3 Best Open Source Alternatives to PaperCut

3 open source alternatives100% OSI-approved licensesUpdated June 2026

Looking to replace PaperCut? These open source alternatives give you the same core workflow without the lock-in - free to use, often self-hostable, and auditable on GitHub. Compare licenses, languages and project activity, then switch on your own terms.

1.paperAirplane

6MITPython Self-host
paperAirplane screenshot

paperAirplane is open source print management software. It is intended to become a PaperCut-style print management system, giving organizations a free software option in a category often served by proprietary tools.

  • Open source print management software
  • Intended as a PaperCut-style print management system
  • Work in progress

2.PyKota

6OtherPython Self-host
PyKota screenshot

PyKota is print accounting software for CUPS and LPRng. It tracks print usage and applies quotas or account balance changes for users, making it suited to organizations that need local control over print accounting on their own print servers.

  • Print quotas and account balance tracking for CUPS and LPRng
  • Hardware page accounting through printer counters
  • Software page counting through external commands
  • Ink coverage accounting for CMYK, CMY, RGB, and grayscale
SavaPage logo

3.SavaPage

0AGPL-3.0 Self-host
SavaPage screenshot

SavaPage is an open source print portal for managing printing through a web server. It uses open standards, open source software, and commodity hardware for secure pull-printing, pay-per-print, delegated print, job ticketing, print management, and auditing.

  • Secure pull-printing
  • Pay-per-print workflows
  • Delegated print support
  • Job ticketing for print jobs

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