About Nelko
Nelko has built Bluetooth label makers and thermal printers for home, office, and small-business organizing since 2019. The lineup runs from pocket-sized app-driven label printers to dedicated shipping-label and sticker printers, all built around the company's own companion app rather than a licensed third-party interface, with templates covering everything from pantry jars to Amazon, eBay, and Shopify shipping labels.
The line leans on direct thermal printing, which needs no ink or toner cartridges, paired with recyclable plastics in the housings — a deliberate low-waste approach the company markets alongside its labels. In our own testing, the P21 backs that positioning up with real numbers: it has accumulated tens of thousands of verified Amazon ratings at a price well under most laminated-tape competitors, evidence of sustained repeat satisfaction rather than a short promotional spike.
Brand website: nelko.com
What Nelko makes
Nelko's range runs wider than the products we review. The lines we know best from our own testing are marked with a star:
Bluetooth label printers
app-driven, direct thermal — the P21 and PM-series — featured on DeskRated
Shipping label printers
PL70E and similar, sized for 4x6 shipping labels
Sticker printers
PM230, for custom adhesive stickers
Portable photo printers
inkjet PP01/PP03 and the FLOW Photo Printer Suite
Tattoo stencil printers
D810, a specialized niche application
Label tape & consumables
direct thermal rolls and photo paper matched per model
Why we recognized Nelko
The DeskRated Top Brand recognition isn't paid for and can't be applied for. We award it to the brands whose products consistently stand out in our hands-on category reviews. Nelko earned it on the strength of the products below, evaluated the same way every product on this site is: bought, used at a real desk, and judged on merit.
Nelko products we rated highly
Nelko P21 Bluetooth Label Maker Printer
23,000+ verified reviews at under $20 makes this one of the best-validated budget label makers we've tested — sustained purchase satisfaction, not a flash-sale spike. Direct thermal inkless printing eliminates cartridges and ribbons entirely, and the USB-C rechargeable battery charges fully in about 2 hours, removing the recurring cost of AA or AAA batteries. Its BPA-free labels and Climate Pledge Friendly designation are environmental claims most budget competitors don't make at all.
Read the Best Label Makers guide →What earned Nelko the recognition
- Deep review validation — the P21 alone carries tens of thousands of verified Amazon ratings at a price point where most competitors have a fraction of that data.
- Inkless, low-waste design — direct thermal printing needs no cartridges or ribbons, and the recyclable housings and BPA-free label stock back up the sustainability claim with materials, not just marketing.
- Rechargeable over disposable — USB-C charging in about 2 hours removes the ongoing cost and interruption of AA/AAA battery replacement that many budget label makers still rely on.
- A companion app built in-house rather than licensed, giving consistent template support (300+ templates) across the company's own label and photo printer lines.