The old joke was that printing on Linux meant editing a config file at 1 a.m. That is over. IPP Everywhere and driverless printing landed years ago, distros ship sane defaults, and the graphical tools finally do what they say on the tin. XDA-Developers argued this week that Linux printing is now less painful than Windows, and after a full test pass we agree. Here are the best apps for Linux printing in 2026, ranked by how quickly they get a stubborn printer online.
What to look for in a Linux printing tool
Before picking software, decide what problem you actually have. Fresh install with a new printer, driverless IPP handles it. Old inkjet with a bespoke driver, you need HP’s or the vendor’s toolkit. Shared office printer, CUPS itself is the answer. The good tools cover:
- Zero-config discovery over mDNS for IPP Everywhere printers
- Manufacturer PPD import when the printer is not IPP-capable
- Print job queue with pause and cancel
- Ink and toner reporting
- Scanner control alongside the printer (multifunction devices)
Any tool that skips discovery in 2026 is out of date.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | License | Included by default | Standout feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CUPS | The print backbone | Apache 2 | All distros | Web admin at localhost:631 |
| system-config-printer | GTK printer setup | GPL | Fedora, Ubuntu | Add-printer wizard |
| GNOME Printer Panel | GNOME native settings | GPL | GNOME | Settings integration |
| KDE Print Manager | KDE native settings | GPL | KDE | Systray job queue |
| hplip | HP inkjets and lasers | MIT/BSD | Optional | HP-specific diagnostics |
| OpenPrinting IPP | Driverless printing | MIT | All distros | Zero setup for modern printers |
| Ghostscript | PostScript rendering | AGPL | All distros | PDF and PS conversion |
| Simple Scan | Scanner UI | GPL | GNOME distros | One-click scan to PDF |
The apps
1. CUPS — best for the printing backbone
CUPS (Common UNIX Printing System) is the spooler every other Linux print tool sits on. Every distro ships it by default. Its web console at http://localhost:631 gives you printer add, driver selection, job control, and access rules. If you learn one thing about Linux printing, learn this console.
Where it falls short: the web UI still looks like 2005, and error messages read as raw log lines.
Pricing:
- Free: full functionality, Apache 2 license
Platforms: Linux, macOS (Apple uses CUPS as the print backend)
Download: OpenPrinting CUPS | GitHub
Bottom line: you are already using it, learn where the buttons are.
2. system-config-printer — best for graphical printer setup
system-config-printer is the GTK app most desktop users touch first. It adds printers, selects PPDs, runs test pages, and clears stuck jobs. Fedora and Ubuntu install it by default; on other distros it is one package away.
Where it falls short: the interface is functional not friendly, and dialogs pop up in odd screen positions on multi-monitor setups.
Pricing:
- Free: GPL
Platforms: Linux (works with any desktop environment)
Download: Fedora Project
Bottom line: the fastest way to add a printer on any distro that is not GNOME or KDE.
3. GNOME Printer Panel — best for GNOME users
GNOME Printer Panel is baked into GNOME Settings. It handles discovery, driver setup, and job queue without leaving the settings app. On a fresh Fedora Workstation install, an IPP printer shows up in the panel within seconds of plugging in.
Where it falls short: advanced settings (banners, quotas, access rules) still push you to the CUPS web console.
Pricing:
- Free: GPL
Platforms: Linux (GNOME environments)
Download: GNOME Settings | GNOME GitLab
Bottom line: if you run GNOME, use this and only drop to CUPS when you need advanced options.
4. KDE Print Manager — best for KDE users
KDE Print Manager is the KDE Plasma equivalent. Systray job queue, notifications when a print completes, and integration with the Plasma settings app. The systray widget lets you pause the queue without opening a settings window.
Where it falls short: discovery is fast but occasionally reports IPP printers twice when multiple network interfaces are up.
Pricing:
- Free: GPL
Platforms: Linux (KDE Plasma)
Download: KDE Print Manager
Bottom line: the KDE-native answer, better than launching a GTK app on a Plasma desktop.
5. hplip — best for HP printers
hplip is HP’s official Linux driver package. It covers most HP inkjets and lasers with a graphical setup tool (hp-setup), diagnostics, and firmware update helpers. When a driverless setup fails on an older HP LaserJet, this is the fix.
Where it falls short: interface has not been redesigned in a decade, and HP’s newest models still ship weeks after the printer hits shelves.
Pricing:
- Free: MIT/BSD
Platforms: Linux, macOS
Download: HP Developers | GitHub
Bottom line: install it before you buy an HP if the model is not on the IPP list.
6. OpenPrinting IPP — best for zero-setup printing
OpenPrinting IPP is not one app but the driverless printing standard every modern Linux distro implements. Plug a Mopria-certified printer into your network, and it appears in the print dialog with no driver install. This is why Linux printing works now.
Where it falls short: older printers (2018 and earlier) do not implement IPP Everywhere and still need PPDs.
Pricing:
- Free: MIT-style
Platforms: Linux, macOS, Windows
Download: OpenPrinting | GitHub
Bottom line: the reason your grandparent’s new printer just works on Linux.
7. Ghostscript — best for PostScript and PDF conversion
Ghostscript is the render engine behind most Linux print pipelines. It converts PostScript and PDF to the raster or vector format your printer speaks. Every CUPS filter chain calls it. You will not open it directly, but its version and features gate what a printer can do.
Where it falls short: older versions still choke on modern PDF features (transparency groups, some CFF fonts).
Pricing:
- Free: AGPL (commercial license available)
Platforms: Linux, macOS, Windows
Download: Ghostscript | GitHub
Bottom line: update it, don’t downgrade it, and it will stay out of your way.
8. Simple Scan — best for scanners on the same machine
Simple Scan is GNOME’s scanner UI. One button, one PDF. It talks to SANE, so any scanner that shows up under scanimage -L shows up here. Multifunction printer users get scan-to-PDF without leaving the desktop.
Where it falls short: OCR is not built in, you export the PDF and run ocrmypdf separately.
Pricing:
- Free: GPL
Platforms: Linux
Download: GNOME Apps | GitHub
Bottom line: the missing scanner piece next to your printer setup.
How to pick the right one
If you want the simplest setup, install system-config-printer or use your desktop’s native panel (GNOME Printer Panel or KDE Print Manager). If you already know CUPS, skip the wrappers and use the web console at localhost:631 directly. If you own an HP printer, install hplip before anything else. If your printer is Mopria certified and less than three years old, do nothing beyond plugging it in. OpenPrinting IPP handles discovery for you. For scanners, add Simple Scan on GNOME or Skanlite on KDE.
FAQ
What is the easiest way to print on Linux?
Plug in a Mopria or AirPrint-certified network printer and open any application’s print dialog. Every mainstream Linux distro since 2022 handles it without a driver install, thanks to IPP Everywhere.
Do I still need CUPS in 2026?
Yes. Every graphical printing tool on Linux talks to CUPS underneath. Even the driverless IPP path uses CUPS as the spooler.
What is the best GUI for adding a Linux printer?
On GNOME, use the built-in Printer panel. On KDE, use Print Manager. On any other desktop or if you need cross-distro consistency, install system-config-printer.
Is Linux printing really easier than Windows now?
For modern network printers, yes. Discovery is faster and driver installation is skipped entirely. For legacy USB printers with vendor drivers, Windows still has a slight edge.
Can I print from Linux to a Windows-shared printer?
Yes. Add the printer through CUPS with the smb:// URI, or share it through Samba from the Windows host and let CUPS pick it up.
