# MUNBYN vs Phomemo thermal label printer

> 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.

## Side by side

| | MUNBYN | Phomemo | Better |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Typical price | $60–100 | $80–130 | MUNBYN |
| Label size | 4 × 6 inch shipping labels | 4 × 6 inch shipping labels | Even |
| Weekly volume it suits | Up to about 250 orders | Up to about 120 orders | MUNBYN |
| Ink or toner | None: prints with heat | None: prints with heat | Even |
| Footprint | Desk-sized | Smaller, fits on a shelf | Phomemo |
| Generic labels | Works with fanfold or roll labels | Works with fanfold or roll labels | Even |

## 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.

## 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.

## Questions

### 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.