Side by side
Microsoft Universal Print vs PxeLab
Both stand on os imaging & deployment software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Choose Universal Print if your organization is committed to Microsoft 365 and wants cloud-managed printing across supported devices. Check the job capacity and annual commitment for the add-on that fits your tenant; printers without native protocol support also need a Windows connector.
Visit Microsoft Universal PrintChoose PxeLab if you need an open-source PXE platform with bundled network services, deployment templates, host controls, and web, API, and command-line management. Its AGPL-3.0 license and support for Windows, Linux, and macOS make it a fit for varied provisioning environments. Look elsewhere if your installation depends on the deb or rpm packages, Homebrew, or Docker images that are still on the roadmap.
Visit PxeLabThe facts
| Microsoft Universal Print | PxeLab | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | Not published |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Android, API, iPhone, Mac, Web, Windows | API, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Web, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | See the plans | Not published |
| Plans published | 9 | None |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | microsoft.com | pxelab.com |
| On os imaging & deployment software | #15 of 24 | #19 of 24 |
Microsoft Universal Print: what it does well
- Built into supported Windows versions without extra endpoint software or printer drivers
- Print from macOS apps after installing the Universal Print app
- Choose printers in OneDrive and Excel on the web without setup
- Manage and deploy printers with Azure Portal, PowerShell, and Intune
- QR code secure release holds jobs until users release them
What to know first
- No free plan
- Printers without native Universal Print protocol support need a Windows connector
- Capacity add-ons have annual commitments
PxeLab: what it does well
- Combines DHCP, TFTP, HTTP, DNS, and NFS in one binary.
- Runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS.
- Offers a catalog of 64+ Linux distributions.
- Supports answer-file templates and install task tracking.
- Provides host inventory and scheduled Wake-on-LAN.
What to know first
- Deb and rpm packages are not yet available.
- Homebrew and Docker images are not yet available.
- Local API requests require no authentication by default.
- Remote API access requires a configured Bearer token.
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