Which ID-ALL Card Design Software Do You Need?
The right ID-ALL software edition for you depends on how you design, print and manage your ID cards, and how many records you have. Starter suits simple printing in small numbers, Standard is the best fit for many everyday card programmes, Advanced adds more control and automation, particularly in databases and Expert is designed for RFID/smart card encoding, and secure or integrated card issuing.
If you're printing cards on an ID Card printer, you need ID card software to design and set up your cards. Most printers will come with a basic software version bundled in with it to get you started, but it may not have enough features or card records to suit your needs.
ID-ALL is one of our recommended ID software solutions, not least because it's the new version of CardPresso software, one of the most reputable and trusted brands on the market.
If you are moving over because CardPresso is being phased out, you may also want to read our guide to CardPresso vs ID-ALL ID card software first.
Quick guide to the ID-ALL editions
Each ID-ALL edition builds on the one below it. The easiest way to choose is to look at how you issue cards day to day. Are you printing the occasional visitor badge? Are you producing staff or student cards regularly? Do you need to import spreadsheet data, use QR codes, encode cards or connect to more advanced databases?
Also bear in mind that ID-ALL is scalable - you can upgrade to the next edition up, you don't need to start all over again.
What each ID-ALL edition gives you
ID-ALL editions compared
| Feature |  ID-ALL Starter Entry |
 ID-ALL Standard Best value |
 ID-ALL Advanced Professional |
 ID-ALL Expert Top tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Small businesses, clubs, visitor badges and first-time card printers | Small to medium organisations, staff cards, student IDs and regular card production | Medium organisations, schools, enrolment programmes and teams needing more automation | Large organisations, universities, hospitals, government and high-security card programmes |
| Good fit if you want… | A simple way to design and print cards without overcomplicating things | A stronger everyday workflow with better data handling and batch production | More control, advanced layouts and less manual work in the long run | The broadest capability for complex, secure or larger-scale card programmes |
| Design tools | Card templates, text, images, date and time counters, digital signature creation, graphics and background library, ribbon layer tool | All card formats plus image editor tools for more polished everyday card design | Advanced object properties, face cropping, multi-layout designs and background removal | Built for advanced issuing environments where design forms part of a larger secure workflow |
| Database handling | Internal database, record browsing and simple record management | Internal database plus MS Excel, CSV and TXT connection | MS Access, SQLite and Google Sheets connectivity for more capable workflows | MySQL, PostgreSQL and ODBC connection to external databases including SQL Server and Oracle |
| Printing workflow | Basic design and print for smaller batches, plus automatic double-sided printing, Ethernet printer support and overlay or UVF layer printing | Batch printing for more efficient repeat production | Conditional printing and overlay or UVF layer customisation to support more tailored card output | Built for mass production and more automated processes |
| Barcode and encoding | 1D barcodes for straightforward card programmes | 1D and 2D barcodes, QR codes and magnetic encoding | Stronger support for more advanced production needs as workflows become more complex | Contact smartcard encoding, contactless RFID encoding, internal and external encoder support, plus MIFARE Classic and Ultralight support including NFC |
| Security-focused tools | Suitable for more basic card issuance needs | Enough for many everyday staff, visitor and membership card programmes | Signature acquisition and scripting for more controlled or customised card issuance | Fingerprint acquisition and stronger support for security-led environments |
| Choose this if… | You print occasionally and just need a clean, simple starting point | You want the best balance between ease of use, practical features and day-to-day value | You are starting to outgrow entry or mid-level software and want more automation and flexibility | You need enterprise-level connectivity, stronger security tools or advanced encoding capability |
The right edition depends on how often you print, where your data comes from, and whether your cards need to do more than simply display a name and photo.
How to know when you've outgrown basic ID card software
If you are not sure whether it is time to step up, look at the frustrations in your current process. Basic software is usually fine until the manual work starts slowing your team down, e.g.
- You are entering names, numbers and details manually too often
- You are printing cards regularly rather than occasionally
- You need to import data from spreadsheets or databases
- You want batch printing instead of one-by-one production
- You need cards to include barcodes, QR codes, magnetic encoding or RFID encoding
Our practical recommendation
For simple use, Starter may be enough. For most everyday staff, student, visitor and membership card programmes, Standard is likely to be the better long-term option. Advanced makes sense if your workflow is becoming more complex. Expert should be reserved for organisations that genuinely need its higher-level database, encoding and security tools.
If you are not sure which edition fits your setup, speak to The Card Network before ordering. We can help you avoid underbuying, overbuying, or ending up with software that isn't fit for purpose.
Not sure which ID-ALL edition is right?
Tell us how you issue cards and we’ll help guide you to the edition that fits your needs.
Get advice from our teamFrequently asked questions
Which ID-ALL edition is best for most organisations?
ID-ALL Standard is likely to be the best fit for many organisations because it offers a strong balance of everyday features, database handling, batch printing and practical value.
Is ID-ALL Starter enough?
ID-ALL Starter is enough if your needs are simple and you only print cards occasionally. If you print regularly or need better data handling, Standard is usually the better choice.
When should I choose ID-ALL Advanced?
Choose ID-ALL Advanced if you need more automation, more control over layouts, stronger data connectivity or a workflow that goes beyond basic card design and print.
Who needs ID-ALL Expert?
ID-ALL Expert is best for larger organisations or high-security environments that need advanced database connections, contact or contactless encoding, RFID support or more integrated card issuance.
Can I upgrade ID-ALL later?
Yes, ID-ALL is designed around scalable editions, so you can start with the edition that fits your current workflow and move up if your card programme becomes more demanding.
