Ultraprint vs Odoo IoT Box: Complete Printing Guide 2026

Tired of paying $400+ for Odoo IoT Box hardware just to print receipts? You're not alone. Thousands of Odoo users face the same frustrating choice: invest in expensive proprietary hardware or compromise on their printing workflow.

Here's the reality: The Odoo IoT Box costs approximately $400 in hardware plus a monthly subscription fee—and that's per location. For businesses with multiple POS stations, these costs multiply quickly.

But what if you could achieve the same printing capabilities—direct printing, preparation tickets, and customer receipts—using your existing Windows-compatible printers? That's exactly what Ultraprint delivers.

In this comprehensive guide, you'll discover:

• ✅ How to eliminate the $400+ IoT Box hardware cost while keeping full printing functionality
• ✅ Step-by-step setup for mobile and tablet printing with Ultraprint Hub
• ✅ Real cost comparison to help you make the right decision for your business

1. Understanding Odoo IoT Box Limitations

The Odoo IoT Box is a powerful hardware solution designed to connect peripheral devices—printers, scales, payment terminals—to your Odoo instance. However, it comes with significant constraints that many businesses discover only after purchase.

The Hardware Investment Problem

The IoT Box requires a dedicated hardware purchase of approximately $400 per unit. For a restaurant with three POS stations, that's $1,200 in hardware alone before you've printed a single receipt.

The Subscription Layer

Beyond the initial hardware cost, Odoo charges a monthly subscription fee per IoT Box. This recurring cost can significantly impact smaller businesses or those operating on tight margins.

Deployment Complexity

Each IoT Box requires:

• Physical installation and network configuration
• Firmware updates and maintenance
• Troubleshooting when connectivity issues arise
• Spare units for business continuity

2. Exploring Direct Printing Alternatives

Direct printing—the ability to send print jobs straight to a printer without browser dialogs—is the core functionality most businesses need. The question is: does it require expensive dedicated hardware?

How Direct Printing Works

Traditional browser-based printing shows a print dialog, requiring user interaction for every print job. For a busy restaurant generating hundreds of receipts daily, this workflow is impractical.

Direct printing solutions intercept the print command and route it directly to the designated printer, eliminating the dialog entirely. Both IoT Box and Ultraprint accomplish this goal—but through different architectures.

The Software-Based Approach

Ultraprint takes a software-first approach: a lightweight application runs on a Windows PC, communicating with your Odoo instance to receive print jobs and route them to any Windows-compatible printer.

This means any thermal printer, laser printer, or label printer that works with Windows can become an Odoo direct printing device—no proprietary hardware required.

3. Implementing Ultraprint for Mobile Printing

One of the most common questions we receive: "Can I print from my tablet or phone using Ultraprint?" The answer is yes—with the right setup.

The Mobile Printing Architecture

Mobile devices (tablets, phones) cannot run Windows applications directly. However, Ultraprint solves this through the Ultraprint Hub architecture:

1. Desktop PC as Hub: A Windows PC runs Ultraprint and connects to your printers
2. Network Communication: Your mobile devices send print requests over your local network
3. Hub Processing: The Ultraprint Hub receives requests and routes them to the appropriate printer

Practical Requirements

For mobile/tablet printing with Ultraprint, you'll need:

• ✅ A Windows desktop or mini-PC running Ultraprint Hub
• ✅ Your printers connected to (or accessible from) this PC
• ✅ Mobile devices on the same local network
• ✅ Ultraprint module installed on your Odoo instance

Many businesses use an inexpensive mini-PC as their dedicated Ultraprint Hub, keeping it running alongside their printers.

4. Comparing Total Cost of Ownership

When evaluating printing solutions, the sticker price tells only part of the story. Let's break down the true total cost of ownership for both options.

3-Year Cost Projection Example

For a business with 2 POS locations:

• IoT Box: $800 hardware + 36 months subscription = $800+ ongoing fees
• Ultraprint: $0 hardware (using existing PCs) + module + device subscriptions = Significant savings

5. Setting Up Your Print Infrastructure

Ready to implement Ultraprint? Here's a step-by-step guide to get your printing infrastructure running.

Step 1: Prepare Your Windows PC

Choose a Windows PC that will serve as your Ultraprint Hub. This can be:

• An existing POS workstation
• A dedicated mini-PC (Intel NUC, HP Mini, etc.)
• Any Windows 10/11 computer on your network

Step 2: Connect Your Printers

Connect your thermal receipt printers to the Windows PC. Ultraprint works with any printer that Windows recognizes—via USB, network, or Bluetooth.

Step 3: Install the Ultraprint Module

Install the Ultraprint module on your Odoo instance. This adds the necessary server-side components for print job routing.

Step 4: Configure Ultraprint Client

Download and install the Ultraprint client on your Windows PC. Connect it to your Odoo instance using your credentials.

Step 5: Test Your Setup

Send a test print from Odoo POS to verify connectivity. The receipt should print without any browser dialog.

6. Configuring Multi-Device Support

Most businesses need printing from multiple devices—POS terminals, tablets for table service, warehouse handhelds. Here's how to configure Ultraprint for multi-device environments.

Centralized Hub Model

The most efficient approach uses a single Ultraprint Hub serving all devices:

• One Windows PC runs Ultraprint with all printers connected
• All POS devices (desktop, tablet, mobile) send print jobs to this hub
• The hub routes each job to the appropriate printer

Distributed Model

For larger deployments or multi-floor operations:

• Multiple Windows PCs each run Ultraprint
• Each handles printers in its area (floor, department)
• Reduces network latency and provides redundancy

Device Configuration in Odoo

Within Odoo, configure each POS session with its designated printer mappings. This ensures:

• Receipt printer receives customer receipts
• Kitchen printer receives preparation tickets
• Bar printer receives drink orders

7. Optimizing Print Speed and Reliability

Print performance matters—especially during rush hours when every second counts. Here's how to optimize your Ultraprint deployment.

Network Optimization

• Wired connections: Use Ethernet for the Ultraprint Hub when possible
• Quality router: Business-grade networking equipment reduces latency
• Dedicated VLAN: Consider isolating POS traffic for reliability

Printer Configuration

• Correct drivers: Use manufacturer-recommended Windows drivers
• Spool settings: Configure for direct printing, not spooling
• Paper width: Match receipt template to printer width (80mm, 58mm)

Failover Planning

Build resilience into your print infrastructure:

• Keep a backup receipt printer configured
• Test browser-based printing as fallback
• Document troubleshooting steps for staff

8. When to Choose Each Solution

Both IoT Box and Ultraprint have their place. Here's how to decide which fits your business.

Choose Odoo IoT Box When:

• ✅ You need to connect payment terminals, scales, or other IoT devices
• ✅ You prefer a fully integrated Odoo-supported hardware solution
• ✅ You don't have Windows PCs available at print locations
• ✅ You require features like customer-facing displays

Choose Ultraprint When:

• ✅ Printing is your primary need (receipts, tickets, labels)
• ✅ You already have Windows PCs at each location
• ✅ You want to avoid the $400+ hardware investment
• ✅ You use printers that aren't on the IoT Box compatibility list
• ✅ You prefer software-based solutions over hardware dependencies

Hybrid Approach

Some businesses use both: IoT Box for payment terminals and customer displays, Ultraprint for kitchen and receipt printing. This maximizes flexibility while controlling costs.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Can I print from tablets and smartphones with Ultraprint?

Yes, but you'll need a Windows desktop PC or mini-PC running Ultraprint Hub on your network. Mobile devices send print jobs over the network to the hub, which then routes them to your printers. This architecture enables printing from any device on your local network.

What printers work with Ultraprint?

Any printer that works with Windows is compatible with Ultraprint. This includes thermal receipt printers (Epson TM-series, Star TSP, BIXOLON), laser printers, label printers, and more. If Windows can print to it, Ultraprint can use it.

How much does Ultraprint cost compared to IoT Box?

Ultraprint requires a one-time module purchase plus a subscription per device. The IoT Box requires approximately $400 in hardware per unit plus a monthly subscription per box. For businesses with existing Windows PCs, Ultraprint typically results in significant savings—$400+ per location in hardware costs alone.

Does Ultraprint support kitchen/preparation ticket printing?

Yes, Ultraprint fully supports preparation ticket printing for kitchens, bars, and other preparation areas. You can configure multiple printers with specific routing rules—drinks to bar, food to kitchen, receipts to POS—just like with IoT Box.

Can I use Ultraprint and IoT Box together?

Absolutely. Many businesses use a hybrid approach: IoT Box for payment terminals, customer displays, and scales; Ultraprint for all printing needs. This gives you the best of both worlds—full IoT capabilities where needed, and cost savings on printing infrastructure.

What happens if the Ultraprint Hub PC goes offline?

If the Ultraprint Hub goes offline, print jobs won't process until it's restored. For redundancy, you can configure multiple hubs in a distributed model, or keep browser-based printing as a fallback option. Most businesses use a dedicated mini-PC that remains always-on to minimize this risk.

📚 References

1. Odoo IoT Box Documentation - Official Odoo documentation on IoT Box setup and compatible devices
2. Epson Thermal Receipt Printers - Epson's POS printer lineup compatible with Windows and Ultraprint
3. Odoo Point of Sale Documentation - Official guide for Odoo POS configuration and printing
4. Star Micronics Printer Support - Windows drivers and setup for Star TSP series printers