Print Manager Plus vs QZ Tray
Print Manager Plus
printmanager.comQZ Tray
qz.ioSide by side
| Figure | Print Manager Plus | QZ Tray |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $62.42/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 18 | 3 |
| Spec score · Print Management Software | 9.0 (#1) | 8.2 (#7) |
| API | Premium exposes APIs for querying and configuring users, groups, organizational units, printers and cost profiles, including balances, restrictions, actions and page costs. | The JavaScript connector enables printing and device communication from JavaScript. |
| Founded | LinkedIn lists the company as founded in 1994. | 2013 |
| Headquarters | Houston, Texas, USA | Canastota, New York, United States |
| Support | The Enterprise Edition includes phone support for one year from purchase, and the maker says its resellers provide sales and support around the world. | The maker offers free public community support on a best-effort basis and premium support with a two-business-day response. |
| What it does | Print Manager Plus tracks, audits, quotas and restricts organizational printing in Windows Active Directory or Workgroup environments. | QZ Tray connects a web client to local printers and attached devices for printing and device communication. |
Plans
Print Manager Plus
- BasicFree
- PremiumFree
- StandardFree
- Print Manager Plus Enterprise Edition (Small Business Edition)$495, paid once
- Enterprise Edition (201–300 printers)$695, paid once
- Print Manager Plus Enterprise Edition (201–300 Full License Price)$695, paid once
- Enterprise Edition (101–200 printers)$795, paid once
- Print Manager Plus Enterprise Edition (101–200 Full License Price)$795, paid once
- Enterprise Edition (51–100 printers)$895, paid once
- Print Manager Plus Enterprise Edition (51–100 Full License Price)$895, paid once
QZ Tray
- Sponsored SupportFree
- Premium Support$749 a year
- Company Branded + Premium Support$3,499 a year
In their own words
Print Manager Plus
Print Manager Plus audits, tracks, restricts, and secures printing infrastructure. Version 9.0 comes in Basic, Standard, and Premium editions, licensed per printer audited. Its audit records can include pages, color, copies, paper size, duplex status, document title, date and time, printer, and location. Administrators can set quotas and budgets, restrict printing, and create rules for users and printers. Security controls can hold, pause, or delete jobs from unrecognized users, require confirmation, and verify users before release. Authentication can use Workgroup, Active Directory, LDAP, or custom Print Manager Plus users. Premium adds client and project billing, a payment portal, printing cloud, and informational and configuration APIs. The portal integrates with PayPal Payments Pro, PayPal Payflow Pro, and the Authorize.Net payment API. A 30-day evaluation is available for all three editions. The Small Business Edition is $495, paid once, billed per Windows Server, with maintenance, updates, and phone support for one year; it is limited to 35 users and five printers per print server. Listed platforms include Windows Server and Workstation, web portal, iOS, Android, Chromebook, Surface, and Slate tablets.
QZ Tray
QZ Tray connects web clients to local printers and attached devices, enabling browser-based printing and hardware communication through its JavaScript connector. Printing support includes PDF, PNG, HTML, PCL, ESC/POS, EPL, ZPL, SBPL, and FGL. Device connections can use serial, HID, USB, socket, or file I/O. The maker lists Zebra, SATO, Epson, Citizen, Star, Boca, and Dymo among compatible printer brands. Desktop editions run on Windows, macOS, and Linux, including Intel and ARM or Apple Silicon systems; supported platforms also include iOS, Android, and ChromeOS. QZ Tray can be downloaded and used for free, with warnings, and the maker offers a free demonstration with warnings. Removing print dialogue warnings and enabling silent printing requires message signing with a certificate and private key. QZ says the signing keys are generated in the customer's browser and that it never receives a copy of the private key. Only one instance can run per machine because the software uses a localhost WebSocket connection to a single port. Premium Support costs $749.00 per year.