NetBarcode vs IronBarcode: C# Barcode Library Comparison

The Type Enum Design Boundary

The Type enum is the authoritative list of what NetBarcode can generate. Inspecting it reveals the scope of the library:

// NetBarcode Type enum — complete list as of v1.8
public enum Type
{
    Code128,
    Code128A,
    Code128B,
    Code128C,
    Code39,
    Code39Extended,
    Code93,
    EAN8,
    EAN13,
    UPCA,
    UPCE,
    Codabar,
    ITF,
    MSI
}

// These entries do not exist — attempting to use them produces a CS0117 compile error:
// Type.QRCode      — does not exist
// Type.DataMatrix  — does not exist
// Type.PDF417      — does not exist
// Type.Aztec       — does not exist

// NetBarcode Type enum — complete list as of v1.8
public enum Type
{
    Code128,
    Code128A,
    Code128B,
    Code128C,
    Code39,
    Code39Extended,
    Code93,
    EAN8,
    EAN13,
    UPCA,
    UPCE,
    Codabar,
    ITF,
    MSI
}

// These entries do not exist — attempting to use them produces a CS0117 compile error:
// Type.QRCode      — does not exist
// Type.DataMatrix  — does not exist
// Type.PDF417      — does not exist
// Type.Aztec       — does not exist

Public Enum Type
    Code128
    Code128A
    Code128B
    Code128C
    Code39
    Code39Extended
    Code93
    EAN8
    EAN13
    UPCA
    UPCE
    Codabar
    ITF
    MSI
End Enum

' These entries do not exist — attempting to use them produces a BC30456 compile error:
' Type.QRCode      — does not exist
' Type.DataMatrix  — does not exist
' Type.PDF417      — does not exist
' Type.Aztec       — does not exist

This is not a missing feature pending a pull request. The enum has fourteen entries, all 1D, and that reflects the library's intended scope. Any application requiring QR codes, DataMatrix, PDF417, or Aztec must obtain a separate package to supply those formats.

Detailed Feature Comparison

NetBarcode Approach

NetBarcode provides 14 linear barcode formats through the Type enum. Within that scope, format selection is straightforward — pass the appropriate enum member to the constructor. The boundary is equally clear: attempting to use a format outside the enum produces a compile-time error.

// NetBarcode — formats that compile and produce output
using NetBarcode;

var code128 = new Barcode("12345678901234", Type.Code128);
code128.SaveImageFile("shipping.png");

var ean13 = new Barcode("5901234123457", Type.EAN13);
ean13.SaveImageFile("product.png");

// NetBarcode — formats that produce CS0117 compile errors
// var qr     = new Barcode("data", Type.QRCode);     // error CS0117
// var dm     = new Barcode("data", Type.DataMatrix);  // error CS0117
// var p417   = new Barcode("data", Type.PDF417);      // error CS0117
// var aztec  = new Barcode("data", Type.Aztec);       // error CS0117

// NetBarcode — formats that compile and produce output
using NetBarcode;

var code128 = new Barcode("12345678901234", Type.Code128);
code128.SaveImageFile("shipping.png");

var ean13 = new Barcode("5901234123457", Type.EAN13);
ean13.SaveImageFile("product.png");

// NetBarcode — formats that produce CS0117 compile errors
// var qr     = new Barcode("data", Type.QRCode);     // error CS0117
// var dm     = new Barcode("data", Type.DataMatrix);  // error CS0117
// var p417   = new Barcode("data", Type.PDF417);      // error CS0117
// var aztec  = new Barcode("data", Type.Aztec);       // error CS0117

Imports NetBarcode

Dim code128 As New Barcode("12345678901234", Type.Code128)
code128.SaveImageFile("shipping.png")

Dim ean13 As New Barcode("5901234123457", Type.EAN13)
ean13.SaveImageFile("product.png")

' NetBarcode — formats that produce CS0117 compile errors
' Dim qr As New Barcode("data", Type.QRCode)     ' error CS0117
' Dim dm As New Barcode("data", Type.DataMatrix) ' error CS0117
' Dim p417 As New Barcode("data", Type.PDF417)   ' error CS0117
' Dim aztec As New Barcode("data", Type.Aztec)   ' error CS0117

Industries where this boundary becomes a constraint include pharmaceutical tracking (DataMatrix required under FDA 2D barcode mandates), airline boarding passes (Aztec), logistics manifests (PDF417), and mobile marketing (QR Code). Each of these requirements eliminates NetBarcode as a standalone solution.

IronBarcode Approach

IronBarcode exposes all supported formats through the same BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode method. The API surface does not change when moving from a 1D format to a 2D format — only the BarcodeEncoding constant differs.

using IronBarCode;

// 1D formats — identical API to the 2D examples below
BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("12345678901234", BarcodeEncoding.Code128)
    .SaveAsPng("shipping.png");

BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("5901234123457", BarcodeEncoding.EAN13)
    .SaveAsPng("product.png");

// 2D formats — same method, different encoding constant
BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("https://example.com", BarcodeEncoding.QRCode)
    .SaveAsPng("qr.png");

BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("01034531200000111719112510ABCD1234", BarcodeEncoding.DataMatrix)
    .SaveAsPng("pharma-label.png");

BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("M1DOE/JOHN MR ABC123 JFKLHR 0012 123Y015A0001 100", BarcodeEncoding.Aztec)
    .SaveAsPng("boarding-pass.png");

using IronBarCode;

// 1D formats — identical API to the 2D examples below
BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("12345678901234", BarcodeEncoding.Code128)
    .SaveAsPng("shipping.png");

BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("5901234123457", BarcodeEncoding.EAN13)
    .SaveAsPng("product.png");

// 2D formats — same method, different encoding constant
BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("https://example.com", BarcodeEncoding.QRCode)
    .SaveAsPng("qr.png");

BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("01034531200000111719112510ABCD1234", BarcodeEncoding.DataMatrix)
    .SaveAsPng("pharma-label.png");

BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("M1DOE/JOHN MR ABC123 JFKLHR 0012 123Y015A0001 100", BarcodeEncoding.Aztec)
    .SaveAsPng("boarding-pass.png");

Imports IronBarCode

' 1D formats — identical API to the 2D examples below
BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("12345678901234", BarcodeEncoding.Code128) _
    .SaveAsPng("shipping.png")

BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("5901234123457", BarcodeEncoding.EAN13) _
    .SaveAsPng("product.png")

' 2D formats — same method, different encoding constant
BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("https://example.com", BarcodeEncoding.QRCode) _
    .SaveAsPng("qr.png")

BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("01034531200000111719112510ABCD1234", BarcodeEncoding.DataMatrix) _
    .SaveAsPng("pharma-label.png")

BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("M1DOE/JOHN MR ABC123 JFKLHR 0012 123Y015A0001 100", BarcodeEncoding.Aztec) _
    .SaveAsPng("boarding-pass.png")

The complete list of supported constants is available in the supported barcode formats reference, covering all 2D barcode generation formats alongside the full 1D set.

NetBarcode Approach

NetBarcode's generation model is constructor-based. A Barcode object is instantiated with the data string and a Type enum value. Output is either saved directly with SaveImageFile() or retrieved as an Image<Rgba32> via GetImage(). Since version 1.8, the return type of GetImage() is the SixLabors.ImageSharp type, which means any code that stores or processes the return value must import and work within the ImageSharp API.

using NetBarcode;
using SixLabors.ImageSharp;
using SixLabors.ImageSharp.PixelFormats;

// Constructor-based creation
var barcode = new Barcode("12345678901234", Type.Code128);

// Save to file — straightforward
barcode.SaveImageFile("code128.png");

// GetImage() returns Image<Rgba32> — ImageSharp import required
Image<Rgba32> image = barcode.GetImage();

// Further processing requires familiarity with the ImageSharp API
using var stream = new MemoryStream();
image.SaveAsPng(stream);
byte[] bytes = stream.ToArray();

using NetBarcode;
using SixLabors.ImageSharp;
using SixLabors.ImageSharp.PixelFormats;

// Constructor-based creation
var barcode = new Barcode("12345678901234", Type.Code128);

// Save to file — straightforward
barcode.SaveImageFile("code128.png");

// GetImage() returns Image<Rgba32> — ImageSharp import required
Image<Rgba32> image = barcode.GetImage();

// Further processing requires familiarity with the ImageSharp API
using var stream = new MemoryStream();
image.SaveAsPng(stream);
byte[] bytes = stream.ToArray();

Imports NetBarcode
Imports SixLabors.ImageSharp
Imports SixLabors.ImageSharp.PixelFormats
Imports System.IO

' Constructor-based creation
Dim barcode As New Barcode("12345678901234", Type.Code128)

' Save to file — straightforward
barcode.SaveImageFile("code128.png")

' GetImage() returns Image(Of Rgba32) — ImageSharp import required
Dim image As Image(Of Rgba32) = barcode.GetImage()

' Further processing requires familiarity with the ImageSharp API
Using stream As New MemoryStream()
    image.SaveAsPng(stream)
    Dim bytes As Byte() = stream.ToArray()
End Using

The GetImage() method's return type ties downstream code to the ImageSharp library. Any method that accepts or stores the result must declare it as Image<Rgba32>, introducing a transitive dependency into calling code.

IronBarcode Approach

IronBarcode uses a fluent chain. BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode returns a GeneratedBarcode object that carries multiple output methods. Image handling is internal — no ImageSharp type is exposed to the calling code.

using IronBarCode;

// Fluent generation — save directly to file
BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("12345678901234", BarcodeEncoding.Code128)
    .SaveAsPng("code128.png");

// Multiple output options on the same GeneratedBarcode object
var barcode = BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("12345678901234", BarcodeEncoding.Code128);
barcode.SaveAsPng("code128.png");
barcode.SaveAsJpeg("code128.jpg");
byte[] bytes = barcode.ToPngBinaryData();

using var stream = new MemoryStream();
barcode.SaveAsPng(stream);

using IronBarCode;

// Fluent generation — save directly to file
BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("12345678901234", BarcodeEncoding.Code128)
    .SaveAsPng("code128.png");

// Multiple output options on the same GeneratedBarcode object
var barcode = BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("12345678901234", BarcodeEncoding.Code128);
barcode.SaveAsPng("code128.png");
barcode.SaveAsJpeg("code128.jpg");
byte[] bytes = barcode.ToPngBinaryData();

using var stream = new MemoryStream();
barcode.SaveAsPng(stream);

Imports IronBarCode

' Fluent generation — save directly to file
BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("12345678901234", BarcodeEncoding.Code128) _
    .SaveAsPng("code128.png")

' Multiple output options on the same GeneratedBarcode object
Dim barcode = BarcodeWriter.CreateBarcode("12345678901234", BarcodeEncoding.Code128)
barcode.SaveAsPng("code128.png")
barcode.SaveAsJpeg("code128.jpg")
Dim bytes As Byte() = barcode.ToPngBinaryData()

Using stream As New MemoryStream()
    barcode.SaveAsPng(stream)
End Using

Detailed options for 1D barcode generation including width, height, and label configuration are covered in the IronBarcode documentation.

NetBarcode Approach

NetBarcode has no reading API. There is no method, class, or configuration that decodes a barcode image back to its data string. This is a deliberate scope boundary, not an omission pending a release. A project that generates barcodes with NetBarcode and later needs to read them — to validate a printed label, scan a return shipment, or extract values from a supplier invoice — must introduce a separate library for that purpose.

// NetBarcode — no reading method exists
// The following does not compile because the method does not exist:
// var result = barcode.Read("image.png");  // method does not exist

// The typical workaround requires ZXing.Net as a third-party dependency

// NetBarcode — no reading method exists
// The following does not compile because the method does not exist:
// var result = barcode.Read("image.png");  // method does not exist

// The typical workaround requires ZXing.Net as a third-party dependency

' NetBarcode — no reading method exists
' The following does not compile because the method does not exist:
' Dim result = barcode.Read("image.png")  ' method does not exist

' The typical workaround requires ZXing.Net as a third-party dependency

The ZXing.Net library is the most common addition for reading alongside NetBarcode, bringing a third API surface and a third package to version-manage alongside NetBarcode and any 2D library already added for QR codes.

IronBarcode Approach

IronBarcode includes BarcodeReader in the same package as BarcodeWriter. The reading API accepts image files and PDF documents and returns a collection of decoded results, each with the barcode value, format type, and page number if reading from a PDF.

using IronBarCode;

// Read barcodes from an image file
var imageResults = BarcodeReader.Read("shipping-label.png");
foreach (var r in imageResults)
{
    Console.WriteLine($"{r.BarcodeType}: {r.Value}");
}

// Read barcodes from a PDF document — no additional library required
var pdfResults = BarcodeReader.Read("invoice.pdf");
foreach (var r in pdfResults)
{
    Console.WriteLine($"Page {r.PageNumber}: {r.Value}");
}

using IronBarCode;

// Read barcodes from an image file
var imageResults = BarcodeReader.Read("shipping-label.png");
foreach (var r in imageResults)
{
    Console.WriteLine($"{r.BarcodeType}: {r.Value}");
}

// Read barcodes from a PDF document — no additional library required
var pdfResults = BarcodeReader.Read("invoice.pdf");
foreach (var r in pdfResults)
{
    Console.WriteLine($"Page {r.PageNumber}: {r.Value}");
}

Imports IronBarCode

' Read barcodes from an image file
Dim imageResults = BarcodeReader.Read("shipping-label.png")
For Each r In imageResults
    Console.WriteLine($"{r.BarcodeType}: {r.Value}")
Next

' Read barcodes from a PDF document — no additional library required
Dim pdfResults = BarcodeReader.Read("invoice.pdf")
For Each r In pdfResults
    Console.WriteLine($"Page {r.PageNumber}: {r.Value}")
Next

The read barcodes from images guide covers speed tuning, multi-barcode detection, and image correction options available in the reading API.

NetBarcode and ImageSharp

NetBarcode is MIT-licensed. The SixLabors.ImageSharp library it depends on uses a different model: free for open-source projects and for companies with annual gross revenue below a defined threshold, but a commercial license is required above that threshold. This split applies regardless of whether ImageSharp is listed explicitly in a project's .csproj or arrives transitively through NetBarcode.

<PackageReference Include="NetBarcode" Version="1.8.2" />

<PackageReference Include="NetBarcode" Version="1.8.2" />

For a retail or logistics company processing barcodes at scale — the primary use case NetBarcode targets — annual revenue is often above the threshold at which the ImageSharp commercial licence applies. A compliance audit may reveal this obligation embedded in the package tree.

The v1.8 release introduced an additional consequence of the ImageSharp dependency: the return type of GetImage() changed from an internal representation to SixLabors.ImageSharp.Image<Rgba32>. Existing code that called GetImage() without explicit typing broke at compile time, and new using directives for SixLabors.ImageSharp and SixLabors.ImageSharp.PixelFormats became required. When ImageSharp's own API evolves in future versions, NetBarcode's public API surface is affected in turn.

IronBarcode

IronBarcode has no SixLabors.ImageSharp dependency. Its licensing terms are stated directly on the IronBarcode licensing page with no split threshold or transitive commercial obligation. A trial key is available for evaluation; purchased licenses remove the trial watermark from generated output.

QR Code and 2D Format Requirements

The most frequent trigger for evaluating an alternative to NetBarcode is a new requirement for QR codes. Applications that begin with 1D barcode generation for retail labels or shipping manifests commonly receive a follow-on requirement for QR codes — contactless links, mobile app deep links, marketing campaigns. Because the Type enum has no QR entry, this requirement cannot be met within NetBarcode. Teams that add a separate QR library to address the gap then face a second evaluation when DataMatrix is required for a pharmaceutical integration, or PDF417 for a logistics carrier that mandates it on shipping labels.

Barcode Reading Becomes Necessary

Some projects begin with pure generation and later add a validation or document-processing requirement: confirm that a printed barcode matches its source data, extract barcode values from incoming supplier invoices, or scan return shipment labels. NetBarcode provides no path for this. The addition of ZXing.Net or a comparable reading library introduces a third API to learn and maintain in the same codebase that already holds NetBarcode and a QR library. Projects that anticipate reading requirements, even in a future phase, often find it more efficient to select a library that handles both concerns from the start.

ImageSharp Commercial Licence Audit

Legal and compliance reviews of third-party dependencies occasionally surface the SixLabors.ImageSharp commercial licence condition embedded in the NetBarcode package tree. For companies whose annual gross revenue exceeds the threshold, the obligation applies whether ImageSharp was selected deliberately or arrived transitively through NetBarcode. Teams that discover this during an audit — rather than before adoption — face a retroactive remediation rather than a planned migration. Evaluating the dependency licence before starting a project is the cleaner path.

Reducing Multi-Library Complexity

Teams that have accumulated NetBarcode for 1D generation, a QR-specific library for 2D output, and ZXing.Net for reading find themselves maintaining version compatibility across three separate packages. Each upgrade cycle requires checking whether the three libraries agree on their shared ImageSharp version. Each new developer on the project encounters three different APIs for what is conceptually one concern. Consolidation to a single barcode library simplifies onboarding, reduces version conflict surface, and concentrates maintenance to one release cycle.

Package Swap and Transitive Dependency Cleanup

Removing NetBarcode with dotnet remove package NetBarcode is the first step. The SixLabors.ImageSharp package may reappear in the dependency tree if other packages in the project also pull it in transitively. After removal, inspect the restored package list with dotnet list package --include-transitive to confirm whether ImageSharp is still present and whether its commercial licence condition still applies.

GetImage() Return Type Replacement

Any code that stored the result of GetImage() as Image<Rgba32> must be updated. The ImageSharp type has no direct equivalent in IronBarcode; the replacement depends on how the image was used downstream. Code that saved the image to a stream can be replaced with .SaveAsPng(stream) directly on the GeneratedBarcode object. Code that retrieved raw bytes can use .ToPngBinaryData(). Code that performed further ImageSharp manipulations on the returned image will need those operations evaluated individually.

Namespace Update

Files that imported using NetBarcode;, using SixLabors.ImageSharp;, using SixLabors.ImageSharp.PixelFormats;, or using SixLabors.Fonts; need those directives replaced with using IronBarCode;. A project-wide search for these using statements identifies every file that requires attention before the build is attempted.