Two budget thermal printers for 4 × 6 inch shipping labels, compared for a home seller shipping anywhere from a few packages to a few hundred a week.
The short answer
Buy the Phomemo if you ship a few dozen packages a week and want a compact printer that fits on a shelf. Buy the MUNBYN if you expect to pass about 120 orders a week or want a printer you won’t outgrow soon.
MUNBYN
Typical price$60 to $100
See on Amazon
Phomemo
Typical price$70 to $110
See on AmazonSide by side
How they compare on packing and shipping.
- Typical price
- MUNBYN$60–100
- Phomemo$80–130
- Label size
- MUNBYN4 × 6 inch shipping labels
- Phomemo4 × 6 inch shipping labels
- Weekly volume it suits
- MUNBYNUp to about 250 orders
- PhomemoUp to about 120 orders
- Ink or toner
- MUNBYNNone: prints with heat
- PhomemoNone: prints with heat
- Footprint
- MUNBYNDesk-sized
- PhomemoSmaller, fits on a shelf
- Generic labels
- MUNBYNWorks with fanfold or roll labels
- PhomemoWorks with fanfold or roll labels
| MUNBYN · 2 | Phomemo · 1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical price | $60–100 | $80–130 |
| Label size | 4 × 6 inch shipping labels | 4 × 6 inch shipping labels |
| Weekly volume it suits | Up to about 250 orders | Up to about 120 orders |
| Ink or toner | None: prints with heat | None: prints with heat |
| Footprint | Desk-sized | Smaller, fits on a shelf |
| Generic labels | Works with fanfold or roll labels | Works with fanfold or roll labels |
Choose MUNBYN if
- You ship most days and expect volume to climb.
- You print batches of 50 or more after a live show.
- You want headroom before moving to a heavy-duty printer.
Choose Phomemo if
- You print from your phone over Bluetooth more than from a laptop.
- Space is tight and the printer lives on a shelf.
- You ship a handful of packages a day at most.
The guide
Each step in the order you'll need it.
Same labels, different headroom
Both print the 4 × 6 inch labels that eBay, Poshmark, Mercari and Whatnot generate, with no ink to buy. Your label stock carries over if you switch.
The difference is volume: we place the Phomemo at up to about 120 orders a week and the MUNBYN at up to about 250.
Price over a year
The Phomemo typically costs $80–130 and the MUNBYN $60–100. Labels cost the same for either, so the running cost is level.
If you think you will outgrow a small printer within a year, the MUNBYN saves buying twice.
Setting either up
Install the driver from the maker’s site, set the paper size to 4 × 6 inches and print a test label from your marketplace.
Pirate Ship and USPS Click-N-Ship both offer a 4 × 6 thermal format, so either printer works with them once the size is set.
Kit for this step
Questions
Straight answers to what sellers ask about this.
Is MUNBYN better than Phomemo?
For higher volume, yes on our ranking. For a seller with a few orders a day and little desk space, the Phomemo does the same job in a smaller box.
Do MUNBYN and Phomemo need special labels?
No. Both take generic 4 × 6 inch direct thermal labels on a roll or fanfold.
Do they work with Poshmark and Mercari?
Yes. Both platforms email a prepaid label you can print at 4 × 6 inches on either printer.
Can I print eBay labels on either?
Yes. eBay’s label tool offers a 4 × 6 inch thermal format.
Do they need ink?
No. Thermal printers darken heat-sensitive labels, so there is no ink or toner to buy.
When should I move past both?
Once you print hundreds of labels a week, a heavy-duty printer built for volume is worth a look.
