
GITNUXSOFTWARE ADVICE
Manufacturing EngineeringTop 10 Best Control Printing Software of 2026
Ranked shortlist of top control printing software, including ezeep, Print Manager Plus, and Pharos, with criteria and tradeoffs for buyers.
How we ranked these tools
Core product claims cross-referenced against official documentation, changelogs, and independent technical reviews.
Analyzed video reviews and hundreds of written evaluations to capture real-world user experiences with each tool.
AI persona simulations modeled how different user types would experience each tool across common use cases and workflows.
Final rankings reviewed and approved by our editorial team with authority to override AI-generated scores based on domain expertise.
Score: Features 40% · Ease 30% · Value 30%
Gitnux may earn a commission through links on this page — this does not influence rankings. Editorial policy
Ezeep is the best fit for mid-size teams that need secure user release with centralized, policy-based routing, while Print Manager Plus is the cheapest entry if IT wants consistent release plus print accounting across shared sites, and Pharos is the enterprise alternative when governance needs allocation-aware control across many locations.
Editor’s top 3 picks
Three quick recommendations before you dive into the full comparison below — each one leads on a different dimension.
ezeep
Rule-driven printer routing combined with authenticated release, so jobs wait for a verified user action.
Built for fits when mid-size teams need secure user release with accounting and controlled routing policies..
Print Manager Plus
Editor pickQueue-side release rules that enforce authorization before jobs become printable.
Built for fits when IT needs consistent secure release and print accounting across sites with shared policy..
Pharos
Editor pickPolicy-driven secure release that coordinates authentication with queue permissions at job release time.
Built for fits when enterprise print governance needs secure release and allocation-aware accounting across sites..
Comparison Table
ezeep
SMBCloud printing software with centralized printer access control, driverless workflows, and secure release options.
Rule-driven printer routing combined with authenticated release, so jobs wait for a verified user action.
ezeep implements managed print release that fits office print rooms and departmental printer fleets where jobs must wait for a user action before output starts. It supports print queue management and job routing rules so teams can steer traffic toward approved printers instead of allowing direct device printing. Print accounting is built around job events so administrators can map prints back to users and groups for reporting and internal chargeback workflows.
A tradeoff is that deeper automation depends on how environments integrate with existing directory and client authentication because release control needs consistent identity signals. ezeep fits best when print governance requires secure release behavior and predictable printer assignment for VDI or mobile user scenarios where users should not print blindly to any reachable device.
- +Managed release flow prevents unattended outputs at shared printers
- +Print accounting captures job metadata for reporting and chargeback processes
- +Queue routing rules steer jobs to approved printers and devices
- +Policy configuration supports group-based control of printing targets
- –Secure release depends on consistent identity integration across clients
- –Advanced automation requires more admin work than basic rule setups
IT operations teams
Consolidate departmental printers with release control
Fewer misdirected prints
Finance and admins
Track printing by user and group
Clear print cost visibility
Show 2 more scenarios
Security and compliance leads
Reduce data exposure from unattended output
Lower risk of document leakage
Secure release stops immediate output and requires a verified interaction before pages print.
Workspace IT for VDI
Standardize printing for redirected sessions
Predictable printer selection
Admin-defined routing and release behavior keep VDI printing consistent across user sessions.
Best for: Fits when mid-size teams need secure user release with accounting and controlled routing policies.
Print Manager Plus
SMBPrint management software for tracking, quotas, cost recovery, and secure print release.
Queue-side release rules that enforce authorization before jobs become printable.
Print Manager Plus fits teams that manage more than one print environment and need consistent controls for who can submit, where jobs route, and when jobs become printable. It provides administrative controls that align print release behavior with user authorization and job attributes. Monitoring and reporting support print accounting workflows so print teams can connect activity to users and devices.
A common tradeoff is that tighter control requires careful initial configuration of queues, permissions, and release rules across each printer group. Print Manager Plus works best when release policies stay stable for a department or site, such as when procurement standardizes printer fleets and naming so routing rules remain predictable.
- +Centralized print release control across multiple printer groups
- +Admin governance for job permissions and release behavior
- +Print accounting visibility tied to user and device activity
- +Queue-side management reduces dependence on client-side habits
- –Queue and permission setup can take multiple iterations
- –Limited flexibility for highly custom per-application routing
IT operations teams
Secure release across printer groups
Fewer policy violations in release
Finance and cost accounting
User-level print accounting reporting
Cleaner cost center attribution
Show 1 more scenario
Security and compliance teams
Governed print release for sensitive docs
Reduced exposure of unattended jobs
Release behavior is constrained by administrative rules instead of local printer access.
Best for: Fits when IT needs consistent secure release and print accounting across sites with shared policy.
Pharos
enterpriseEnterprise print management software focused on secure printing, cost control, and analytics.
Policy-driven secure release that coordinates authentication with queue permissions at job release time.
Pharos manages print queues with policy enforcement so users can submit jobs and release them after authentication. The workflow supports secure release patterns used in regulated sites that restrict who can print and when. Print accounting and cost-center style allocation help teams track usage across sites and departments.
A key tradeoff is that policy coverage depends on consistent client behavior and queue wiring, so printer access may fail if endpoints are misconfigured. Pharos works best when administrators can standardize submission paths across office, VDI, and edge print scenarios to keep release rules aligned.
- +Secure release tied to authentication and queue policies
- +Print accounting oriented toward departments and allocation tracking
- +Rule-based administration for controlled job submission paths
- +Clear operational model for print release workflows
- –Endpoint and queue configuration errors can block release
- –Automation surface requires administrator scripting knowledge for depth
- –Complex policy sets increase admin overhead during changes
IT print operations teams
Centralize release and access policies
Fewer policy bypass incidents
Finance and cost accounting owners
Track departmental print usage
Tighter cost attribution
Show 1 more scenario
Security and compliance teams
Restrict printing until verification
Reduced exposure of unattended output
Release gating keeps sensitive output from printing until user verification completes.
Best for: Fits when enterprise print governance needs secure release and allocation-aware accounting across sites.
PrinterOn
enterpriseCloud-based mobile and remote printing platform that controls print submission and release across locations.
Authentication backed job availability for pull style secure release, coordinated between cloud job intake and paired device queues.
PrinterOn focuses on cloud print access for distributed organizations, using a web and API driven job flow that routes print requests to managed devices. It supports pull style release through user authentication and secure job availability windows, which reduces accidental prints in shared venues.
Admin capabilities center on queue configuration, device pairing, and job tracking, with automation options through API endpoints for onboarding and job status. For print teams, the practical distinction is how PrinterOn combines cloud gateway ingestion with device side release controls rather than acting as a local print server replacement.
- +API-first job submission and status checks fit automated print routing
- +Secure pull release reduces misprints in shared printer environments
- +Device provisioning supports pairing printers to managed endpoints
- +Job tracking supports audit friendly operational visibility
- –Release control depends on correct queue and authentication configuration
- –Advanced accounting and cost allocation typically require integration work
Best for: Fits when a print team needs cloud driven job intake, controlled release, and API automation across locations.
Plus Technologies OM Plus
enterpriseOutput management software providing print job control, routing, and delivery confirmation for enterprise print environments.
Workflow-based secure release tied to accounting allocation, so release permissions and reconciliation use the same job context.
Plus Technologies OM Plus manages control printing workflows by orchestrating job preparation, secure release, and post-print reconciliation for managed printer fleets. The software focuses on print accounting and job routing controls that map print activity to organizational units and operational targets.
OM Plus also supports automation hooks for integrating with print queue and release behaviors without manual operator steps. Administrative governance centers on configuring workflow rules, controlling who can release which jobs, and tracking job activity through reporting and logs.
- +Tight workflow control for secure release and operator handoff
- +Print accounting support links jobs to organizational allocations
- +Job routing rules reduce reliance on manual queue selection
- +Operational visibility through job tracking and activity logs
- –Configuration depth increases time needed for first deployment
- –Advanced release behaviors depend on consistent queue naming and setup
- –Integration work can be required to align with existing print infrastructure
- –Reporting requires admin attention to keep allocations accurate
Best for: Fits when print operations need controlled release and accounting with governance for shared printer pools.
Vasion Print
SMBCloud print management for driver deployment, print routing, and secure release.
Secure release controls that tie job release behavior to authenticated identity and tracked job metadata.
Vasion Print is a control printing software option focused on job brokering, secure release workflows, and print accounting for mixed printer environments. It is built around a central service that can route jobs to the right queue, apply release rules tied to user identity, and track usage for cost center style reporting.
Administrators can integrate the release flow with existing authentication patterns and workflow requirements used by enterprise print services. Vasion Print also supports automation through integration points used to move jobs and status between systems.
- +Centralized job routing supports consistent queue selection across sites
- +Secure release workflow reduces unattended print output risk
- +Print accounting captures usage tied to users and destinations
- +Automation hooks help wire release and status into enterprise workflows
- –Driver and queue setup can require careful printer naming consistency
- –Release policies depend on correct identity mapping for each user
Best for: Fits when print teams need secure release and accounting with enterprise workflow integration.
Tungsten Equitrac
enterpriseEnterprise print control software with accounting, secure release, and cost allocation.
Job release tied to managed identities and accounting output in the same control flow, reducing mismatches between what was printed and who released it.
Tungsten Equitrac is a control printing product focused on secure release and print accounting tied to managed identities. It routes jobs through policy, enabling badge or user-based release while tracking page and document usage for reporting.
Administration centers on centralized configuration and governance for devices and users, which helps standardize print behavior across sites. Integration options and automation features are oriented around connecting print flows to existing environments and enforcing consistent job policies.
- +Secure release workflows with badge or user identity gating at job time
- +Print accounting supports page and document level reporting for chargeback
- +Centralized policy controls standardize driverless printing behavior across fleets
- +Administrative configuration supports consistent release and routing rules per site
- –Release and accounting depends on consistent identity mapping to job tickets
- –Complex deployments require disciplined governance for device and driver onboarding
Best for: Fits when mid-market and enterprise print fleets need secure release plus print accounting with centralized policy enforcement.
Microsoft Universal Print
API-firstCloud print infrastructure for centralized printer management and driverless printing.
Cloud-first printer provisioning tied to Entra identity and managed access policies inside the Universal Print tenant.
Microsoft Universal Print replaces print-server management by using cloud-backed provisioning and job handling built around the Universal Print service. It integrates with Microsoft Entra ID for user identity, policy-driven printer access, and job submission through a universal print driver and standards-based print paths.
Admin workflows center on tenant configuration, printer onboarding, and access controls that work across managed Windows clients and supported mobile or VDI scenarios. For secure release and accounting-style governance, it relies on partner ecosystems and job metadata capture rather than offering the full control-printing stack by itself.
- +Entra ID-backed printer access control reduces local admin sprawl
- +Universal Print driver simplifies deployment across mixed Windows endpoints
- +Cloud provisioning supports adding and managing printers without dedicated print servers
- +Job metadata in the cloud improves accounting and reporting via integrations
- –Secure release workflows depend on external secure release tooling
- –Quota enforcement and page-level accounting require additional configuration and add-ons
- –Universal Print driver coverage can be limited for niche device models
- –Onboarding printer connectors and network paths adds operational overhead
Best for: Fits when print teams want Entra-driven printer governance without maintaining legacy print servers.
Xerox Workplace Suite
enterprisePrint management software for secure release, mobile printing, and print administration.
Centralized management of print release and job handling policies across Xerox fleet configurations.
Xerox Workplace Suite coordinates print control features around centralized management of output workflows and document release. It supports administration for device groups, user access, and job handling rules that map users to printers and policies across fleets.
The suite also includes reporting and operational monitoring so print teams can track activity tied to user and job context. In practice, governance and automation depend on how closely Workplace Suite is integrated with the surrounding print environment and authentication sources.
- +Centralized workflow management across mixed Xerox device fleets
- +Role-based access options for limiting who can release and manage jobs
- +Operational reporting that ties job activity to user and device groups
- +Policy-driven routing rules that reduce manual printer selection
- –Control outcomes depend heavily on surrounding authentication and directory alignment
- –Advanced automation requires careful configuration across servers and device settings
- –Limited breadth of non-Xerox device coverage in mixed environments
- –Integration effort rises when print release workflows span multiple job entry points
Best for: Fits when print teams standardize on Xerox devices and need centralized job policies with strong administrative oversight.
Ricoh Streamline NX
enterprisePrint fleet management with secure printing, accounting, and document workflow controls.
Secure release and queue policy enforcement designed to work with Ricoh print workflows, reducing release bypass risks.
Ricoh Streamline NX targets print teams that need control around where print jobs go and when users can release them. It centers on secure release workflow, print queue management, and print accounting integrations tied to organizational policies.
It fits environments that want governance for job routing and quota enforcement across multiple devices and print servers. Compared with other control printing tools, its differentiator is the combination of Ricoh-oriented workflow controls and administrative tooling for managing secure release and accounting at scale.
- +Secure release workflow control for managed print devices
- +Print accounting integration supports chargeback style reporting
- +Administration tooling fits organizations with multiple sites
- +Consistent policy enforcement across managed queues
- –Integration depth can depend on the surrounding Ricoh print stack
- –Advanced automation requires careful queue and policy design
- –Driver coverage gaps can appear on non-Ricoh device fleets
- –Reporting granularity may be limited without supplemental configuration
Best for: Fits when print teams must enforce secure release and accounting across multi-queue device fleets.
Conclusion
After evaluating 10 manufacturing engineering, ezeep stands out as our overall top pick — it scored highest across our combined criteria of features, ease of use, and value, which is why it sits at #1 in the rankings above.
Use the comparison table and detailed reviews above to validate the fit against your own requirements before committing to a tool.
How to Choose the Right control printing software
Control printing software governs print jobs from submission through authenticated release, so teams can prevent unattended outputs at shared devices and tie job actions to reporting. This guide covers ezeep, Print Manager Plus, Pharos, PrinterOn, Plus Technologies OM Plus, Vasion Print, Tungsten Equitrac, Microsoft Universal Print, Xerox Workplace Suite, and Ricoh Streamline NX. The featured tools differ in how they apply authorization before a job becomes printable and how they capture job metadata for accounting and allocation reporting.
ezeep leads with rule-driven printer routing paired with authenticated release, so jobs wait for verified user action at the release point. Print Manager Plus enforces queue-side release rules that check authorization before jobs become printable, while Pharos coordinates authentication with queue permissions at job release time.
Control printing software for authenticated release, queue governance, and print accounting
Control printing software controls what happens to a print job across the print queue pipeline using release rules tied to identity checks. It keeps jobs from becoming printable until the user or device context matches configured authorization and policy, which reduces misprints and policy bypass on shared printers. Many deployments also record job metadata to support print accounting for reporting and chargeback style allocation.
ezeep pairs rule-driven printer routing with authenticated release and uses print accounting to capture job metadata for reporting. Print Manager Plus focuses on centralized release control across printer groups with admin governance over job permissions and release behavior, while Pharos ties secure release to authentication and queue policies at the moment of job release.
Control printing evaluation criteria that map to release and accounting outcomes
This buyer’s guide focuses on features that control when a job becomes printable and how job metadata is recorded for reporting. The goal is to prevent unattended outputs and to make release actions auditable in operational reporting.
Each criterion below connects to a specific capability surfaced in the tool cards. The same features also decide how much admin configuration effort teams face after deployment.
Authenticated secure release tied to routing and queue permissions
ezeep uses authenticated release paired with rule-driven printer routing so jobs wait for verified user action before output. Print Manager Plus and Pharos enforce queue-side authorization before or at release time to stop policy bypass on shared printers.
Queue-side governance for multi-site printer groups
Print Manager Plus centralizes secure release control across multiple printer groups with governance for job permissions. Xerox Workplace Suite also centralizes print release and job handling policies across Xerox fleet configurations.
API-first automation for cloud intake and job status control
PrinterOn provides API-first job submission and status checks that fit automated print routing across locations. This category requires automation surfaces that reduce manual release steps when cloud job intake is part of the workflow.
Print accounting depth for reporting and chargeback style allocation
ezeep captures job metadata for reporting and chargeback style processes through print accounting. Tungsten Equitrac and Pharos provide accounting oriented toward page or document level reporting and department or allocation tracking.
Workflow-based release control that reuses job context for reconciliation
Plus Technologies OM Plus ties secure release workflow decisions to accounting allocation so release permissions and reconciliation use the same job context. Vasion Print also ties release behavior to authenticated identity and tracked job metadata for coordinated secure release and accounting.
Release flow reliability that avoids blocking failures at the device edge
Pharos can block release when endpoint and queue configuration errors occur, which makes configuration correctness a functional requirement. Ricoh Streamline NX and Xerox Workplace Suite similarly depend on surrounding authentication and directory alignment for consistent outcomes.
Identity mapping consistency between endpoints and job tickets
ezeep’s secure release depends on consistent identity integration across clients. Tungsten Equitrac and Vasion Print both rely on consistent identity mapping between authenticated users and job tickets to keep release and accounting aligned.
Pick control printing software by release model, automation needs, and governance workload
Control printing tools differ most in where authorization happens in the flow. Some enforce release at the queue moment, others pair policy with routing rules, and cloud intake tools add automation hooks around job availability.
Teams should also match accounting requirements to the same job context used during release. This avoids mismatches between who released a job and what accounting reports claim was printed.
Select the release control point based on how printers are shared
If shared printers require jobs to wait for a verified user action at release time, choose ezeep for rule-driven routing combined with authenticated release. If authorization must be enforced before a job becomes printable at the queue, choose Print Manager Plus for queue-side release rules or Pharos for queue permission coordination at job release time.
Choose the governance shape that matches your site and queue layout
For centralized governance across printer groups spanning sites, choose Print Manager Plus because it centralizes release control across multiple printer groups. For organizations standardizing on one device ecosystem, choose Xerox Workplace Suite to manage release and job handling policies across Xerox fleet configurations.
Match automation requirements to the tool’s integration surface
If workflows depend on cloud job intake and automated routing that needs API-first submission and status checks, choose PrinterOn for its API-first job submission and status checks. If the environment needs cloud-first printer governance tied to Entra identity with tenant-based access policies, choose Microsoft Universal Print for Entra-driven printer provisioning.
Map accounting granularity to how chargeback and allocation are handled
If reporting and chargeback style processes require job metadata captured alongside controlled release, choose ezeep or Vasion Print. If accounting must align to allocation-aware accounting across departments or document-level reporting, choose Pharos or Tungsten Equitrac.
Decide how much configuration discipline the deployment can sustain
If the deployment team can maintain disciplined printer naming and identity mapping, choose Vasion Print because driver and queue setup requires consistent printer naming and identity mapping. If the release and queue setup must reduce operational risk from edge configuration errors, choose tools with a clearer tie between release coordination and authentication plus queue policy, such as Pharos or Ricoh Streamline NX.
Use workflow-based release when reconciliation must reuse job context
If release permissions and operator handoff must use the same job context used for reconciliation, choose Plus Technologies OM Plus because release workflow ties directly to accounting allocation. If the environment needs identity-gated release plus accounting output in the same control flow, choose Tungsten Equitrac to reduce mismatches between what is printed and who released it.
Who should use which control printing software controls
Control printing software fits teams that must prevent unattended outputs and tie release actions to reporting. The tools in this guide target both operational print governance and reporting accuracy across shared printers.
The best fit depends on whether authorization happens at the queue moment, whether routing rules must be coupled to release, and whether accounting must support department and allocation tracking.
Mid-size print teams needing secure user release with controlled routing policies
ezeep is built for rule-driven printer routing combined with authenticated release so jobs wait for verified user action. Print accounting in ezeep captures job metadata for reporting and chargeback style processes.
IT teams standardizing secure release and print accounting across sites with shared policy
Print Manager Plus centralizes secure release control across multiple printer groups and provides governance over job permissions and release behavior. Its queue-side release rules enforce authorization before jobs become printable.
Enterprise print governance teams that require secure release coordinated with authentication and queue permissions
Pharos ties secure release to authentication and queue policies at job release time. Its accounting is oriented toward departments and allocation tracking for release accountability.
Organizations with cloud job intake that need API automation across locations
PrinterOn supports API-first job submission and status checks and coordinates pull style secure release between cloud job intake and device queues. This reduces manual handling when jobs are created off-site.
Environments standardizing on one vendor’s fleet management workflows
Xerox Workplace Suite centralizes workflow management for print release and job handling across mixed Xerox fleet configurations. It also offers role-based access options for limiting who can release and manage jobs.
Common control printing mistakes that break release and accounting
Many failures come from mismatches between identity, queue configuration, and the release moment. When those elements do not align, jobs either never release or release without consistent accounting context.
The pitfalls below map to concrete behaviors of the listed tools so teams can test the right failure modes during rollout.
Assuming secure release will work without consistent identity integration across endpoints and clients
ezeep’s secure release depends on consistent identity integration across clients, so identity mapping gaps cause release failures or accounting mismatches. Vasion Print and Tungsten Equitrac also rely on correct identity mapping to job tickets.
Overlooking that endpoint and queue configuration errors can block secure release at runtime
Pharos can block release when endpoint and queue configuration errors occur, so change management must include queue and endpoint validation. Ricoh Streamline NX and Xerox Workplace Suite also depend heavily on surrounding authentication and directory alignment.
Picking a release control model that does not match how printers are shared in operations
Queue-side release authorization differences matter, since Print Manager Plus enforces authorization before jobs become printable while Pharos coordinates queue permissions at job release time. Teams that mix release models without updating operational workflows can see repeated admin iterations and delays.
Treating accounting requirements as a separate project after deployment
Plus Technologies OM Plus ties secure release workflow to accounting allocation so reconciliation uses the same job context. Tools like ezeep and Pharos similarly capture metadata for reporting and allocation tracking, so accounting settings must be designed alongside release rules.
Underestimating configuration depth when routing flexibility must be custom per application
Print Manager Plus can require multiple iterations for queue and permission setup and it has limited flexibility for highly custom per-application routing. ezeep’s rule-driven routing offers depth, but advanced automation requires more admin work than basic rule setups.
How We Selected and Ranked These Tools
We evaluated ezeep, Print Manager Plus, Pharos, PrinterOn, Plus Technologies OM Plus, Vasion Print, Tungsten Equitrac, Microsoft Universal Print, Xerox Workplace Suite, and Ricoh Streamline NX across release control depth, routing governance, and job metadata capture. Features scored at 40% because tools needed authenticated secure release and print accounting outcomes that remain consistent through the release moment.
Ease and value each scored at 30% because queue and endpoint configuration effort determines rollout time and operational stability. ezeep separated itself by pairing rule-driven printer routing with authenticated release while also using print accounting to capture job metadata for reporting and chargeback style processes.
Frequently Asked Questions About control printing software
How do ezeep and Print Manager Plus differ in where release policy is enforced in the print path?
Which tool connects better for automation when print workflows must move job state across systems through APIs?
When teams need Entra-based identity for printer access and job submission, which option fits best?
How does Pharos handle secure release and accounting mapping to departments at release time?
What breaks if a print environment requires badge release but uses only authentication-free queue permissions?
Where does PrinterOn fall short compared with full control-printing stacks like Ricoh Streamline NX for on-prem governance?
How do data migration and job reconciliation differ between OM Plus and Xerox Workplace Suite during cutover?
What admin controls matter most when access must be limited by device groups and user mappings?
How does Tungsten Equitrac’s job context reduce mismatches between who released a job and what got printed?
Tools reviewed
Primary sources checked during evaluation.
Referenced in the comparison table and product reviews above.
- Top 10 Best Control System Software of 2026
- Top 10 Best Control System Design Software of 2026
- Top 10 Best Control Panel Wiring Software of 2026
- Top 10 Best Control Panel Software of 2026
- Top 10 Best Control Panel Layout Software of 2026
- Top 10 Best Control Panel Design Software of 2026
- Top 10 Best Control Management Software of 2026
- Top 10 Best Control Design Software of 2026
- Top 10 Best Contractors Estimate Software of 2026
- Top 10 Best Contracting Estimating Software of 2026
- Top 10 Best Computerized Maintenance Management System Cmms Software of 2026
- Top 10 Best Computerised Maintenance Software of 2026
- Top 10 Best Computerised Maintenance Management Software of 2026
- Top 10 Best Computer System Hardware Software of 2026
- Top 10 Best Comparing Cad Software of 2026
- Top 10 Best Commercial Making Software of 2026
- Top 10 Best Cnc Simulator Software of 2026
- Top 10 Best Cnc Simulation Software of 2026
- Top 10 Best Cnc Routers Software of 2026
- Top 10 Best Cnc Routing Software of 2026
Keep exploring
Comparing two specific tools?
Software Alternatives
See head-to-head software comparisons with feature breakdowns, pricing, and our recommendation for each use case.
Explore software alternatives→In this category
Manufacturing Engineering alternatives
See side-by-side comparisons of manufacturing engineering tools and pick the right one for your stack.
Compare manufacturing engineering tools→