Americans consume about 700 pounds of paper per year on average, with global usage reaching around 210 million tons annually. In our mobile-driven world, knowing how to print documents on the go is essential.
Numerous services make this possible through cloud printing technology. As a tech expert with years of experience optimizing printing workflows, I'll break down what cloud printing is and highlight the best apps available.
All the solutions discussed here rely on cloud printing, which lets you send documents from any device to a printer without installing drivers or proprietary software. It's ideal for smartphones and tablets lacking native print support, as well as laptops used remotely.
For urgent prints in libraries or universities, it's a game-changer. Here's how to share your printer online: How to Share Your Printer with Anyone on the Internet. Windows 7's Homegroup simplifies local sharing, but cloud options extend it globally without complex setups like firewall tweaks.
Explore eight proven apps and services below.
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Chromebook, Android, iOS.
Launched in 2010, Google Cloud Print became the gold standard. Documents route through Google's servers to your printer, ensuring broad compatibility across devices and apps—no extra sign-up needed with a Google account.
It supports virtually any printer, even legacy models, and auto-deletes files post-print for privacy. Setup requires adding printers manually, so public ones may not work without admin enablement. Tired of connectivity woes? Tired of printer connectivity issues? Would you like to be able to print to a non-wireless printer from anywhere? Google Cloud Print is here to make your life easier. Read more.
Best for: Sending docs to your home printer from anywhere.
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS.
I previously covered PrinterShare for Wi-Fi sharing: The 3 Easiest Ways to Share a Printer Over a Network. It connects to any Wi-Fi printer, scanning local networks automatically.
Free to download, it auto-adds cloud printers and supports Android printing of calls, messages, photos, Gmail, and more.
Premium unlocks full features: $9.95 Android, $4.99 iOS. How to print from an Android phone or tablet.
Best for: Frequent printing on public Wi-Fi printers.
Platforms: iOS (Mac desktop app for USB).
Tailored for iOS, PrinterPro scans networks and supports non-Wi-Fi printers via Mac USB. Print seamlessly from Documents, Photos, Safari, Dropbox, and more, with options for paper size, orientation, copies, and scaling.
Best for: Apple ecosystem users.
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS.
Perfect for small offices, Ezeep manages printing centrally via cloud—no per-device drivers. Print globally with advanced options like duplex, page ranges, and policies (e.g., B&W only, print later). Add payments for cost control.
Best for: Streamlining business printing.
Platforms: Windows, iOS, Android, Windows Phone.
Supports major brands over Wi-Fi, Office/PDF/JPEG formats (PNG on iOS). Unique social integrations: print directly from Facebook, Instagram, etc., without saving files.
Best for: Social media photo printing.
Built into Apple devices; tap Print in any app for compatible printers (works on older models too).
Brand-specific apps offer seamless setup but limit to their printers—great at home, not public spots.
Simple pairing for supported printers; limited adoption but hassle-free.
These five apps plus extras cover most needs. What's your go-to for mobile printing? Share pros, cons, and alternatives in the comments below.
