Editor's Choice
4.2
994 reviews
PDF24 is a free PDF creation tool that promises to make creating PDFs as easy as printing a paper. They do this by providing…
PDF Printer Tools for Windows Document Workflows
Update: Sep 7, 2026 · 91 apps reviewed
PDF printer tools for Windows turn any printable file into a PDF by sending it through a virtual printer. That makes them ideal for saving reports, forms, invoices and web pages in a format that keeps layout intact and is easy to share. Good options go beyond basic conversion, offering custom page sizes, image quality controls, password protection and batch printing. The best choice depends on whether you need a lightweight local driver for occasional use or a more advanced tool that fits into a busy document workflow. Explore top picks for Windows.
Top programs about Pdf Printer For Windows
- 3.9
10039 reviews
Secure PDF creation with batch-friendly workflows
- Creates PDFs from documents, spreadsheets, images, and emails
- Adds password protection, encryption, and digital signatures
- Merges multiple files into one document and rotates pages
- Autosaves output to named folders and shares by email or FTP
Ideal for
- Windows document workflows
- Signed business PDFs
- Email-ready file handoff
Cross-Platform Compatibility
4 / 10How well files work across devices and with Microsoft or Google formats.Feature Completeness
4 / 10Breadth of tools for text, tables, formulas, slides, and PDFs.Collaboration & Cloud
3 / 10Real-time editing, comments, version history, and sharing.
PDFCreator covers the core office-document job well: it turns common Windows files into PDFs, adds encryption and signatures, and can merge or autosave output with little setup. The trade-off is that some file types trigger errors and the watermarking keeps it from feeling fully polished for clean, client-facing documents.
Julianne Omamos - 4.5
44 reviews
Advanced PDF control for business document workflows
- Edit PDFs with tools beyond standard PhantomPDF
- Add stronger security controls for sensitive files
- Compress documents to share and store them more efficiently
- Cover advanced business PDF editing needs in one suite
Ideal for
- Business document teams
- Sensitive file workflows
- Heavy PDF editing projects
Feature Completeness
5 / 10Breadth of tools for text, tables, formulas, slides, and PDFs.Cross-Platform Compatibility
4 / 10How well files work across devices and with Microsoft or Google formats.Collaboration & Cloud
3 / 10Real-time editing, comments, version history, and sharing.
Foxit PhantomPDF Business extends the standard editor with more advanced PDF editing, security, and compression tools, so it makes sense in document-heavy business workflows. The trade-off is price, and some teams may still prefer the standard PhantomPDF if they do not need the extra depth.
Julianne Omamos - 4.1
364 reviews
The 2017 Microsoft Office Add-in: Microsoft Save as PDF or XPS is a utility tool developed for Office 2007. Although Office 2007 was retired…
- 3.5
653 reviews
Free Print to PDF is a free document converter that turns your standard documents of various formats into PDF. It boasts a simple interface,…
- 3.6
287 reviews
PdfFactory Pro is a powerful trial version application designed for Windows, focusing on enhancing productivity through PDF creation. This software allows users to create…
- 4.1
402 reviews
Turn any printable document into a protected PDF
- Virtual printer creates PDFs from text and images
- Password protection and 40-128 bit encryption
- Adjust output quality for smaller or sharper files
- Add watermarks to mark drafts or internal copies
Ideal for
- Windows office document workflows
- Secure handoff of sensitive reports
- Drafts with visible watermarking
Cross-Platform Compatibility
4 / 10How well files work across devices and with Microsoft or Google formats.Feature Completeness
4 / 10Breadth of tools for text, tables, formulas, slides, and PDFs.Collaboration & Cloud
3 / 10Real-time editing, comments, version history, and sharing.
BullZip PDF Printer keeps PDF creation focused on one job: printing documents into a portable format from Windows. I like the built-in security and watermark controls, though it stays squarely in the PDF-creation lane rather than offering broader office-suite features like editing or collaboration.
Julianne Omamos
Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about this topic
What does a PDF printer do on Windows?
A PDF printer appears as a normal printer in Windows, but instead of producing paper output it creates a PDF file. Any app that can print can usually send documents to it. This is useful for preserving formatting from invoices, forms, emails and browser pages.
Is a PDF printer the same as a PDF converter?
Not exactly. A PDF printer works through the Print command, while a converter may import files directly and preserve more structure in some formats. PDF printers are simpler and more universal, especially for apps that already support printing well.
Can a PDF printer keep links and formatting intact?
Usually it preserves layout, fonts and images very well, but clickable links and interactive elements may not always survive. Results depend on the source app and the printer engine. For forms or complex documents, test a sample before relying on it.
Do PDF printer tools let you create password-protected files?
Many of them do, especially desktop tools with extra document controls. Common options include opening-password protection, permission limits and sometimes encryption settings. If security matters, check that those features are built into the printer itself rather than added later.