Smallest producers |
What it is: A full product information management (PIM) platform for the wine industry. E-labels are one feature within a broader data management system.
Pricing: Per label, per year. First 3 labels free. Costs grow linearly with your portfolio.
Strengths: Market leader with 170,000+ teams. Reviewed by Austrian, German, and Polish authorities. Strong data validation with 50+ checks. Excellent for large operations managing hundreds of SKUs. Supports data collection workflows for events like Prowein.
Limitations: Per-label pricing gets expensive at scale. No custom e-label design. No marketing QR redirect.
Best for: Larger operations that need a comprehensive PIM, not just e-labels.
Detailed comparison: Glasswise vs. Bottlebooks
What it is: Originally launched by the European wine and spirits trade associations (CEEV and spiritsEUROPE), now powered by Scantrust's QR code technology.
Pricing: Free for 3 labels. Business tier from EUR 230/year (30-100 labels). Premium EUR 1,500/year for unlimited. Enterprise pricing available.
Strengths: Backed by industry associations. Enterprise features including serialized QR codes, anti-counterfeiting, and distributor traceability. GS1 Digital Link support. Bulk operations with spreadsheet import.
Limitations: Expensive for unlimited access (EUR 1,500/year). Enterprise focus means smaller wineries may find it over-engineered. No central data hub. No marketing QR redirect.
Best for: Large producers, spirits companies, and enterprises needing supply chain features.
Detailed comparison: Glasswise vs. U-Label
What it is: One of the largest e-label platforms in Europe, focused on fast, correct compliance.
Pricing: Tiered from EUR 60 to EUR 900 depending on volume and features.
Strengths: Huge user base. Collective QR codes for price lists (unique feature). Geolocation-based language display. Complete service option where IMERO creates labels for you. 10+ year guarantee with insurance.
Limitations: No custom brand design. No central data management. No marketing QR features.
Best for: Wineries wanting a large, established platform with quick compliance and price list QR codes.
Detailed comparison: Glasswise vs. IMERO
What it is: A wine e-label and product data management platform focused on brand design and data centralization.
Pricing: EUR 99/year for unlimited e-labels, users, and updates. Premium "Done For You" tier at EUR 1,290/year with full concierge service.
Strengths: Only provider offering full custom brand design. Central wine data hub (data flows into e-labels, data sheets, QR destinations). "Scan with Glasswise" marketing QR redirect. Wine-long guarantee with QR forwarding after cancellation. Concierge service available. Open APIs for ERP integration.
Limitations: Smaller market presence than Bottlebooks or IMERO. No serialized QR codes or anti-counterfeiting features.
Best for: Independent wineries that value brand design, want flat-rate pricing, and need a central data hub.
What it is: A wine management ERP system with nearly 40 years of history. E-labels are a module within the ERP.
Pricing: Bundled with the ERP system.
Strengths: Tight integration with Kellerbuch, order management, and accounting. No re-entering data if you already use APyS. Single system for everything.
Limitations: E-labels are locked to the ERP. QR codes are hosted on elabel.apys.de, creating vendor lock-in. Switching ERPs means losing your e-label URLs. No custom design. No standalone e-label option.
Best for: Existing APyS customers who want the simplest path and accept the lock-in.
Detailed comparison: Glasswise vs. APyS
What it is: A free e-label tool from a wine knowledge platform. No commercial motives, no tracking.
Pricing: Completely free.
Strengths: Zero cost. Privacy-focused (no tracking). Part of a 10,000+ wine professional community. Used by recognized names like Nikolaihof and Claus Preisinger.
Limitations: No business model to guarantee long-term availability. No custom design. No data management. No marketing features. If the platform shuts down, your e-labels go dark.
Best for: Very small producers, budget-constrained operations, or those wanting a privacy-focused tool.
What it is: Another free e-label generator.
Pricing: Free.
Strengths: Zero barrier to entry. Compliant labels with local language support.
Limitations: Same risks as all free tools: no longevity guarantee, no design options, no data management.
Best for: Producers who need a quick free solution and accept the risks.
If cost is your main concern: Start with a free tool (LITTLEWINE, ScanThisWine) but understand the long-term risks. Read our analysis of why free e-labels may cost more in the long run.
If you need a PIM: Bottlebooks is the established choice for large-scale product data management. Glasswise offers a lightweight alternative with central wine data management that is simpler to use and puts design first.
If you need enterprise features: U-Label by Scantrust offers anti-counterfeiting, serialized QR codes, and supply chain traceability.
If you want brand design and simplicity: Glasswise offers the only fully custom-designed e-labels at a flat EUR 99/year.
If you already use an ERP: Check if your ERP offers e-labels (like APyS), but weigh the convenience against vendor lock-in.
Before committing to a provider, ask these questions:
We covered these in detail in our 5 Factors Guide for Choosing the Right E-Label Tool.
There is no single best e-label provider. The right choice depends on your winery's size, priorities, and budget. What matters most is that you choose a solution that will serve you for years, because those QR codes on your bottles are going to be in circulation for a long time.
Whatever you decide, make sure compliance is solid, your data is portable, and your QR codes will keep working.
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