Being the best seller for desktop label printers on Amazon is a big deal.
Amassing thousands of reviews and purchases, the Rollo thermal label printer is currently the hottest thermal printer on the market. This is especially true for entrepreneurs building a business from their home.
Rollo promotes their printer as being fast, easy, and affordable to use, compared to its competitors, like DYMO and Zebra.
So, does it truly live up to the hype it’s receiving and is it worth purchasing?
Let’s take a look.
Who Are Rollo Printers For?
Rollo thermal printers are relatively new to the market, only a few years old, but already they have racked up plenty of acclaim among buyers.
So, why does this printer exist?
Rollo printers are best suited for low-volume work, generally less than a few hundred labels per day. The vast majority of Rollo Printer owners use these printers to print 4×6 labels for shipping.
This makes the Rollo printer great for small to moderate-size businesses and people planning to ship from the comfort of their homes. While it does suit these customers well, the Rollo is designed to print upwards of 650,000 labels overall.
Rollo is also one of the more affordable printers currently available, typically retailing for around $179.99 (as of November 2021). This makes it a great option for those bootstrapped entrepreneurs looking to remain within a tight budget.
What Kinds of Labels Do They Print?
Rollo printers work with Direct Thermal (DT) labels, meaning the ink is embedded within the paper and doesn’t require a ribbon or cartridge to print.
The Rollo printer supports Fanfold and 1” core roll labels.
Some brands, like DYMO, function only with roll labels and require customers to purchase their own specific brand of labels to work. Rollo allows labels to be purchased from anywhere, offering customers more flexibility and freedom.
However, Rollo does require customers to separately purchase a label holder to be used in conjunction with their printer if you want to use roll labels. This holder sits behind the printer and helps feed the labels through.
Who Do They Work With?
Shipping Platforms
Most shipping platforms are available with this specific printer.
This freedom opens the door for a diverse amount of users and doesn’t limit customers, especially those on a budget, to purchase any one particular program.
Online Marketplaces
As with shipping platforms, Rollo allows for a plethora of online market places and multi channel merchants.
Since each marketplace caters to a particular audience, (i.e. Etsy is more specific to crafty and handmade items compared to Amazon’s massive brand and retail options) users can adjust their market place accordingly.
Couriers
Rounding out their extensive options for users, Rollo labels ship with most mail couriers.
This is particularly useful depending on the location of the sender and what is available to them locally.
Couriers like USPS and UPS offer users a discounted shipping rate if they sign up with their services.
Printer Specifications
Rollo printers are some of the smallest available, rectangular in shape and resembling a large stapler.
Without the need for an ink ribbon or cartridge, the Rollo printer requires next to no maintenance or upkeep, further cutting down on cost for users.
| Rollo | DYMO LabelWriter 4XL | Zebra ZD620 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Printer Price | $180 | $279 | $365 |
| Print Technology | Direct Thermal | Direct Thermal | Direct Thermal & Thermal Transfer |
| Core Size | 1″ Core or Fanfold | 1″ Core | 1″ Core or Fanfold |
| Printing Speed | 150 mm/s | 127 mm/s | 150 mm/s |
| Max. Media Width | 4.16″ | 4.16″ | 4.25″ |
| Resolution | 203 dpi | 300 dpi | 300 dpi |
| Media Holder | Not Included | Included | Included |
| Shop | Compatible Labels | Compatible Labels | Compatible Labels |
| Other Reviews | DYMO LabelWriter 4XL Review | Zebra ZD620 Printer Review |
Think a wireless thermal printer is more your speed? Check out our review of the Wireless Rollo and see!
The Verdict
- At its given price, Rollo is affordable for those looking to get printing done while not breaking the bank
- It’s compact, durable, and requires little to no maintenance for upkeep
- It doesn’t stifle the customer into buying only one type of label and is compatible with just about every channel to ship products
- It offers an easy set-up with a walk-through guide and how-to video available
- It supports both fanfold and roll labels that can be purchased anywhere
- Rollo can print at 300 dpi for better resolution but it causes the print speed to be slower
- High-volume jobs are possible, they are not recommended
- The label holder for roll labels does not come included and must be purchased separately
- Printer density might need increased if labels are not printing dark enough
- This is the printer for beginners and entrepreneurs with small businesses.
- For what it costs, this printer gets the job done efficiently and with little fanfare.
Step-By-Step Setup
The Rollo Printer comes with a USB cable, adapter, and power cord.
Along with those, customers will need the printer driver Rollo offers on their website. This driver is compatible with both Windows and Mac operating systems.
They include a walk-through guide and an easy to follow how-to video on their website.
- Plug one end of the USB cable into the back of the printer and the other into the connecting computer or laptop
- Plug one end of the power adapter into the printer and the other into an electrical outlet
- Turn on the power button
- Download the Rollo printer driver located on the Rollo Printer website
Rollo Printer Driver Walk-Through (Windows PC Option)
- Click “Download Windows Driver” and open the file
- Click “RolloPrinter_Drivers_Win_1.4” and allow the application to run
- Follow the instructions to install the driver
- Once downloaded, go to “Control Panel” and click “View Devices and Printers”
- Right click on the “Rollo Printer” icon to view printing preferences
- In “Layout”, click “Advanced” to set up label size; 100mm x 150mm works for most 4×6 shipping labels
- “Settings” allows for further adjustments and customization
- Once preferences are set, open label in a PDF file
- Print label*
*Make sure the printer is set to Rollo and the page size is correct to print (“Page Setup” can adjust this)
Looking to Calibrate Your Rollo Printer?
If you’re looking for step by step instructions on how to load labels and calibrate your Rollo printer, check out our article here.
