Microsoft Universal Print vs Print Manager
Microsoft Universal Print
microsoft.comPrint Manager
andtechnologies.comSide by side
| Figure | Microsoft Universal Print | Print Manager |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $7.50/mo | — |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 9 | 8 |
| Spec score · Print Management Software | 8.0 (#9) | 7.9 (#12) |
| Security | The service supports Microsoft Entra ID users and security groups, HTTPS communications, X.509-backed printer device objects, and modern authentication for Zero Trust deployments. | Printing security options include authentication through Workgroup, Active Directory, LDAP, or custom Print Manager Plus users, and the ability to hold or delete unrecognized users’ jobs. |
| Support | Microsoft's FAQ directs customers to Universal Print documentation and says customers can contact support if access remains unavailable after licensing and a 24-hour wait. | The Enterprise Edition includes one year of maintenance for upgrades, updates, and phone support; the product license describes support by electronic, telephone, or internet assistance during business hours. |
Plans
Microsoft Universal Print
- Universal Print volume add-on — 500 jobs$25 a month
- Universal Print Additional Capacity — 10,000 jobs$300 a month
- Universal Print volume add-on — 500 jobs, EDU$7.50 a month
- Universal Print Additional Capacity — 10,000 jobs, EDU$90 a month
- Universal Print volume add-on (500 jobs), EDU discount$7.50 a month
- Universal Print volume add-on (500 jobs)$25 a month
- Universal Print Additional Capacity (10k), EDU discount$90 a month
- Universal Print Additional Capacity (10k)$300 a month
- Universal Print (standalone)Priced on request
Print Manager
- Enterprise Small Business Edition$495, paid once
- Enterprise Edition (201–300)$695, paid once
- Enterprise Edition (101–200)$795, paid once
- Enterprise Edition (51–100)$895, paid once
- Enterprise Edition (25–50)$995, paid once
- Enterprise Edition (10–24)$1,095, paid once
- Enterprise Edition (5–9)$1,195, paid once
- Enterprise Edition (1–4)$1,295, paid once
In their own words
Microsoft Universal Print
Microsoft Universal Print is a cloud printing service for organizations committed to the Microsoft 365 cloud. It replaces print servers with cloud-managed printer access, allowing users to print over the internet. Printing is built into supported Windows versions, without extra endpoint software or printer drivers. On macOS, printing from native applications requires the Universal Print app; in OneDrive and Excel on the web, users can choose a printer without setup or installation.
Administrators can manage printers in Azure Portal, automate tasks with PowerShell, and deploy printers with Intune. The service supports IPP and Microsoft Graph API capabilities. Its security features include Microsoft Entra ID users and groups, HTTPS, X.509-backed printer device objects, and modern authentication for Zero Trust deployments. QR code secure release can hold jobs until users retrieve them. Printers without native protocol support need a connector on a Windows computer. Each document counts as one job, regardless of pages or copies, and eligible licenses contribute to a shared monthly tenant pool. Listed capacity add-ons start at $25 a month for 500 jobs; no free plan is offered.
Print Manager
Print Manager Plus tracks, audits, restricts, and secures an organization’s printing infrastructure. Audit records can include page counts, color, copies, page size, duplex, document title, date, and time. Standard adds quotas, budgets, restrictions, rules, a release station, and event notifications. Premium adds Printing Cloud, a Payment Portal, Client and Project Billing, and informational and configuration APIs. Supported account types include Active Directory, LDAP, workgroup and local users, and custom users; administrators can hold or delete jobs from unrecognized users. The Payment Portal supports PayPal Payments Pro, PayPal Payflow Pro, and Authorize.Net. Version 9.0 is licensed per printer audited and relies on the standard Windows print subsystem. It installs on Windows 10/11 workstations and the listed Windows Server versions; jobs from other operating systems can be audited when routed through Windows print servers. Basic, Standard, and Premium editions each offer a fully functional 30-day evaluation. Listed one-time prices are per Windows Server license, from 495.00 USD for Enterprise Small Business Edition to 1,295.00 USD for Enterprise Edition (1–4).