What Are the Best Alternatives to the DYMO 550 Series Printers?

The latest series of printers from the household name DYMO is out now, taking the place of the beloved 450 LabelWriter Series printers. The new DYMO 550 Series has a new software, the functionality to count the labels on your roll, and a few other small feature changes.

The 550 LabelWriter also requires you to use DYMO's proprietary brand of labels to operate.

If the DYMO Brand labels were competitively priced, reliably supplied, and carried the variety of options that every business needs, then that would be fine. However, chances are you are reading this article because you know that their labels are not competitively priced, can be unreliable, and are limited to just a handful of sizes, shapes, colors, and materials.

If your business uses a custom Dymo label with your logo, watermark, or other information, the 550 LabelWriter will not accept them. Even if it's a standard size the new 550 Series printer and software will not allow you to print on it unless it has the DYMO brand chip.

What Alternatives Do I Have To Replace the 550 Series?

Thankfully, DYMO has not completely taken its full line of popular 450 series label printers off the market.

Dymo still offers the 450 LabelWriter Wireless label printers. The wireless feature is optional. You can plug these printers in just like the traditional 450 or 450 Turbo LabelWriter options and continue to use your favorite Dymo LabelWriter compatible labels and the Dymo Label Software.

The 450 LabelWriter Wireless printer still allows for generic labels to be printed, meaning your custom Dymo labels or better value Dymo labels will work great. 

Other printer brands we recommend:

• Seiko SLP 620 Label Printer
• Zebra label Printers
• TSC Printers

The SLP 620 is not as durable and lack the full feature set of a LabelWriter printer, but ithey do come with relatively user-friendly software and have a good price point. This is a good alternative for smaller volume printers.

Zebra or TSC printers have a greater variety of models and options to fit business needs, but tend to have higher price points. These are better alternatives for higher volume labelers.

Can I unlock the 550 Series Printers?

Unfortunately, the 550 series printers cannot be tampered with and there is no workaround for printing anything other than DYMO manufactured labels in the machines. The good news is that there are still the 450 Wireless printers as options for those who have DYMO label templates they need for their business operations, have custom labels, or use special material, size, or color with their Dymo labels. 

Our Choice for Dymo 550 Replacement Printer

So if you are in need of a new DYMO printer, and want to continue to save on generic Dymo labels or have a specialty product that you prefer to use, the Dymo Wireless 450 is the best alternative to the DYMO 550 Series Printers.