Your iPhone can already print. AirPrint is built into iOS, and if you own a reasonably modern Wi-Fi printer, you can print from Safari, Photos, Mail, and Files without installing anything. Tap Share, tap Print, pick your printer, done.
So why do printer apps exist? Because the built-in print dialog is bare-bones. It does not organize your documents, scan papers back into digital files, monitor ink levels, or give you a print history. If you print once a month, the built-in method is fine. If you print weekly — work documents, school forms, receipts, shipping labels — a good printer app saves real time.
This guide compares nine printer apps available in 2026, explains what each one actually does, and tells you honestly when you do not need any of them. For the basic printing workflow, start with our print from iPhone guide. For Android-specific options, see print from phone.
Before You Download Anything
Two things worth knowing upfront.
AirPrint is the foundation. Nearly every app on this list sends print jobs through AirPrint (on iPhone) or Android’s print framework. An app does not magically connect your phone to a printer that lacks wireless support. If your printer is not AirPrint compatible, check our AirPrint compatible printers list before spending time on apps.
Manufacturer apps vs. third-party apps serve different purposes. HP Smart is great if you own an HP printer and want ink alerts. It is less useful if you own a Canon. Third-party apps try to work across brands but may offer fewer printer-specific maintenance features.
With that context, here are nine apps worth knowing about — ranked by usefulness, not by marketing claims.
1. Built-In iOS Print Dialog (Free)
The best printer “app” on iPhone is the one already installed: the Share → Print dialog built into iOS.
It works with any AirPrint-compatible printer on your network. No account, no ads, no data collection, no update required. Open a document in any app, tap Share, tap Print, select your printer, and the job goes through.
Best for: Anyone who prints occasionally and owns an AirPrint-compatible printer.
Limitations: No document library, no scanning, no ink monitoring, no print history. Each print job starts from whatever app holds the document.
If this covers your needs, stop here. You do not need to download anything else.
2. Smart Printer (Free with Premium Options)
Smart Printer is a third-party app that wraps AirPrint printing in a more complete workflow. You import documents from Files, email, or cloud storage into the app, scan physical papers with your iPhone camera, preview and adjust print settings, then send jobs to any AirPrint-compatible printer on your network.
What it does well: document organization, scanning, and a unified print queue. Instead of jumping between Mail, Files, and Photos to find what you need to print, you manage everything in one place. The scanning feature turns physical documents into PDFs you can print, share, or store.
What it does not do: connect to printers that lack AirPrint. It uses the same AirPrint protocol as the built-in Share menu — the value is in the workflow around printing, not in bypassing compatibility limits.
Best for: iPhone users who print and scan regularly and want one app instead of juggling several.
Limitations: Premium features require a subscription. Not a replacement for manufacturer-specific maintenance tools like firmware updates or deep ink diagnostics.
Smart Printer is a solid choice if the built-in print dialog feels too scattered for your daily routine. It is not necessary for occasional printing, and it will not print to a non-AirPrint printer any more than iOS can on its own.
3. HP Smart (Free)
HP Smart is HP’s official app for managing HP printers. It handles Wi-Fi setup, printing, scanning, copying, ink ordering, and firmware updates. If you own an HP DeskJet, ENVY, OfficeJet, or LaserJet, this is the app HP expects you to use.
Printing works through HP’s own protocol as well as AirPrint, which means some older HP printers that lack native AirPrint may still work through the app. That is a genuine advantage if you are locked into an older HP model.
Best for: HP printer owners who want ink monitoring, remote printing, and firmware updates in one app.
Limitations: Most useful with HP hardware. Features vary by model. Some functions require an HP account. If you do not own an HP printer, skip this one. See our HP Smart app alternatives guide if HP Smart is not working for you.
4. Canon PRINT (Free)
Canon PRINT (also called Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY) is Canon’s companion app for PIXMA inkjet and SELPHY photo printers. It supports printing, scanning, and printer maintenance for Canon hardware.
The app can also print photos directly from your camera roll with basic editing — cropping, brightness, filters — before sending to a Canon photo printer. For standard document printing, it routes through AirPrint like any other app.
Best for: Canon printer owners, especially those who print photos on PIXMA or SELPHY devices.
Limitations: Canon-only. Photo editing features are basic compared to dedicated photo apps. Document management is minimal.
5. Epson Smart Panel (Free)
Epson Smart Panel manages Epson EcoTank, WorkForce, and Expression printers. It covers Wi-Fi setup, printing, scanning, copy functions, and ink level monitoring. Epson’s EcoTank line is popular for low running costs, and the app reflects that with ink usage tracking.
Best for: Epson printer owners, particularly EcoTank users who want to monitor ink levels and print from mobile.
Limitations: Epson-only. Interface can feel cluttered compared to simpler apps. Some features require firmware versions that older models may not support.
6. Brother iPrint&Scan (Free)
Brother iPrint&Scan supports printing and scanning on Brother laser and inkjet printers. Brother’s app is straightforward — less feature-heavy than HP Smart, but reliable for basic print and scan tasks on Brother hardware.
Best for: Brother printer owners who need mobile printing and scanning without extra complexity.
Limitations: Brother-only. No document library or advanced workflow features. Scanning quality depends on your iPhone camera rather than the app itself.
7. Printer Pro by Readdle (Paid)
Printer Pro is a long-standing iOS app that prints documents to AirPrint-compatible printers with more control over layout, page range, and paper size than the built-in dialog offers. It also includes a built-in web browser for printing web pages with better formatting control.
Readdle is a respected iOS developer (they also make Documents by Readdle and PDF Expert), and Printer Pro reflects that polish. It is a paid app — not subscription-based — which some people prefer.
Best for: Power users who want fine-grained print control and a dedicated web printing browser.
Limitations: Costs money upfront. No scanning. No ink monitoring. Still requires AirPrint-compatible printers for wireless printing. Competes directly with the free built-in dialog for basic tasks.
8. Adobe Scan (Free)
Adobe Scan is not strictly a printer app — it is a scanning app that creates PDFs from photos of documents. But it belongs on this list because scanning and printing are two halves of the same workflow, and Adobe Scan does the scanning half exceptionally well.
It automatically detects document edges, enhances contrast, runs OCR to make text searchable, and saves to Adobe Document Cloud or exports to other apps. You can then print the resulting PDF through AirPrint or any print app.
Best for: People who primarily need to scan documents and occasionally print them.
Limitations: No direct printing — you scan in Adobe Scan, then print through another app or the built-in dialog. Requires a free Adobe account for cloud storage. OCR quality is excellent but the app pushes Adobe’s ecosystem.
9. Lexmark Mobile Print (Free)
Lexmark Mobile Print supports printing to Lexmark office and home printers. Lexmark has a smaller consumer presence than HP or Canon, but their office printers are common in business environments. The app handles print job submission and basic printer status for Lexmark devices.
Best for: Lexmark printer owners, particularly in office settings.
Limitations: Lexmark-only. Limited consumer appeal. If you do not have a Lexmark printer, this app has no use for you. See our Lexmark mobile print guide for setup details.
How to Choose the Right Printer App
The decision tree is simpler than nine app descriptions might suggest.
You print occasionally from an AirPrint printer: Use the built-in iOS print dialog. No app needed.
You print and scan regularly from an iPhone: Smart Printer or your manufacturer’s app, depending on whether you want a brand-neutral workflow or brand-specific maintenance features.
You own a specific brand and want ink monitoring and firmware updates: Use the manufacturer’s app (HP Smart, Canon PRINT, Epson Smart Panel, or Brother iPrint&Scan).
You need advanced print layout control: Printer Pro by Readdle.
You primarily need scanning, not printing: Adobe Scan, then print through AirPrint when needed.
Your printer is not AirPrint compatible: A manufacturer app may help if one exists for your brand. Otherwise, consider upgrading to an AirPrint compatible printer rather than chasing app workarounds.
Printer Apps vs. Google Cloud Print
If you used Google Cloud Print before it shut down in 2020, you may be looking for a replacement. Google Cloud Print let you print to any printer connected to a computer, even if the printer itself lacked wireless support. Nothing fills that exact role today.
On iPhone, AirPrint replaced most of what Cloud Print offered — but only for AirPrint-compatible printers. On Android, the built-in print service and manufacturer apps cover similar ground. Our Google Cloud Print alternative guide covers the current landscape for both platforms.
The honest summary: if you relied on Cloud Print because your printer had no wireless support, you either need a new printer or a computer running full time as a print server. No app fully replicates the old Cloud Print model.
Privacy and Security Considerations
Printer apps handle your documents, which means privacy matters.
Apps that print locally over AirPrint — including the built-in iOS dialog and Smart Printer — send jobs directly from your phone to the printer on your local network. Your documents do not pass through a cloud server.
Manufacturer apps and apps like Adobe Scan may upload documents to cloud servers for processing, OCR, or storage. Read the privacy policy if you print sensitive documents like medical records, financial statements, or legal papers.
Avoid obscure printer apps with few reviews and vague privacy policies. Stick to established developers and manufacturer apps from the App Store.
Setting Up Any Printer App
The setup process is similar across most apps on this list.
- Connect your printer to Wi-Fi. See our connect printer to iPhone guide if you have not done this yet.
- Connect your iPhone to the same Wi-Fi network.
- Download the app and grant necessary permissions (local network access, camera for scanning, files access for documents).
- The app should discover your AirPrint-compatible printer automatically.
- Import or open a document, adjust settings, and print.
If the app cannot find your printer, the problem is almost always network-related — not app-related. Our AirPrint not working guide covers the fixes.
The Bottom Line
The best printer app for your phone depends on what you actually need. For most iPhone users with an AirPrint-compatible printer, the built-in print dialog is enough. You do not need to download anything.
Apps earn their place when they solve a specific problem: Smart Printer for organized printing and scanning, HP Smart for HP ink monitoring, Adobe Scan for document capture, Printer Pro for layout control. None of them replace AirPrint — they build on top of it.
Before investing time in any app, confirm your printer supports AirPrint and is connected to your Wi-Fi network. That solves ninety percent of mobile printing problems before an app enters the picture. For everything else, our print from iPhone guide and print from phone guide cover the full workflow on both platforms.