PrintNode vs QZ Tray
PrintNode
printnode.comQZ Tray
qz.ioSide by side
| Figure | PrintNode | QZ Tray |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $7.50/mo | $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 |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 10 | 3 |
| Spec score · Print Management Software | 8.2 (#6) | 8.2 (#7) |
| Headquarters | Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England | Canastota, New York, United States |
| Print formats | It supports PDF and RAW printing, including printer-native formats such as ZPL and EPL. | It supports PDF, PNG, HTML, PCL, ESC/POS, EPL, ZPL, SBPL and FGL printing from a browser. |
| Support | PrintNode says support is handled by its engineering team and offers telephone and email support. | The maker offers free public community support on a best-effort basis and premium support with a two-business-day response. |
Plans
PrintNode
- LiteFree
- Essential$9 a month
- Standard$29 a month
- Standard Integrator$60 a month
- Essential yearly$90 a year
- Premium$99 a month
- Standard yearly$290 a year
- Large Integrator$500 a month
- Premium yearly$990 a year
- Standalone ServerPriced on request
QZ Tray
- Sponsored SupportFree
- Premium Support$749 a year
- Company Branded + Premium Support$3,499 a year
In their own words
PrintNode
PrintNode is a hosted printing service that lets applications send print jobs to printers remotely through a JSON API and client software. It supports PDF and RAW printing, including printer-native formats such as ZPL and EPL. The client finds printers configured on the computer through its operating system and requires appropriate drivers; it does not search the local network for printers. USB HID and serial weighing scales are supported, with scale data available through the API or WebSockets. Developers can use the RESTful API, webhooks, WebSockets, API account management, and delegated authentication. Integrator Account holders can brand the client with their own name and logo. PrintNode says communications use TLS, documents are not read, and Base64-submitted documents are deleted after printing. Private deployment is available through a Standalone Server, and documents can be self-hosted within the customer’s network. Lite is free for 50 prints per month on one computer; Essential is $9 a month for 5,000 prints per month on three computers. A free trial is listed.
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.