UPC-A vs EAN-13 Retail Barcodes?
Both of these barcode types are reasonably similar. – Both are used for retail purposes and are designed for international use. However, there are a couple of main differences; 1 – UPC-A Barcodes have 12 digits whereas EAN-13 Barcodes have 13 digits. 2 – UPC-A Barcodes are used almost exclusively in the USA (although they can technically be used elsewhere, as mentioned previously). EAN-13 Barcodes are used primarily outside of the USA (although they can generally be used in the USA). So, as a general rule – if your product is selling internationally, use an EAN-13 barcode. If it is selling exclusively in the USA, use a UPC-A Barcode.