I'm looking for a basic visitor check-in setup for a small lobby. Ideally, visitors would sign in on an iPad or tablet, an adhesive badge would print automatically, and the visit information would be stored for later review or CSV export. We only see around 2–5 visitors per day, so we don't need notifications, signatures, photos, or other enterprise features. Reliability and easy recovery from printer problems are more important. Our current setup uses an iPad, a Brother QL-820NWB label printer, and Lobbytrack, but badge printing has become unreliable. Has anyone found a simple system that works consistently for less than about $300 per year?
2 Answers
Before replacing your current system, test whether the visit is actually saved when the badge fails to print. That will tell you whether the problem is the check-in software or the printer connection. Any replacement should let staff reprint the existing visit without making the visitor enter everything again, and it should avoid creating duplicate log entries. Test it after the devices sit idle overnight, with an empty label roll, and after restarting the printer. Make sure the CSV export includes the fields and timestamps you need. At your visitor volume, a clear saved-but-not-printed warning and a simple backup badge may be more valuable than advanced features.
Sign In App has worked well for us. Setup was straightforward, and it handles visitor sign-in and badge printing without feeling overly complicated. It may be worth checking whether its lower-cost plan fits your annual budget.
We use it across several schools and have had good results. It also supports room or table bookings, although you can keep the setup limited to visitor sign-in if that’s all you need.