The right ID-ALL edition depends on how you design, print and manage your ID cards. Starter is designed for simple card printing and small databases. Standard adds unlimited internal records, spreadsheet connections, batch printing, QR codes and magnetic encoding. Advanced is for more developed database and card-production workflows, while Expert adds specialist database connections and smart-card/RFID encoding.
If you're printing cards in-house, you'll normally use ID card software to create the card design and manage the information being printed.
Many ID card printers include starter software, which may be all you need for straightforward card printing. As your card programme grows, however, you may need a larger database, spreadsheet connections, batch printing, encoding or more advanced workflow features.
If you're not sure what the software actually does, start with our guide: What is ID Card Software and Why Do I Need It?
ID-ALL is the successor to CardPresso and is available in four editions: Starter, Standard, Advanced and Expert.
Already using CardPresso? Read our CardPresso end-of-life and ID-ALL migration guide first.
Which ID-ALL edition do you need?
The easiest way to choose is to think about what you actually need to do with your cards and cardholder data.
- How many cardholder records do you need to manage?
- Will you enter information manually or connect to spreadsheets or databases?
- Do you need to print cards in batches?
- Do you need QR codes, 2D barcodes or magnetic stripe encoding?
- Do you need more advanced layouts, database connections or automated workflows?
- Do you need to encode contactless RFID, MIFARE or smart cards?
You don't have to buy more software than you need. ID-ALL is scalable, so you can start with the edition that suits your current setup and upgrade later if your requirements grow.
Using a Mac? ID-ALL itself supports Windows and macOS 13 Ventura or later for card design and printing.
However, ID-ALL's specialist contact and contactless smart-card/RFID encoding functions are Windows-only. If you need MIFARE, RFID or DESFire encoding, speak to us before ordering so we can check the software, printer, encoder and card compatibility together.
What each ID-ALL edition gives you
ID-ALL Starter vs Standard vs Advanced vs Expert
| Feature |
ID-ALL Starter
Entry level
|
ID-ALL Standard
Everyday
|
ID-ALL Advanced
Advanced
|
ID-ALL Expert
Specialist
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Small businesses, clubs, visitor badges and simple card programmes | Staff cards, student IDs, membership cards and regular card production | Organisations needing stronger database connectivity, more advanced layouts and greater workflow control | Secure, integrated or specialist card issuing environments |
| Internal database | Up to 50 records | Unlimited records | Unlimited records | Unlimited records |
| External data | No external database connection | Excel, CSV and TXT | Adds MS Access, SQLite and Google Sheets | Adds MySQL, PostgreSQL and ODBC connections |
| Card sizes | CR80 cards | All supported card formats | All supported card formats | All supported card formats |
| Design tools | Templates, text, images, graphics and straightforward card personalisation | Adds more flexible image editing and support for broader everyday card-production requirements | Adds advanced object properties, face cropping, multi-layout designs and background removal | Includes the Advanced design functionality for use within more complex issuing environments |
| Printing workflow | Straightforward individual card design and printing | Batch printing and conditional printing for regular card production | Adds greater workflow control, scripting and customisation of overlay, UV and F panels | Suitable for more complex, secure or integrated card-issuing workflows |
| Barcodes | 1D barcodes: Code 39 and Code 128 | 1D and 2D barcodes plus QR codes | 1D and 2D barcodes plus QR codes | 1D and 2D barcodes plus QR codes |
| Magnetic encoding | No | Yes, with compatible printer hardware | Yes, with compatible printer hardware | Yes, with compatible printer hardware |
| RFID / smart-card encoding | No | No | No | Contact smart-card and contactless RFID encoding, including MIFARE Classic and Ultralight. Compatible Windows setup and encoder hardware required |
| MIFARE DESFire | No | No | No | Available using the additional MIFARE DESFire plugin on Windows |
| Choose this if... | You have straightforward requirements and no more than 50 records to manage | You want a strong everyday setup with spreadsheet data, batch printing, QR codes or magnetic encoding | You need more advanced databases, layouts, scripting or workflow control | You need specialist database integration, RFID/smart-card encoding or security-led functionality |
Features involving magnetic stripes, smart cards or RFID also depend on compatible printer and encoder hardware. If you're unsure, tell us your printer model, card type and what you need the card to do before ordering.
How do you know when you've outgrown ID-ALL Starter?
Starter is designed to keep basic card production simple. You don't need to upgrade just because you're printing more cards, but you probably will when the way you manage your data or print cards becomes more demanding.
- You need to manage more than 50 records in the internal database
- You are repeatedly typing information that already exists in a spreadsheet
- You want to connect to Excel, CSV or TXT data
- You need to print a batch of cards from your database
- You need QR codes or 2D barcodes
- You need magnetic stripe encoding
- You want conditional printing based on database information
For many users, Standard is the natural step up from Starter. Advanced becomes relevant when you need more sophisticated database connections, layouts or workflows, while Expert is intended for specialist database integration and smart-card/RFID encoding.
Already have ID-ALL Starter?
You don't need to buy a completely new Standard licence. If you already have an activated Starter licence, you can upgrade ID-ALL Starter to Standard and unlock unlimited internal records, Excel/CSV/TXT connections, additional card formats, 2D barcodes, QR codes and magnetic encoding.
When do you need Advanced or Expert?
Don't move up to Advanced or Expert simply because they're the higher editions. They're intended for situations where you genuinely need the additional functionality.
Choose Advanced when you need more developed database connections or production tools, such as MS Access, SQLite, Google Sheets, multi-layout card designs, scripting, face cropping or customised overlay and UV layers.
Choose Expert when your card programme needs specialist database connections or card encoding. This includes MySQL, PostgreSQL and ODBC database connections, as well as contact smart-card and contactless RFID encoding such as MIFARE Classic and MIFARE Ultralight.
MIFARE DESFire encoding is available with an additional Expert plugin. Encoding also requires compatible hardware, so we'd always recommend checking your full setup before ordering.
Not sure which ID-ALL edition is right?
Tell us how many records you manage, where your cardholder data comes from, which printer you use and what your cards need to do. We'll help you choose the edition that fits without paying for features you don't need.
Get advice from our teamFrequently asked questions
Which ID-ALL edition is best for everyday staff ID card printing?
ID-ALL Standard is a good choice for many organisations printing staff ID cards regularly because it supports unlimited internal records, Excel/CSV/TXT data connections, batch and conditional printing, QR codes and magnetic encoding without moving into the more specialist features of Advanced or Expert.
Is ID-ALL Starter enough?
Starter is suitable for straightforward card design and occasional printing when you only need CR80 cards and an internal database of up to 50 records. If you need more records, spreadsheet connections, batch printing, QR codes or magnetic encoding, look at Standard.
What is the difference between ID-ALL Starter and Standard?
Starter is limited to CR80 cards and an internal database of up to 50 records. Standard supports unlimited internal records, all supported card formats, Excel/CSV/TXT connections, batch and conditional printing, 2D barcodes, QR codes and magnetic encoding.
When should I choose ID-ALL Advanced?
Choose Advanced when Standard no longer gives you enough database, design or workflow flexibility. Advanced adds features such as MS Access, SQLite and Google Sheets connections, advanced object properties, face cropping, multi-layout designs, background removal, scripting and customised overlay or UV layers.
Who needs ID-ALL Expert?
Expert is designed for organisations that need specialist database integration or smart-card encoding. It adds MySQL, PostgreSQL and ODBC connections, contact smart-card encoding, contactless RFID encoding and MIFARE Classic and Ultralight support.
Which ID-ALL edition do I need for MIFARE or RFID encoding?
ID-ALL Expert is the edition for contactless RFID and MIFARE encoding. MIFARE Classic and Ultralight are supported with the appropriate Windows and encoder setup. MIFARE DESFire requires an additional Expert plugin.
Does ID-ALL work on Mac?
Yes. ID-ALL supports macOS 13 Ventura or later for card design and printing. However, specialist contact and contactless smart-card/RFID encoding features are Windows-only, so Mac users who need card encoding should check compatibility before ordering.
Can I upgrade ID-ALL later?
Yes. ID-ALL is designed around scalable editions. For example, existing Starter users can purchase a Starter-to-Standard upgrade rather than buying another full licence.
