At a Glance
| Area | AnyPrint | Microsoft Universal Print |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting | Cloud service run by AnySoft with outbound-only agents on Windows and macOS. | Microsoft-hosted service in Azure. Universal Print ready printers connect directly; other printers connect through the Universal Print connector on a Windows machine. |
| Pricing shape | NZ$5 per user or NZ$7 per workstation per month, unlimited jobs. No setup fee, no contract. | Entitlement included with Microsoft 365 E3, E5, F3, Business Premium, A3 and A5 and Windows Enterprise E3 and E5, or as a standalone subscription. Usage is a pooled monthly print-job allowance per licence (for example 100 jobs for E3, E5 and Business Premium; 5 for F3 and standalone), with paid add-ons for extra volume. |
| Identity | AnyPrint accounts with optional Microsoft Entra ID sign-in, and a tenant per client for MSPs. | Microsoft Entra ID. Users and printers live in your Microsoft 365 tenant. |
| Drivers | Built-in driver library with custom upload, installed by the agent. | Driverless, built on IPP and Mopria. Advanced features via Print Support Apps. |
| Printer deployment | Rules by network CIDR, WiFi SSID or hostname, or per user and workstation. | Printers shared to users and groups; deployment through Intune or manual add. |
| Secure release | QR code and PIN release at the printer, built in. | Not built into the service; available through third-party partner solutions. |
| Visibility and cost tracking | Live toner levels and cost allocation by cost centre, department or client. | Usage reports and job counts in the Universal Print portal. |
| Platform support | Agents for Windows and macOS. Most network printers, plus USB printers on Windows computers running the agent. | Printing from Windows, macOS and the web. Universal Print ready printers, or any printer via the connector. |
| Guest printing | No guest upload portal. Every print needs a signed-in user, and shared PCs can be licensed per workstation. | Users need a Universal Print eligible licence in the tenant. |
Based on public documentation as of October 2026; verify with the vendor. Product names belong to their respective owners.
When AnyPrint is the better fit
- You need secure release, cost allocation or live toner levels without a third-party add-on.
- Your teams are on Google Workspace, mixed identity, or you are an MSP serving many tenants.
- You print more than the pooled job allowance and want unlimited jobs at a flat price.
- You want location-based printer rules by network, WiFi or hostname.
When Universal Print may fit better
- Everyone already has a Microsoft 365 plan that includes Universal Print and prints within the pooled allowance.
- Your printers are Universal Print ready and you want driverless printing managed from Azure.
- You want print managed inside Entra ID and Intune with no additional vendor.
- You do not need secure release or cost allocation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers on how AnySoft works, what it costs, and how it fits your setup.
The entitlement is included with several Microsoft 365 and Windows Enterprise plans, with a pooled monthly print-job allowance per licence. Extra volume is a paid add-on. Check the current licence terms with Microsoft.
No. AnyPrint is NZ$5 per user or NZ$7 per workstation per month with unlimited jobs and unlimited printers.
Yes. Both are cloud services with nothing on the server, so a printer can be shared through Universal Print while AnyPrint manages the same device for secure release and cost allocation. Most teams settle on one to keep things simple.
Yes, for sign-in. Once an administrator connects your Entra tenant and links each user to their Entra account, users can sign in to the portal and the AnyPrint for Windows and macOS agents with Microsoft Entra ID. AnyPrint keeps its own user list in the portal, does not create users automatically from Entra ID, and does not require a Microsoft 365 licence.
AnyPrint includes QR code and PIN release on most network printers. Universal Print relies on partner solutions for secure release.
