In short: there are two ways to buy an EAN code. The official body GS1 (membership + annual fee, several weeks' wait) or an independent reseller like EAN Express (one-time purchase with no subscription, from €4.90 per code, delivered by email within minutes).
Option 1 — GS1 (official body)
GS1 is the international organisation that manages EAN standards. Registering with GS1 France allows you to obtain a manufacturer prefix (your codes will all begin with a number specific to you). This is the recommended solution if:
- You are an established brand with hundreds of products.
- You sell in supermarkets (Carrefour, Auchan, Leclerc).
- You export internationally and would like to use your own prefix.
Drawbacks: recurring annual membership fee (several hundred euros depending on turnover), administrative procedures, allocation delays.
Option 2 — EAN reseller (such as EAN Express)
Resellers hold stocks of valid EAN codes, which they provide to you in the form of a licence. Ideal for:
- Online retailers, self-employed people, craftspeople and sole traders.
- Sellers on Amazon.co.uk, eBay, Etsy, OnBuy, Google Shopping.
- Small and medium-sized enterprises with a limited number of products.
Advantages: one-time purchase with no subscription, immediate delivery, volume discount (from €4.90 per unit to under €0.06 per code for large volumes), no paperwork.
Quick comparison
| Criterion | GS1 | Reseller |
|---|---|---|
| Initial cost | High (€€€) | From €4.90 |
| Subscription | Mandatory annual fee | None |
| Time to obtain | Several weeks | A few minutes |
| Large retail chains | Recommended | No |
| Marketplaces & Google Shopping | OK | OK |
Why choose EAN Express?
At EAN Express, you get valid EAN-13 codes in just a few clicks, never used before, delivered by email with their barcode in high definition (PNG + SVG). Expect €4.90 for a single code, and from €0.06 per code for large volumes. No subscription, no hidden fees, no time limits: the codes belong to you for good. To understand the importance of having valid codes, read our dedicated article.