Table of Contents
- What is happening with cardPresso?
- The key cardPresso end-of-life dates
- What this means for you
- Meet ID ALL, the cardPresso replacement
- Which ID ALL edition matches your cardPresso license?
- The cardPresso-to-ID ALL Trade-Up Program
- How to prepare: a simple transition checklist
- Click to Buy ID ALL Here!
- Frequently asked questions
- Is cardPresso being discontinued?
- Will my cardPresso software stop working?
- Are my unused activation codes and upgrade coupons still valid?
- What is the last day to buy cardPresso XXS licenses?
- When does cardPresso support end?
- What is ID ALL and is it hard to switch to?
- How do I get ID ALL at the best price?
- Ready to make the move? We're here to help
- Click Here to Contact Groove!
If you design and print ID cards or badges with cardPresso, there is an important update you'll want to understand - and some good news that comes with it. cardPresso has officially entered the next phase of its end-of-life (EOL) cycle, and its successor, ID ALL, is now the platform the developer is building around. This guide walks through exactly what is changing, the dates that matter, what happens to the licenses and codes you already own, and how to make the move on your own timeline.
What is happening with cardPresso?
In May 2025, cardPresso introduced ID ALL, a next-generation software for ID card design and issuance. It was created specifically as the replacement for cardPresso and represents where all future development, performance improvements, and new features are headed. As part of that transition, cardPresso's end-of-life officially moves into a new phase on September 30, 2026.
End of life does not mean your software suddenly stops on a given day. Instead, it means the product moves through a defined wind-down: first the entry-level licenses can no longer be ordered, routine bug fixing stops, defect fixing ends entirely, and finally upgrade ordering and support services close. Understanding those milestones is the key to planning a smooth, stress-free transition.
The key cardPresso end-of-life dates
Here are the official milestones to mark on your calendar:
September 30, 2026 | Last day to place orders for cardPresso XXS licenses. End of minor and major defect fixing - only blocking defects will be fixed after this date. |
September 30, 2027 | End of blocking defect fixing. After this date, no further defect fixes of any kind are issued for cardPresso. |
September 30, 2028 | Last day to place orders for license upgrades. End of support services. Final day to use the cardPresso-to-ID ALL Trade-Up Program. |
If you rely on the entry-level cardPresso XXS license, the most time-sensitive date for you is September 30, 2026 - the last day those licenses can be ordered. If you may want to upgrade an existing license or you depend on official support, your deadline is September 30, 2028.
What this means for you
The end-of-life announcement is about future ordering, defect fixing, and support - not about switching off software you've already paid for. Specifically:
- Your existing cardPresso installations will continue to function with no time limit. You can keep designing and printing cards exactly as you do today.
- All unused activation codes you already hold will continue to be valid with no time limit.
- All unused upgrade coupons will continue to be valid with no time limit.
- Compatibility with future operating systems is not guaranteed. As Windows and macOS release new versions over the coming years, cardPresso may not keep pace - which is the main practical reason to plan your move to ID ALL rather than putting it off indefinitely.
So nothing breaks tomorrow. But because future OS updates aren't guaranteed to work with cardPresso, the best approach is to transition on your schedule, before an operating-system upgrade forces the issue.
Meet ID ALL, the cardPresso replacement
ID ALL is the software cardPresso built to move everything forward. It was designed by the same team behind cardPresso to handle all of your graphic and electronic card-personalization needs, from simple badges to advanced encoded credentials. If you know cardPresso, ID ALL will feel familiar - but more capable.
A few highlights that make the move worthwhile rather than just necessary:
- Full compatibility with your existing cardPresso designs, so the files you've already built carry over - making the transition easy.
- An intuitive, modern interface available in 30 languages, on both Windows and macOS, with a quick few-clicks installation.
- Automatic face cropping that detects and centers photos for you - a time-saver for any photo ID workflow.
- Flexible database connections, from an internal database and Excel, CSV and Google Sheets up to MySQL, MS Access, PostgreSQL and ODBC sources like SQL Server and Oracle.
- Encoding for magnetic stripe, contact and contactless chips, including MIFARE Classic, Ultralight (NFC) and DESFire.
- Multi-design projects, so you can manage several card layouts in one project and let the software print the right design for each record automatically.
ID ALL is where ongoing innovation, performance work, and new features are happening. Choosing it means you're on the platform that will keep improving, instead of one that's winding down.
Which ID ALL edition matches your cardPresso license?
cardPresso came in five scalable editions - XXS, XS, XM, XL and XXL - that ranged from basic design and printing up to advanced encoding and network licensing. ID ALL streamlines this into four editions: Starter, Standard, Advanced and Expert. The table below is a practical starting point for finding your equivalent. Because the two products group their features a little differently, treat this as guidance and confirm the exact match with the Groove Identification Solutions team based on the specific features you use.
XXS | Entry-level design and printing, internal database, 1D barcodes, magnetic encoding. | Starter / Standard |
XS | Adds QR codes and connections to Excel, CSV and TXT databases. | Standard |
XM | Adds MS Access, photo-on-database, face-crop tool and 2D barcodes. | Advanced |
XL | Adds ODBC connections, RFID/contactless encoding, multi-layout designs and conditional printing. | Advanced / Expert |
XXL | Adds DESFire encoding, Web Print Server and network licensing across multiple PCs. | Expert |
The cardPresso-to-ID ALL Trade-Up Program
To make the switch easy on your budget, there is a dedicated cardPresso-to-ID ALL Trade-Up Program. It lets you upgrade your existing cardPresso licenses under preferential conditions, and it's available throughout the transition period - until September 30, 2028. Rather than buying from scratch, you carry the value of what you already own into the new platform.
Because pricing and eligibility depend on the edition and licenses you currently hold, the best move is to let us check your specific setup and confirm your Trade-Up options; this way you upgrade once, correctly, with no guesswork.
How to prepare: a simple transition checklist
You don't need to do everything at once. Working through these steps over the coming months keeps you comfortably ahead of every deadline:
- Take stock of your licenses. Note which cardPresso edition (XXS, XS, XM, XL or XXL) you run, and gather any unused activation codes or upgrade coupons.
- Try ID ALL. A free, no-commitment version is available for Windows and macOS, so you can explore the interface and confirm your workflow before you buy.
- Open your existing designs in ID ALL. Because cardPresso files are compatible, this is usually a quick confidence check rather than a rebuild.
- Pick your edition. Use the mapping above as a starting point, then confirm the exact match with us based on the features you actually use.
- Claim your Trade-Up pricing. Contact Groove Identification Solutions to lock in upgrade rates before the September 30, 2028 deadline.
- Plan around OS updates. If a Windows or macOS upgrade is on your horizon, prioritize moving to ID ALL first, since future-OS compatibility for cardPresso isn't guaranteed.
Click to Buy ID ALL Here!
Frequently asked questions
Is cardPresso being discontinued?
Yes. cardPresso is in its end-of-life cycle, with the next phase starting September 30, 2026. It is being replaced by ID ALL, which launched in May 2025. Your current cardPresso software will keep working, but new development and support are winding down on the schedule above.
Will my cardPresso software stop working?
No. Existing cardPresso installations continue to function with no time limit. The end-of-life dates affect ordering, defect fixing and support - not your ability to keep using software you already have.
Are my unused activation codes and upgrade coupons still valid?
Yes. All unused activation codes and all unused upgrade coupons remain valid with no time limit, so nothing you've already purchased goes to waste.
What is the last day to buy cardPresso XXS licenses?
September 30, 2026 is the last day to place orders for cardPresso XXS licenses. If the entry-level XXS edition is part of your plans, this is the deadline to act on.
When does cardPresso support end?
Support services end on September 30, 2028, which is also the last day to order license upgrades and the final day to use the Trade-Up Program. Defect fixing ends earlier: routine (minor and major) fixes stop September 30, 2026, and blocking-defect fixes stop September 30, 2027.
What is ID ALL and is it hard to switch to?
ID ALL is the next-generation card design and issuance software that replaces cardPresso. It's designed to be easy to adopt: your cardPresso designs are compatible, the interface is intuitive and available in 30 languages, and it runs on both Windows and macOS. Most cardPresso users find the move straightforward.
How do I get ID ALL at the best price?
Use the cardPresso-to-ID ALL Trade-Up Program, available through September 30, 2028, which upgrades your existing licenses at preferential rates. Contact the Groove Identification Solutions team to confirm your eligibility and the right edition for your needs.
Ready to make the move? We're here to help
Migrating software can feel like a chore, but this one is genuinely manageable - and you don't have to figure it out alone. Whether you want to confirm which ID ALL edition matches your current cardPresso license, claim your Trade-Up pricing, or get help moving your designs, the Groove team is ready to guide you every step of the way.
Contact Groove Identification Solutions to plan your cardPresso-to-ID ALL transition:
Click Here to Contact Groove!
We'll help you upgrade correctly and on your timeline.
