At a Glance
| Area | AnyPrint | Windows print server |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting | Cloud service run by AnySoft. A small agent on each Windows or macOS device makes outbound-only connections. | Self-hosted Windows Server on premises or in your own cloud. You own uptime, backups and failover. |
| Pricing shape | US$3 per user or US$4 per workstation per month. No setup fee, no contract. | Windows Server licensing and CALs plus the hardware or VM, backup and the admin time to run it. |
| Patching and updates | Service updates are handled by AnySoft. New agent versions ship as signed installers that you deploy by hand or through your device management. | Monthly OS and print spooler patches, with reboots that take every queue offline. |
| Drivers | Built-in driver library with custom upload. The agent installs drivers where they are needed. | Driver packages staged on the server and deployed with point-and-print, per model and per OS. |
| Printer deployment | Rules by network CIDR, WiFi SSID or hostname, or assignment per user or workstation. | Group policy preferences, login scripts or manual mapping. |
| Remote and branch staff | Print from anywhere over the internet. No VPN. | VPN or site-to-site link to reach the queue; jobs cross the tunnel to the server. |
| Secure release | QR code and PIN release at the printer on most network printers. | Not built in. Needs third-party print management software. |
| Visibility and cost tracking | Live toner levels, job history and cost allocation by cost centre, department or client. | Event logs and counters; reporting needs extra tooling. |
| Platform support | Agents for Windows and macOS. Network printers, plus USB printers plugged into a Windows computer running the agent. | Windows clients natively; macOS and Linux via IPP or SMB with manual setup. USB and network printers. |
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 want to retire the last on-premises server and its patch cycle.
- Staff print from home, branches or shared desks and you do not want a VPN for printing.
- You need secure release or cost allocation without buying another product.
- You manage several sites or clients and want one portal for all of them.
When a print server may fit better
- You have USB printers attached to Macs, or to computers that cannot run the AnyPrint agent.
- You need Linux or ChromeOS endpoints to print; AnyPrint agents are Windows and macOS.
- You are required to keep print traffic entirely on an isolated network with no internet egress.
- You already own the server licences and have no remote staff or secure-release requirement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers on how AnySoft works, what it costs, and how it fits your setup.
Yes. Keep the server running, move one site or printer group at a time with deployment rules, and retire it when the last queue is gone.
No. The agent on each device connects outbound only. There is nothing listening on your network and nothing to expose.
AnyPrint is a cloud service and needs an internet connection. Jobs to an online printer print directly over your local network, but the agent records each job with the cloud first, so while the internet is down new jobs stay paused in the Windows print queue. If your site cannot tolerate that, a local print server may be the better fit.
AnyPrint is US$3 per user or US$4 per workstation per month, with no server licence, hardware or setup fee. Most teams compare that against the Windows Server licence, CALs and the hours spent on drivers and patching.
No. AnyPrint works with most network printers and multifunction devices, plus USB printers connected to a Windows PC running the AnyPrint agent.
