AutoPrintEmail vs Black Ice Software - Business Owner vs Developer Tool
Black Ice Auto-print SDK is built for developers creating custom solutions. AutoPrintEmail is built for business owners who want 2-minute setup. $99 lifetime vs enterprise pricing.
Black Ice Software builds tools for developers and enterprises. SDK licenses, virtual printer drivers, Windows Services, C# APIs. Great if you're building enterprise software. Overkill if you just want emails to print automatically.
$99 vs "Call for Pricing"
Clear pricing. No sales calls required.
2-Minute Setup
No development. No coding. Just configure and go.
Built for Business Owners
Not developers. Not IT admins. You.
What Black Ice Actually Requires:
C#, VB.NET, or C++ Development
The Auto-print SDK is designed for developers writing custom applications. You need to write code to use it. No programming skills? You can't use it.
.NET Framework 4.0 Minimum
System requirements include development frameworks. "Compatible with Windows Server 2016-2025, Citrix XenApp, VMware Horizon." This is enterprise IT territory.
Requires Black Ice Printer Driver
The SDK requires a separate Black Ice Virtual Printer Driver license. That's two products to buy and configure. Printer drivers start at $49.99 - Terminal Server versions at $299+.
"Please Call" Pricing
SDK pricing isn't listed. You have to call sales to get a quote. That's enterprise software pricing - if you have to ask, you probably can't afford it.
AutoPrintEmail: No Development Required
Download, Install, Configure
No coding. No development environment. No SDKs. Just a desktop app you install and configure in 2 minutes.
Built for Business Owners
You run a Shopify store. You manage an office. You own a restaurant. You're not a C# developer. That's who we built this for.
$99. Listed on the Website.
No sales calls. No quotes. No "enterprise pricing." The price is right there on our pricing page.
| Question | AutoPrintEmail | Black Ice Auto-print |
|---|---|---|
| Who is this for? | Business Owners | Software Developers |
| Requires Coding? | C#, VB.NET, C++ | |
| Setup Time | 2 Minutes | Days/Weeks Development time |
| Pricing Model | $99 Listed on website | "Please Call" + printer driver license |
| Documentation Type | User Guide | API Reference Code samples |
| Support Audience | End Users | Developers |
| Email-Based Workflow | Built-in | Build it yourself |
| Customer Examples | Shopify sellers, offices | GE, Siemens, Barclays |
Black Ice is excellent for enterprise development teams. You're probably not an enterprise development team.
Black Ice Requirements
To Get Started:
- • Purchase Auto-print SDK (call for quote)
- • Purchase Virtual Printer Driver ($49.99-$299+)
- • Set up development environment
- • Install .NET Framework 4.0+
- • Write C#/VB.NET/C++ code
Ongoing Costs:
- • Annual maintenance fees
- • Developer time for customization
- • IT support for deployment
Total: $$$$ + weeks of development
AutoPrintEmail
To Get Started:
- • Download the app
- • Install (takes 30 seconds)
- • Connect your email
- • Select your printer
- • Done
Ongoing Costs:
- • None with lifetime license
Total: $99. Ready in 2 minutes.
You Need Black Ice If:
- •You're building custom enterprise software
- •You have developers who write C# or C++
- •You need programmatic print job control
- •You're deploying to Terminal Servers or Citrix
- •Your company is named GE, Siemens, or Barclays
You Need AutoPrintEmail If:
- You want emails to print automatically
- You don't write code (or want to)
- You want it working in 2 minutes, not 2 weeks
- You want to see the price before you buy
- You run an actual business (Shopify, office, restaurant)
I wasted two weeks evaluating Black Ice for our small print shop. Called sales, got quotes, realized I'd need a developer to make it work. Found AutoPrintEmail on Google, had it running in 10 minutes. It's just email printing - I didn't need an SDK.
- James Wilson, Print Shop Owner
When a software company hides their pricing, it usually means one of three things:
1. It's Expensive
Enterprise pricing means enterprise budgets. If the price would scare you away, they want to "qualify" you first.
2. It's Complicated
So many licensing options, tiers, and add-ons that they need to explain it on a call. Usually involves salespeople.
3. You're Not the Target
They sell to enterprises with purchasing departments. Small businesses aren't their focus.
AutoPrintEmail: $99 Lifetime. Right there on our pricing page. No sales call required.
You don't need an SDK. You don't need a development team.
You need emails to print automatically.
AutoPrintEmail: $99 Lifetime (Recommended)
2-minute setup. No coding. Built for business owners.
Also available: $9.99/mo subscription with 3-day trial. See all options →
Leave the SDKs to the developers. You have a business to run.
What Our Users Say
Join thousands of satisfied customers
"I asked our IT consultant about Black Ice. He said it would require custom development and cost thousands. Found AutoPrintEmail instead - $99, works perfectly for our order printing."
Michael Chang
Restaurant Owner
"Black Ice is for developers building print software. I just needed invoices to print automatically. AutoPrintEmail is for people like me."
Sarah Brooks
E-commerce Manager
"Called Black Ice for pricing. They started asking about my development environment. I don't have one. I'm an office manager. AutoPrintEmail was refreshingly simple."
David Patterson
Small Office Manager
"I'm not hiring a C# developer to print my shipping labels. AutoPrintEmail does exactly what I need for $99."
Jennifer Miller
Shopify Seller
"Black Ice is serious enterprise software. Great for Fortune 500. Way overkill for my 3-person print shop. AutoPrintEmail fits our actual needs."
Robert Kim
Print Shop Owner
"Our insurance forms arrive by email. I just wanted them to print automatically. Black Ice wanted me to write code. AutoPrintEmail wanted $99. Easy choice."
Amanda Torres
Dental Office Admin
Frequently Asked Questions
Black Ice provides SDK tools for developers building custom print automation software. It's extremely powerful for that use case. But if you just want emails to print automatically, you don't need (or want) that complexity. AutoPrintEmail does exactly what you need without any development.
Black Ice sells to enterprise development teams and OEMs. Their pricing varies based on license type, volume, and use case. They're not targeting small businesses who want simple email printing - that's why AutoPrintEmail exists.
Not really. The Auto-print SDK is designed for developers to integrate into custom applications. You'd need to write C#, VB.NET, or C++ code to use it. AutoPrintEmail is a ready-to-use desktop application with no coding required.
Black Ice is trusted by major enterprises like GE and Siemens - for building custom enterprise print solutions. That's a different product category. If you're not building custom print software, you don't need what they're selling.
Black Ice's printer drivers are separate products for creating PDF/image files from any application. They're tools for developers. AutoPrintEmail prints directly to your physical printer - no virtual drivers needed.
Yes. $99 lifetime license includes all features, free updates forever, email support. No SDK license, no printer driver license, no annual maintenance fees. Simple and transparent.
Start Printing Your Emails Today
Join thousands of users who have reduced their screen time while staying connected.
Local printing. Your emails are never sent to our servers.
Works on Windows, Mac, and web browsers
No need to open your browser or email client to manually print your emails.