Tricerat ScrewDrivers® vs. Citrix Universal Print Driver (UPD)

It may be tempting to use the universal print driver (UPD) included with many VDI platforms like Citrix Digital Workspaces. While the built-in Citrix UPD offers a basic solution, ScrewDrivers® is a powerful alternative designed to solve complex issues and elevate virtual printing experience.

Why Printing Solutions Struggle in Virtual Environments

Printing in remote desktop or virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) setups introduces unique challenges:

• Diverse hardware and software configurations.
• Need for consistent, high-quality output.
• User demand for advanced printer features like secure PIN-code printing.

Both Citrix UPD and Tricerat ScrewDrivers® aim to tackle these challenges, but they take very different approaches. Let's compare the popular print management solutions for efficiency, flexibility, and reliability.

Key Features of ScrewDrivers® vs. Citrix UPD

1. Print Output Quality

Printing accuracy is non-negotiable: when your users hit print, they rightfully expect that things will just work. Tricerat’s proprietary TriMeta Format (TMF) ensures the highest possible fidelity across remote environments, minimizing errors caused by mismatched drivers or platform inconsistencies.

TMF’s intelligent data compression and mapping reduce rendering errors, even when handling mixed printer fleets.

• Tricerat ScrewDrivers® is optimized for remote desktop and VDI scenarios, delivering crisp, accurate prints with better output consistency, even with a wide range of printers, applications, and documents.
• Citrix UPD's common user feedback is that print quality and output accuracy can suffer, especially with complex documents or applications.

2. Single-Pane Policy Management

ScrewDrivers offers the simplicity and flexibility of the single-pane console: Instead of flat lists in policy objects, admins can see a realistic snapshot of the printers assigned to users and devices in the environment. In contrast, Citrix UPD relies on traditional policies, making it harder to scale and manage. With ScrewDrivers, end users and admins alike benefit from:

• Single-Pane Console provides real-time visibility and intuitive drag-and-drop tools for printer assignments.
• New printer assignments take only moments and bulk imports can be done in seconds.
• Citrix Admins and help desk staff can quickly learn the ScrewDrivers Console and the time efficiency possibilities that it offers.

3. Faster Logon Times

The multithreaded processes of ScrewDrivers ensure the logon can continue without interruption while printers are built quickly in the background. The result is an optimized login process ensuring the best user experience.

• ScrewDrivers integrates with the Windows logon process to immediately begin processing during session start. Since ScrewDrivers is database-driven, user and device assignments can be retrieved quickly without processing through long GPOs.
• Using Citrix UPD, all policies must be processed before the logon can continue, which can be a time-consuming operation.

4. Cross-Platform Compatibility

ScrewDrivers can manage printers for Windows sessions on a variety of platforms and is not locked into managing printers from Citrix sessions only. Most environments have a hybrid environment, and ScrewDrivers works seamlessly across all platform types and mixes, including:

• Citrix Desktops
• VMWare or Nutanix
• Microsoft RDS
• Cloud-based desktops
• Any other physical, virtual and hybrid desktops.

A solution that covers all platforms offers a consistent user interface and standardized printer mappings across devices and platforms. Additionally, admins have a central management point for printing across all Windows sessions. Key Benefit: Administrators can manage printers centrally while offering a standardized experience to users, regardless of their platform.

5. Native Print Driver Management

For times when the native print driver is preferred, Tricerat offers Driver Management to automatically deliver print drivers to Windows endpoints.

For environments with network printing without print servers, administrators can now choose the best technology option for the situation. In many cases, a mix of both technologies can be used and managed through the same common management console.

The UPD offers some driver-specific capabilities, but only ScrewDrivers can show the native driver dialog including all features offered by the manufacturer, including department or PIN code release. Tricerat even released a Security Edition of its flagship v7 product, which you can read about here!

[ScrewDrivers Enterprise] is one of the best products I’ve ever bought!

Citrix and SCCM Admin at Estes

Jerry Johnson

6. Return on Investment (ROI)

Although ScrewDrivers® is an additional cost to Citrix environments with built-in UPD, its ROI is undeniable. When considering the return on investment for an add-on product, consider the efficiency gains for both IT staff and users:

• Users can lose valuable productivity when printing fails due to either failed printer mappings or incorrect output, requiring help desk calls or repeated work.
• Administrators can realize time savings through print management efficiencies and reduced help desk calls without worrying about print servers, drivers or scripts.

The Direct Comparison of Universal Print Drivers

Try the Best-in-Class, Citrix-Ready Universal Print Driver

Ready to transform your virtual printing? Here’s how to get started:

• Start Your Free 30-Day Trial: Experience the power of ScrewDrivers® risk-free.
• Watch the Demo: See ScrewDrivers® in action and discover how it simplifies IT management.

Dedicated Focus on Printing Since 1997

Tricerat is a company that has been dedicated to printing in Citrix for over 20 years. The virtual driver technology, management interfaces, and advanced print features have all evolved to meet the demands of complex printing challenges including Citrix Desktops and Virtual Apps.

Our team of engineers is focused on consulting with administrators to provide the best possible print solution for a given environment.

Click below to claim your 30-day trial and see ScrewDrivers in action!