upcs.com vs GS1 US: the same codes, one-time price
Every UPC we sell is a standard 12-digit code from a prefix issued by the UCC, the organization now called GS1 US, before 2002. You pay once and own it. A GS1 US company prefix is rented by the year. Here is the full comparison, with the one difference stated plainly.
- Codes from $10
- No renewal fees, ever
- Certificate with every order
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Side by side
GS1 US sells codes two ways: a single GTIN at a time, or a company prefix with an annual fee. This is what each costs and includes.
| upcs.com | GS1 US single GTIN | GS1 US company prefix | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Code origin | Issued by the UCC (now GS1 US) before 2002 | Issued by GS1 US | Issued by GS1 US |
| 1 code | $10, once | $30, once | Not offered |
| 10 codes | $30, once | $300, once | $250 + $50 a year |
| 100 codes | $90, once | $3,000, once | $750 + $150 a year |
| 1,000 codes | $350, once | $30,000, once | $2,500 + $500 a year |
| Renewal fees | None | None | Annual; the prefix ends if unpaid |
| Certificate | Included with every order | In your GS1 account | In your GS1 account |
| Affiliation letter | On request, naming your brand | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Listed in GS1 lookup under | Original licensee | Your company | Your company |
GS1 US prices are the fees published on gs1us.org in October 2026: a single GS1 US GTIN is $30 with no renewal; a company prefix is $250, $750 or $2,500 up front for 10, 100 or 1,000 items, then $50, $150 or $500 every year to keep using it. GS1 US says it may change its pricing. Our prices are the live price list, in US dollars.
What you pay over ten years
One payment versus a yearly bill. The prefix figures are the initial fee plus nine renewals.
10 codes
$30once, at upcs.com
GS1 US single GTINs: $300
GS1 US company prefix: $700
($250 + 9 × $50)
100 codes
$90once, at upcs.com
GS1 US single GTINs: $3,000
GS1 US company prefix: $2,100
($750 + 9 × $150)
1,000 codes
$350once, at upcs.com
GS1 US single GTINs: $30,000
GS1 US company prefix: $7,000
($2,500 + 9 × $500)
Stop paying a prefix renewal and the prefix ends; the codes built on it are no longer licensed to you. Codes bought from upcs.com have no renewal, so there is nothing to lapse.
A GS1 lookup shows the original licensee, not you
Our numbers come from company prefixes issued before August 28, 2002. A 2002 court settlement confirmed those prefixes are held outright, with no renewal fees, which is why we can sell the codes once. The registry keeps the name of the company that first licensed each prefix, so a GS1 lookup of your code shows that company, not yours.
This changes nothing about how the code works. It is a standard UPC-A number that scans at every retailer and lists on every marketplace. What it changes is paperwork: if anyone asks who owns the code, you answer with documents instead of a registry entry.
- Certificate of ownership, included with every order, listing your codes and the date they were assigned to you.
- Letter of affiliation, on request, confirming that the codes are licensed to your company and brand.
- Our records: every code is issued once, to one customer, and never resold.
More on this: the 2002 settlement, explained and why a lookup shows a different company name.
Where your code works
- Amazon, Walmart, eBay, Shopify, Etsy, Target Plus and stores: the code identifies your product; the listing carries your brand name.
- At the register and in the warehouse: it scans like any other 12-digit UPC, and the retailer’s own system links it to your product and price.
- If a marketplace asks for proof: send the certificate and, if asked, the affiliation letter. The same documents work on every platform.
What every upcs.com order includes
From one code to 100,000, the package is the same.
Frequently asked questions
Will these codes work on Amazon?
Yes. Sellers have used our codes to create Amazon listings for over 20 years, and 200,000+ businesses have bought from us. Amazon asks for a UPC, EAN or GTIN when you create a listing; a code from upcs.com is a standard 12-digit UPC and is entered like any other. If Amazon ever rejects a code, we replace it or refund you within 30 days.
Will they work on Walmart Marketplace?
Yes. Walmart Marketplace, eBay, Shopify, Etsy, Target Plus and physical stores all accept the same code. The UPC identifies your product, not the marketplace, so one code serves every channel you sell on.
What if a marketplace asks for proof that the code is mine?
Send the certificate of ownership that came with your order; you can download it again any time from My Account. If the reviewer wants more, ask us for a letter of affiliation naming your company and brand, and we will send it. Together they answer the question a registry lookup cannot.
Why does a GS1 lookup show a different company name?
Because our codes come from prefixes issued before 2002, the registry lists the company that originally licensed the prefix. That entry does not change when a code is sold. The code is still yours, issued once and never reused, and your ownership is documented by the certificate and our records.
Are upcs.com codes different from GS1 US codes?
No. They are the same 12-digit UPC-A format, originally issued by the UCC, the organization that became GS1 US. They scan and list exactly the same way. The differences are the price, the absence of renewal fees, and the registry name explained above.
Will I ever have to pay a renewal fee?
No. You pay once and the codes are yours for life. There are no annual fees, memberships or expiry dates, and there is no GS1 US account to keep up.
Can I buy a single code?
Yes. One UPC is $10, delivered by email within minutes. GS1 US sells a single GTIN for $30, and its company prefixes start at 10 items.
Ready to get your barcodes?
Pick your quantity, pay once, and your codes and barcode images arrive by email within minutes.
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