Head-to-head label maker comparison

Brother P-touch CUBE Plus vs P-touch CUBE

Brother's app-connected CUBE label makers look similar from across the room, but they solve different jobs. P-touch CUBE Plus is the stronger all-around pick if you want wider labels, automatic cutting, USB desktop software, and a rechargeable battery. P-touch CUBE is the simpler mobile-first choice for compact 12mm home labels.

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Two compact app-connected label makers on a bright home office desk with organized bins, notebooks, labels, a phone, and a USB cable for the Brother P-touch CUBE Plus vs P-touch CUBE comparison
Last checked
Winner P-touch CUBE Plus
Best alternative P-touch CUBE
Verdict

Which one should most people buy?

Choose P-touch CUBE Plus if you want room to grow into 18mm and 24mm labels, cleaner batch work with an automatic cutter, and the option to design from a computer. Choose P-touch CUBE if you only need phone-made 12mm labels and want the smaller, simpler unit.

P-touch CUBE Plus is the better label maker for most shoppers.

The Plus model is the more flexible purchase because it moves beyond phone-only, narrow-label organization. Brother lists support for labels up to 24mm, USB desktop use, Bluetooth, P-touch Editor, Brother iPrint&Label, P-touch Design&Print2, automatic cutting, four print lines, and 99 copies.

P-touch CUBE still makes sense if your labels are mostly pantry bins, folders, drawers, school supplies, and craft storage. It supports Brother TZe tapes up to 12mm, uses the P-touch Design&Print2 mobile app, has a smaller 4.5 x 2.4 x 4.5 inch body, and keeps the controls simple by leaving the keyboard and screen off the device.

Products compared

The key specs

Best overall

Brother P-touch CUBE Plus PT-P710BT

Plus is the better fit when labels need to look more polished, use wider tape, come from a laptop workflow, or print in small batches. The tradeoff is size: it is larger and heavier than the basic CUBE.

Tape width
Brother TZe tapes up to 24mm
Connection
Bluetooth plus USB 2.0 Full Speed for Windows/Mac
Cutter and power
Automatic cutter; built-in Li-ion battery; USB cable included
Best for
Home offices, shop labels, craft labels, computer-designed labels, and wider storage labels.
Best simple mobile pick

Brother P-touch CUBE PT-P300BT

The standard CUBE is better for simple phone-created home labels. It covers common 3.5mm, 6mm, 9mm, and 12mm TZe tapes, but it gives up the Plus model's 24mm width, automatic cutter, USB computer workflow, and built-in rechargeable battery.

Tape width
Brother TZe tapes up to 12mm
Connection
Bluetooth mobile-app printing
Cutter and power
Manual cutter; six AAA batteries or included AC adapter
Best for
Kitchen bins, folders, school supplies, drawers, craft storage, and lighter household labeling.
Buyer guide

Choose by tape width and workflow.

The right CUBE depends less on brand and more on the labels you actually plan to make: narrow mobile labels, wider visible labels, repeated copies, or computer-designed layouts.

P-touch CUBE Plus

Buy this if / skip this if

Buy this if
  • You want 18mm or 24mm labels for bins, shelves, retail tags, craft packaging, or anything viewed from a distance.
  • You plan to design labels on a computer with P-touch Editor, not just on a phone.
  • You print repeated labels and want automatic cutting instead of manually cutting each one.
Skip this if
  • You only need simple 12mm household labels and will never use wider tape.
  • You prefer replaceable AAA batteries over charging an internal battery.
  • You want the smallest cube body for moving between rooms and drawers.
P-touch CUBE

Buy this if / skip this if

Buy this if
  • Your labels are mostly 12mm and smaller: pantry bins, file folders, toy bins, notebooks, and drawers.
  • You want a mobile-app label maker without desktop software or USB setup.
  • You value the smaller body and simple manual cutter more than batch-print convenience.
Skip this if
  • You need larger labels that stay readable on shelves, boxes, or shop displays.
  • You will print many copies in a row and do not want to use a manual cutter.
  • You want the built-in rechargeable battery and USB cable package included with the Plus model.
24mm tape changes the job

12mm labels work for close-up organization. 18mm and 24mm labels are easier to read on bins, drawers, shelves, craft packaging, and shared work areas, which is the clearest reason to choose Plus.

Automatic cutting matters in batches

A manual cutter is fine for a few pantry labels. If you make dozens of file, inventory, classroom, or craft labels at once, the Plus model's automatic cutter removes a small but repeated interruption.

Desktop software is the ownership split

P-touch CUBE Plus can sit in a computer workflow through USB and P-touch Editor. The standard CUBE is better treated as a phone-first appliance for quick labels around the house.

Before you buy

Check tape width, power, and app expectations first.

  • Pick the label width before the machine. If you may need 18mm or 24mm, skip the 12mm-only model.
  • Budget for tape refills. Both models use Brother TZe tapes, and the cartridge type matters more than the printer shape.
  • Confirm the app/software path you want. Plus supports mobile apps and desktop P-touch Editor; the basic CUBE is mainly mobile app-driven.
  • Decide how you want power handled: built-in rechargeable battery and USB cable on Plus, or AAA batteries/AC adapter on CUBE.
Side by side

Compare the trade-offs.

Plus is the wider, faster, more desktop-friendly label maker. CUBE is the smaller mobile-first model for simpler 12mm labeling.

Key buying trade-offs for the Brother P-touch CUBE Plus and P-touch CUBE label makers, based on official Brother specs and product-specific Amazon pages checked May 20, 2026.
Metric P-touch CUBE Plus PT-P710BT P-touch CUBE PT-P300BT
Best fit WinnerWider labels, desktop design, batch labels, shop/craft use, and home offices. Simple phone-created household labels up to 12mm.
Model checked Brother P-touch CUBE Plus PT-P710BT Brother P-touch CUBE PT-P300BT
Tape family and width WinnerBrother TZe tapes up to 24mm. Brother TZe tapes up to 12mm.
Connection and software WinnerBluetooth, USB 2.0 Full Speed for Windows/Mac, P-touch Editor, Brother iPrint&Label, and P-touch Design&Print2. Bluetooth mobile-app printing with P-touch Design&Print2.
Cutter WinnerAutomatic cutter. Manual cutter.
Print speed and output WinnerUp to 30mm/sec, 180 x 360 resolution, up to four lines, up to 99 copies. Up to 20mm/sec, 180 dpi, up to two lines, up to 9 copies.
Power Built-in Li-ion battery and USB cable included. Six AAA batteries or included AC adapter.
Size and weight 5 x 2.6 x 5 inches; 1.41 lb. Winner4.5 x 2.4 x 4.5 inches; 0.9 lb.
Main drawback Larger and heavier; overkill if all your labels are narrow and mobile-made. Limited to 12mm tape, manual cutting, mobile-first workflow, and no built-in rechargeable battery.
How we compared

The criteria behind the pick.

We compared official tape support, print specs, app and desktop workflows, cutter type, power, size, weight, starter supplies, and practical ownership fit. We omitted ratings, review counts, live prices, coupons, and availability because those details change often.

Specs checked

For P-touch CUBE Plus, we used Brother's product page and support specifications for tape width, Bluetooth and USB connectivity, software, automatic cutter, print speed, dimensions, weight, built-in battery, and included starter tapes. For P-touch CUBE, we used Brother's product page and support specifications for TZe tape widths, mobile-app support, manual cutter, print speed, dimensions, power, and included accessories.

Fit checked

We weighted the decision around common buyer friction: whether 12mm labels are enough, whether the buyer wants computer-designed labels, how often labels will be printed in batches, and whether built-in rechargeability or AAA battery flexibility matters more.

Best fit

P-touch CUBE Plus is better for most shoppers because it covers more label widths and workflows without leaving the compact app-connected category. P-touch CUBE remains a better fit for lower-friction home organization where narrow labels and mobile design are enough.

Source trail

What the recommendation is based on.

FAQ

Questions before checkout.

Which Brother P-touch CUBE is better for most people?

P-touch CUBE Plus is the better default if you want 24mm tapes, automatic cutting, USB desktop use, a built-in rechargeable battery, and more software options. P-touch CUBE is the simpler pick for mobile-only 12mm home labels.

Do both label makers use the same tape family?

Yes. Brother lists the TZe tape family for both models, but the supported width is different: up to 24mm on P-touch CUBE Plus and up to 12mm on P-touch CUBE.

Which one is better for computer-created labels?

P-touch CUBE Plus is the better fit because Brother lists USB 2.0 Full Speed for Windows and Mac plus P-touch Editor support. P-touch CUBE is primarily a Bluetooth mobile-app label maker.

Which one is more portable around the house?

P-touch CUBE is smaller and uses AAA batteries or an AC adapter. P-touch CUBE Plus is still compact, but it is larger and heavier while adding a built-in Li-ion battery and USB charging.

Should I choose by label width first?

Usually yes. Wider 18mm and 24mm labels are the main reason to step up to P-touch CUBE Plus. If 12mm labels are enough for pantry bins, folders, drawers, and craft storage, P-touch CUBE can be the cleaner buy.

Best overall

Brother P-touch CUBE Plus

It is the better default because it supports wider TZe tapes, desktop software, automatic cutting, Bluetooth, USB, a built-in rechargeable battery, and more room to grow beyond basic household labels.

Last checked: . Retailer availability, coupons, delivery estimates, and other listing details can change without notice.

Decision notes
Best all-around pickP-touch CUBE Plus
Best simple mobile pickP-touch CUBE
Data sourceOfficial Brother specs and Amazon product pages
Last checked
P-touch CUBE Plus Best all-around pick
Amazon