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    Outlook vs AutoPrintEmail: Which Is Better for Auto Printing?

    MMitchel Kelonye
    •
    Sep 26
    •
    Productivity

    Illustration of a workspace featuring two computer monitors displaying email interfaces with the text "Outlook vs AutoPrint.Email" and "Which Is Better for Auto Printing?" alongside a keyboard, mouse, and office supplies on a desk.

    If you’ve ever tried to get Outlook to automatically print emails or attachments, you’ve probably run into one of these:

    • A “Rules Wizard” that only works half the time
    • Zero support for attachments
    • Hours spent on clunky VBA scripts or third-party plugins
    • And an overwhelming urge to throw your printer out the window

    So let’s settle it:

    Is Outlook good enough for automatic printing?

    Or should you use a dedicated tool like AutoPrintEmail?


    Table of Contents

    • 🥊 Outlook’s Auto-Print Capabilities: What Works (and What Doesn’t)
      • ✅ What Outlook Can Do:
      • ❌ What Outlook Can't Do:
    • 🚀 AutoPrintEmail: Built for One Job — and It Nails It
      • 🔧 What It Can Do (That Outlook Can’t):
    • 🧾 Real Use Cases Outlook Struggles With
    • 🤔 So... Should You Use Outlook or AutoPrint?
    • 🖨️ Try AutoPrintEmail Free

    🥊 Outlook’s Auto-Print Capabilities: What Works (and What Doesn’t)

    Microsoft Outlook does offer some “Rules” for automating your inbox — but when it comes to printing, things get… awkward.

    A frustrated young man is sitting at a desk with a computer displaying an email interface, while crumpled paper balls surround him, and a printer is showing a printed page.

    ✅ What Outlook Can Do:

    • Create rules that trigger when emails arrive
    • Automatically print the email body (sometimes)
    • Print to your default printer

    ❌ What Outlook Can't Do:

    • Print attachments (natively)
    • Choose specific printers based on rules
    • Work outside Windows
    • Handle Gmail or IMAP inboxes
    • Run reliably without extra configuration or plugins

    Want to auto-print attachments in Outlook? You’ll need to:

    • Install a third-party plugin (like Sperry Auto Print)
    • Pay extra
    • Hope it plays nice with your Outlook version
    • Keep your desktop Outlook open 24/7

    It’s technically possible — just not built-in, not easy, and not reliable.


    🚀 AutoPrintEmail: Built for One Job — and It Nails It

    A young boy in an orange shirt is excitedly using a printer connected to two computer screens displaying the AutoPrint.Email website, showcasing an easy online printing process.

    AutoPrintEmail is a lightweight desktop app designed for one thing:

    Automatically printing emails and attachments from Gmail, Outlook, or IMAP — without you lifting a finger.

    🔧 What It Can Do (That Outlook Can’t):

    FeatureOutlookAutoPrintEmail
    Auto-print attachments (PDFs, DOCs)❌ (manual only)✅
    Filter by label or folder⚠️ Limited✅
    Use Gmail or IMAP❌✅
    Choose specific printer per workflow❌✅
    Print without Outlook open❌✅
    Works on Mac, Windows, and Linux❌ (Windows only)✅
    Easy to set up & forget❌✅

    You connect your account, pick a label/folder (like "Invoices" or "To Print"), and select what to print (email body, attachments, or both). That’s it.

    It runs quietly in the background and just does the thing.


    🧾 Real Use Cases Outlook Struggles With

    Use CaseOutlook?AutoPrintEmail?
    Print Stripe invoices from Gmail❌✅
    Print signed PDFs from a "Contracts" folder❌✅
    Auto-print Substack newsletters overnight❌✅
    Auto-print Shopify order confirmations⚠️✅
    Multi-platform setup (e.g. Mac + Windows)❌✅

    A family working together at a table, printing documents labeled 'Invoice' and 'Contract' from two printers, with a warm, homey atmosphere.


    🤔 So... Should You Use Outlook or AutoPrint?

    If you:

    • Already live inside desktop Outlook (Windows only)
    • Only need to print plain-text emails occasionally
    • Don’t mind managing plugins, macros, or complex rules...

    Then maybe Outlook is just okay enough.

    But if you:

    • Need to print attachments automatically
    • Want it to work on Mac, Gmail, or IMAP
    • Hate fiddling with scripts or rules
    • Just want your emails to print themselves

    Then AutoPrintEmail is the better, simpler, and more powerful choice. Whether you're automatically printing invoices and contracts or managing other workflows, it's designed to just work.


    🖨️ Try AutoPrintEmail Free

    You don't need to uninstall Outlook — just stop trying to make it do what it wasn't designed to do.

    AutoPrintEmail works with Outlook (or without it), and gives you features it never will.

    🖨️ → Download AutoPrintEmail — free 3-day trial, no limits.

    After the trial? Just $99 for a lifetime license. No monthly fees like Sperry Software or complex API setup like PrintNode. See how we compare to other tools.

    Because automation should save time, not create another to-do list.

    Ready to get started?

    Start Printing Your Emails Today

    Join thousands of users who have reduced their screen time while staying connected.

    Get Started Free
    Or download directly:
    Secure

    Local printing. Your emails are never sent to our servers.

    Cross-Platform

    Works on Windows, Mac, and web browsers

    Fully Automated

    No need to open your browser or email client to manually print your emails.


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