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Top 10 Best Terminal Services Printing Software of 2026
A ranked comparison of terminal services printing software covers evaluation criteria, strengths, and tradeoffs for IT teams selecting a suitable deployment.
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%
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LRS VPSX is the strongest overall choice when distributed enterprises need centralized control across RDS, Citrix, mainframe, and mixed application printing, while UniPrint Infinity is the better fit for governing print across VDI, remote desktops, and branch offices.
Editor’s top 3 picks
Three quick recommendations before you dive into the full comparison below — each one leads on a different dimension.
LRS VPSX
VPSX centralizes print management across Windows, Citrix, Unix, SAP, and mainframe environments within one server architecture.
Built for fits when distributed enterprises need centralized control across terminal services and heterogeneous application print sources..
UniPrint Infinity
Editor pickCloud-hosted Print Management Console centralizes printer, user, policy, and reporting administration across mixed virtual environments.
Built for fits when distributed enterprises need centralized print governance across VDI, remote desktops, and branch offices..
Celiveo
Editor pickServerless direct-IP architecture paired with embedded secure-release and scan applications on multifunction printers
Built for fits when distributed enterprises need secure terminal-session printing with embedded multifunction-printer workflows..
Related reading
Comparison Table
Terminal services printing software maps print jobs from remote application and desktop sessions to local or shared printers. This ranking helps analysts, operators, and technical evaluators compare deployment models, session compatibility, provisioning, security controls, administration, and audit coverage against the tradeoff between centralized control and user access.
LRS VPSX
enterpriseEnterprise output management server that manages print jobs across RDS, Citrix, and mainframe environments.
VPSX centralizes print management across Windows, Citrix, Unix, SAP, and mainframe environments within one server architecture.
LRS VPSX places print processing and queue control in a centralized server layer instead of relying solely on session-local printer configuration. Administrators can manage shared queues, printer assignments, routing rules, and output destinations through centralized controls. Support for Windows, Citrix, Unix, SAP, and mainframe print sources gives the product broader integration coverage than terminal-only utilities.
The deployment requires careful planning for queue ownership, application connections, printer naming, and failover design. VPSX fits a distributed enterprise where users access applications through terminal services but output still reaches branch, warehouse, or office printers. Smaller environments may find its cross-platform architecture excessive for a few Windows print queues.
- +Centralizes print queues across Windows, Citrix, Unix, SAP, and mainframe sources
- +Reduces printer-driver dependencies inside terminal sessions
- +Supports centralized routing and queue administration
- +Fits distributed enterprises with mixed application environments
- –Deployment requires detailed queue and application integration planning
- –Cross-platform administration exceeds the needs of small Windows-only sites
- –Implementation often requires administrators familiar with enterprise print infrastructure
- –User self-service features are less central than server-side administration
Citrix infrastructure teams
Branch-office session printing
Consistent branch output
SAP operations teams
Distributed SAP document printing
Centralized SAP output
Show 2 more scenarios
Enterprise print administrators
Mixed host print consolidation
Unified print operations
VPSX brings Windows, Unix, and mainframe print sources under shared queue and routing administration.
Managed service providers
Multi-site printer administration
Lower administrative duplication
VPSX provides a central control layer for printer queues serving geographically separated customer locations.
Best for: Fits when distributed enterprises need centralized control across terminal services and heterogeneous application print sources.
More related reading
UniPrint Infinity
vertical specialistUniversal print solution designed for Citrix, Microsoft RDS, and VMware Horizon environments.
Cloud-hosted Print Management Console centralizes printer, user, policy, and reporting administration across mixed virtual environments.
UniPrint Infinity consolidates printer deployment, user permissions, print queues, and reporting through a centralized management console. Its universal driver reduces dependence on individual manufacturer drivers, while secure release workflows hold jobs until users authenticate at a designated device. Support for session printer mapping helps connect users with approved printers across virtual desktop sessions.
The product requires environment-specific validation for specialized printers, label devices, and multifunction hardware. It fits organizations consolidating print administration across branch offices, hosted desktops, and remote application sessions. Cloud connectivity also becomes an operational dependency for centralized administration and policy delivery.
- +Centralized administration spans VDI, RDS, and distributed office printers
- +Universal driver reduces manufacturer-driver deployment across virtual sessions
- +Secure release supports authentication before sensitive documents print
- +Policy controls and reporting support governed enterprise printing
- –Specialized label and finishing devices still require compatibility testing
- –Cloud administration introduces dependency on network availability
- –Complex deployments need careful printer policy design
- –Advanced integrations may require vendor-specific implementation work
VDI infrastructure teams
Managing multi-site virtual desktops
Consistent virtual printing controls
Healthcare IT departments
Protecting clinical document output
Reduced unattended documents
Show 2 more scenarios
Branch-office administrators
Supporting remote application users
Lower branch administration
Central policies connect distributed users with approved local printers without separate management at every branch.
Managed service providers
Operating shared print environments
Cleaner customer separation
Tenant-aware administration separates customer printer access, policies, and reporting across hosted desktop deployments.
Best for: Fits when distributed enterprises need centralized print governance across VDI, remote desktops, and branch offices.
Celiveo
enterprisePrint management and secure pull-printing platform with dedicated terminal services support.
Serverless direct-IP architecture paired with embedded secure-release and scan applications on multifunction printers
Celiveo provides centralized printer provisioning, queue management, user authentication, job tracking, and policy controls across Microsoft RDS and Citrix environments. Its embedded applications can add badge release, secure scan routing, copy control, and document accounting directly at supported multifunction printers. Integration with directory services and enterprise print infrastructure reduces dependence on workstation-specific drivers.
The broader feature set requires more planning than a lightweight session printer mapping utility, especially for device enrollment, identity policy, and embedded application deployment. Celiveo fits organizations that need secure release and audit data across branch offices while keeping print services independent of individual terminal servers.
- +Serverless direct-IP printing reduces dependence on centralized print servers
- +Embedded MFP applications support secure release, scan routing, and copy control
- +Central administration applies user, device, and print policies across locations
- +Detailed accounting records support departmental allocation and usage analysis
- –Deployment requires device compatibility checks and structured policy configuration
- –Embedded workflows depend on supported multifunction-printer models
- –The broader feature set can exceed the needs of simple RDS printing
- –Advanced governance requires disciplined identity and device administration
Distributed enterprise IT teams
Branch-office secure print deployment
Lower branch infrastructure overhead
Citrix infrastructure administrators
Session-based application printing
Consistent session printing
Show 2 more scenarios
Healthcare records departments
Confidential document release
Fewer exposed documents
Badge authentication holds sensitive jobs until authorized users release them at designated multifunction printers.
Finance operations teams
Departmental print accounting
More accurate chargeback data
Usage records associate print activity with users, departments, devices, and configurable accounting categories.
Best for: Fits when distributed enterprises need secure terminal-session printing with embedded multifunction-printer workflows.
More related reading
Equitrac
enterprisePrint cost recovery and secure release platform with terminal server deployment support.
Follow-You Printing combines user authentication, centralized queues, and device-independent release across managed multifunction printers.
Equitrac combines print accounting with policy-driven secure release and Follow-You Printing for controlled document output. Administrators can assign charges to users, departments, clients, matters, or billing codes while applying rules for color, duplex, quotas, and device selection. Integration with Microsoft Remote Desktop Services and Citrix environments supports centralized control across terminal-service deployments.
- +Follow-You Printing lets users release documents at authorized devices.
- +Accounting supports users, departments, clients, matters, and billing codes.
- +Rules can restrict color output, enforce duplexing, and apply quotas.
- +Citrix and Microsoft RDS integrations support centralized administration.
- –Deployment requires coordination across print servers, directory services, and multifunction devices.
- –Embedded device capabilities vary across printer and multifunction-device manufacturers.
- –Advanced reports can require careful configuration of accounting structures and filters.
- –Smaller environments may not need its full accounting and policy framework.
Best for: Fits when terminal-service environments need secure release, departmental accounting, and centralized print policies across mixed printer fleets.
Parallels RAS
enterpriseApplication delivery and VDI platform that includes universal printing for Remote Desktop Services.
Universal Printing routes endpoint printers into published applications without requiring matching host-side driver packages.
Parallels RAS delivers published desktops and applications while redirecting endpoint printers through its Universal Printing component. The printing system avoids installing matching printer drivers inside hosted sessions and supports centralized printer access policies.
A management console, REST API, and PowerShell tooling support farm administration, provisioning, and recurring configuration tasks. Printing remains tied to the broader remote application delivery stack, so dedicated print-accounting or specialized queue workflows may require additional tooling.
- +Universal Printing avoids installing matching printer drivers inside hosted sessions.
- +Central policies control printer access by user, group, device, and session.
- +REST API and PowerShell support administrative automation beyond the console.
- +Published applications retain endpoint printer access across supported client devices.
- –Advanced print workflows depend on Windows session-host and endpoint compatibility.
- –Troubleshooting spans endpoints, hosts, and Windows spooler components.
- –The broader RAS architecture adds components beyond a dedicated print management product.
- –Reporting focuses more on session administration than detailed print-accounting analytics.
Best for: Fits when organizations need managed remote applications with integrated endpoint printing and centralized session administration.
Citrix Universal Print Server
enterpriseCitrix Universal Print Server manages printing across Citrix virtual application and desktop sessions.
Citrix UPServer keeps printer drivers on Windows print servers, reducing driver installation across Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops hosts.
Citrix Universal Print Server separates printer-driver hosting from Citrix session hosts by adding a Citrix print component to Windows print servers. It supports Citrix Universal Print Driver and native Windows printer queues for session-based applications. Citrix policies control universal-driver use, printer creation, and print-server connections while existing Windows queue administration remains available.
- +Moves printer-driver hosting from session hosts to designated Windows print servers.
- +Supports Citrix Universal Print Driver across varied printer models.
- +Retains existing Windows shared queues and print-server administration.
- +Uses Citrix policies to govern universal-driver selection and printer creation.
- –Needs a Windows print server and Citrix components outside the session-host image.
- –Does not include native pull-print release, print quotas, or accounting workflows.
- –Troubleshooting spans Citrix policies, Windows queues, drivers, and endpoint connections.
- –Mixed printer fleets still require driver compatibility testing before broad deployment.
Best for: Fits when Citrix deployments need centralized Windows print queues without installing every printer driver on session hosts.
More related reading
ezeep Blue
SMBezeep Blue delivers cloud printing for remote desktops, virtual applications, and distributed users.
Cloud-managed printer assignment connects virtual desktops to distributed office printers through one administrative control plane.
ezeep Blue uses a cloud-managed architecture that removes the need for a traditional print server in many terminal-services deployments. Its client components connect Windows virtual desktops with local and network printers while the administrator portal controls users, groups, printers, and policies. Identity integrations support centralized provisioning, and the universal driver reduces driver deployment across mixed printer fleets.
- +Cloud architecture reduces print-server maintenance for RDS, Citrix, and hosted desktop environments.
- +Universal Printer Driver limits driver installation across mixed printer fleets.
- +Central console assigns printers to users and groups.
- +Identity integrations support centralized account provisioning and access control.
- –Advanced routing policies may require separate identity and endpoint configuration.
- –Print-job accounting and audit reporting are less extensive than dedicated enterprise print suites.
- –Offline printing depends on installed client components and network availability.
- –Specialized finishing features may require manufacturer-specific drivers and compatibility testing.
Best for: Fits when hosted desktop teams need centrally assigned printing without maintaining dedicated print servers.
Vasion Print
enterpriseVasion Print provides cloud-managed printer deployment and print control for distributed workforces.
Serverless direct-to-printer deployment with centralized policy management across users, locations, and virtual sessions.
Vasion Print uses a serverless architecture that sends print jobs directly to network printers instead of routing them through a central print server. Central administration covers printer deployment, user and group assignments, policy controls, and print activity reporting.
Support for remote desktop and virtual desktop environments extends printer management across distributed offices and hosted sessions. Identity integrations and secure release workflows add governance for organizations handling confidential documents.
- +Serverless architecture reduces dependence on central print servers.
- +Central console assigns printers by users, groups, locations, and departments.
- +Microsoft Entra ID integration supports identity-based printer assignments.
- +Secure release workflows help protect confidential documents.
- –Remote-session behavior depends on supported VDI and endpoint configurations.
- –Direct-IP deployment requires network reachability from managed endpoints.
- –Advanced secure-release workflows may require compatible printer hardware.
- –Reporting centers on print activity rather than broader endpoint telemetry.
Best for: Fits when organizations need centrally governed printing across RDS, VDI, and distributed offices.
More related reading
Microsoft Universal Print
enterpriseMicrosoft Universal Print provides cloud-based printer management for Microsoft 365 environments.
Microsoft Graph printer resources expose printer discovery, sharing, and job administration to custom automation workflows.
Microsoft Universal Print sends print jobs through Microsoft 365 and Entra ID rather than requiring each terminal session to manage drivers. The service supports Universal Print-ready devices and uses a connector for many older network printers.
Administrators publish printer shares, assign access through groups, and review printer and job state through Microsoft Graph. It lacks native RDP print redirection and session-specific mapping expected in conventional terminal server deployments, which limits its fit for complex multi-session environments.
- +Entra ID controls printer access through user and group assignments.
- +The connector supports many older network printers without native Universal Print support.
- +Microsoft Graph exposes printer, share, and job resources for automation.
- +Cloud-managed queues reduce dependence on a central print server.
- –No native RDP session printer mapping for conventional terminal server deployments.
- –Older printers require connector infrastructure and an available Windows host.
- –Complex multi-session routing requires workarounds outside the core administration portal.
- –Printer compatibility depends on Universal Print support or connector coverage.
Best for: Fits when Microsoft 365 environments need centrally governed printing across managed desktops and selected virtual sessions.
Black Ice Print2RDP
specialistPrint2RDP redirects local printers into Windows Remote Desktop sessions.
Client-server job forwarding keeps destination printer drivers on endpoints instead of installing matching drivers across terminal servers.
Black Ice Print2RDP suits Windows RDP environments where users need endpoint printer access without installing each printer driver on the remote host. Its client and server components create session-specific printer queues and forward jobs from remote applications to selected endpoint printers.
The design reduces driver conflicts on shared servers and preserves standard Windows print-dialog workflows. Administration centers on component deployment and printer mapping, with limited documented API and governance depth for larger automation programs.
- +Maps local and network printers into individual remote sessions.
- +Uses a dedicated virtual printer architecture to reduce driver conflicts on shared hosts.
- +Preserves standard Windows print-dialog workflows for remote applications.
- +Supports endpoint printers without requiring matching model drivers on every remote server.
- –Requires client and server components on each participating endpoint and remote host.
- –Provides limited documented API and automation depth for centralized provisioning.
- –Focuses on Windows RDP rather than a broad multi-protocol print architecture.
- –Troubleshooting still depends on Windows spooler state, permissions, and session connectivity.
Best for: Fits when Windows RDP users need endpoint printer access without installing every printer driver on the remote host.
How to Choose the Right terminal services printing software
LRS VPSX ranks first among terminal services printing software for centralized printing across Windows, Citrix, Unix, SAP, and mainframe environments. UniPrint Infinity, Celiveo, Equitrac, Parallels RAS, Citrix Universal Print Server, ezeep Blue, Vasion Print, Microsoft Universal Print, and Black Ice Print2RDP complete the comparison.
The guide weighs printer-driver handling, centralized administration, secure release, cloud or serverless deployment, endpoint compatibility, automation, and governance controls.
Terminal Services Printing Software for Session Printer Delivery
Terminal services printing software connects printers to remote application sessions while controlling driver placement, printer assignment, print routing, and job delivery. Parallels RAS uses Universal Printing to route endpoint printers into published applications without matching host-side driver packages. Citrix Universal Print Server keeps printer drivers on designated Windows print servers instead of session hosts.
Products differ in their deployment architecture and control scope. LRS VPSX centralizes queues across Windows, Citrix, Unix, SAP, and mainframe sources, while Celiveo uses direct-IP printing with embedded secure-release and scan workflows on supported multifunction printers.
Terminal Session Printing Criteria That Separate the Platforms
Printer-driver placement determines how much software enters session hosts, print servers, endpoints, and Windows spooler components. Parallels RAS avoids matching host-side drivers, while Citrix Universal Print Server keeps drivers on designated Windows print servers.
Cross-platform queue architecture
LRS VPSX centralizes queues from Windows, Citrix, Unix, SAP, and mainframe applications within one server architecture. Celiveo takes a different path with serverless direct-IP printing and embedded multifunction-printer applications.
Driver placement and session isolation
Parallels RAS uses Universal Printing to route endpoint printers into published applications without matching host-side driver packages. Citrix Universal Print Server moves driver hosting to Windows print servers and supports the Citrix Universal Print Driver across varied printer models.
Centralized administration across sites
UniPrint Infinity places printer, user, policy, and reporting administration in a cloud-hosted Print Management Console. ezeep Blue assigns printers to virtual desktops through one cloud control plane without dedicated print servers.
Secure release and print accounting
Equitrac combines authenticated Follow-You Printing with user, department, client, matter, and billing-code accounting. Celiveo embeds secure release, scan routing, and copy control on supported multifunction printers.
API and automation surface
Microsoft Universal Print exposes printer discovery, sharing, and job administration through Microsoft Graph printer resources. Black Ice Print2RDP focuses on client-server job forwarding and offers limited documented API coverage for centralized provisioning.
Endpoint and network dependency
Vasion Print sends jobs directly to printers while requiring network reachability from managed endpoints and compatibility with the selected VDI platform. UniPrint Infinity reduces manufacturer-driver deployment but requires compatibility testing for specialized labels and finishing devices.
Decision Framework for Terminal Services Printer Delivery
The first decision is architectural. LRS VPSX and UniPrint Infinity centralize control across heterogeneous or distributed environments, while Celiveo and Vasion Print reduce dependence on central print servers through direct printer connectivity.
Select centralized, cloud, or direct-printer deployment
Choose LRS VPSX when Windows, Citrix, Unix, SAP, and mainframe sources must share centralized queue administration. Choose UniPrint Infinity or ezeep Blue for cloud-managed sites, or choose Celiveo and Vasion Print when direct-IP delivery is preferable to a central print server.
Define the driver ownership model
Choose Parallels RAS when endpoint printers must reach published applications without matching host drivers. Choose Citrix Universal Print Server when Windows print servers should host drivers outside Citrix session-host images, or choose Black Ice Print2RDP when endpoint-side driver ownership suits the RDP design.
Separate document delivery from controlled release
Choose Equitrac when users must authenticate at managed multifunction devices and charge output to departments, clients, matters, or billing codes. Choose Celiveo when secure release must coexist with scan routing and copy control on supported multifunction printers.
Match automation depth to the administration model
Choose Microsoft Universal Print when Microsoft Graph automation, Entra ID assignments, and Microsoft 365 administration are central requirements. Choose UniPrint Infinity, ezeep Blue, or Vasion Print when administrators primarily need console-based assignments by users, groups, locations, or departments.
Test the complete endpoint and device matrix
Test specialized labels, finishing devices, multifunction applications, session hosts, endpoints, and network paths before rollout. UniPrint Infinity requires compatibility testing for specialized devices, while Celiveo depends on supported multifunction-printer models and Vasion Print depends on endpoint network reachability.
Terminal Services Printing Software by Deployment Profile
Distributed enterprises need different control points from Windows-only RDP sites. LRS VPSX addresses mixed application sources, while Parallels RAS and Black Ice Print2RDP focus more narrowly on remote application and RDP printer delivery.
Heterogeneous enterprises with legacy application sources
LRS VPSX fits environments that print from Windows, Citrix, Unix, SAP, and mainframe systems. Its centralized queue architecture reduces separate administration across those sources.
VDI, RDS, and branch-office administrators
UniPrint Infinity and ezeep Blue provide centralized administration across virtual desktops and distributed offices. Vasion Print adds assignments by users, groups, locations, and departments through a central console.
Organizations with multifunction-device security requirements
Equitrac fits sites that need authenticated release and accounting by users, departments, clients, matters, or billing codes. Celiveo fits sites that also need scan routing and copy control on supported multifunction printers.
Citrix environments standardizing print-server drivers
Citrix Universal Print Server keeps printer drivers on designated Windows print servers instead of Citrix session hosts. It fits teams that do not need native pull-print release, quotas, or accounting.
Terminal Services Printing Deployment Pitfalls
Printer delivery can fail outside the session host because endpoints, print servers, network paths, multifunction devices, and directory services all affect job completion. Product selection must account for the full path used by each printer class.
Treating driver elimination as complete printer compatibility
Parallels RAS and UniPrint Infinity reduce matching driver deployment, but advanced workflows and specialized finishing devices still require endpoint, host, and device testing.
Choosing direct-IP printing without validating network reachability
Vasion Print requires managed endpoints to reach the target printers. Celiveo also requires supported multifunction-printer models for embedded secure-release and scan workflows.
Expecting a driver-management product to provide secure release or accounting
Citrix Universal Print Server does not include pull-print release, quotas, or accounting. Equitrac supplies authenticated release and billing-code accounting for sites that need those controls.
Selecting cloud administration without planning identity and availability dependencies
UniPrint Infinity depends on network access to its cloud administration layer. Microsoft Universal Print relies on Entra ID assignments, connector infrastructure for older printers, and an available Windows host.
How We Selected and Ranked These Tools
We evaluated LRS VPSX, UniPrint Infinity, Celiveo, Equitrac, Parallels RAS, Citrix Universal Print Server, ezeep Blue, Vasion Print, Microsoft Universal Print, and Black Ice Print2RDP across terminal-session printing capabilities, driver handling, administration, secure release, compatibility, and automation. Features contributed 40% of each overall score, while ease of use contributed 30% and value contributed 30%.
LRS VPSX ranked first with a 9.5 Overall score and a 9.5 Features score. Its cross-platform queue centralization across Windows, Citrix, Unix, SAP, and mainframe sources set it apart from products focused mainly on virtual desktops, RDS, or Windows print servers.
Frequently Asked Questions About terminal services printing software
How do serverless terminal-services printing products differ from server-based tools?
Which tools reduce printer-driver installation on terminal servers?
Which terminal-services printing products provide APIs for automation?
When is LRS VPSX a better fit than a cloud-managed printing service?
How do these products handle secure release and print accountability?
What breaks if a deployment depends on session-specific printer mapping?
Which products provide centralized identity, group, and provisioning controls?
How can an organization migrate from traditional Windows print queues?
Which products support multifunction-printer workflows beyond basic session printing?
Conclusion
After evaluating 10 tools, LRS VPSX 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.
Tools reviewed
Primary sources checked during evaluation.
Referenced in the comparison table and product reviews above.
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