HP Smart App Review + 5 Better Alternatives

HP Smart is the app HP wants on every phone that sits near an HP printer. It handles Wi-Fi setup, mobile printing, scanning, ink ordering, Instant Ink management, and firmware updates — a full printer control center in your pocket. HP bundles it with every DeskJet, ENVY, and OfficeJet sold today, and the setup card in the box points you straight to the App Store.

It is also one of the most complained-about printer apps. Users report endless account creation prompts, difficulty finding printers on the network, promotional pushes for Instant Ink, and an interface that feels heavier than the task requires. Some of those complaints are fair. Some reflect the reality that printer apps are inherently more complex than printing apps.

This guide reviews HP Smart honestly — what it does well, where it falls short, and five alternatives worth considering depending on what you actually need from a print app on your iPhone.

What HP Smart Does

HP Smart is HP’s official mobile app for managing HP printers. It is available on iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows, and Mac — though this review focuses on the mobile experience, which is where most people interact with it.

Core features:

• Printer setup — guided Wi-Fi connection using Bluetooth and your phone’s network
• Printing — send photos, PDFs, and documents from your phone to the HP printer
• Scanning — scan from the printer’s flatbed or ADF, or use your phone camera
• Copying — initiate copy jobs on all-in-one models
• Ink monitoring — view cartridge or tank levels, order replacements
• HP Instant Ink — enroll, manage, and track your subscription
• Firmware updates — install printer firmware from the app
• HP+ features — activation and management for HP+ enrolled printers

HP Smart uses HP’s own printing protocol in addition to AirPrint. This means some older HP printers that lack native AirPrint may still print through the app — a genuine advantage over generic print apps.

For HP printer owners who want one app for everything printer-related, HP Smart is the intended answer. The question is whether it is the best answer for your specific needs.

HP Smart: What Works Well

Wi-Fi setup is genuinely good. HP printers without touchscreens — or with small, frustrating ones — are much easier to set up through HP Smart than through button sequences on the printer itself. The app walks you through the process with clear steps and handles credential transfer automatically. If you just unboxed an HP printer, install HP Smart for setup even if you plan to uninstall it afterward.

Ink and Instant Ink management. If you are on HP Instant Ink, HP Smart is the most convenient way to check page usage, track shipments, and change your plan. The Instant Ink dashboard in the app is clearer than the web portal on a phone browser.

Scanning from the printer. On HP all-in-one models, HP Smart initiates flatbed and ADF scans and delivers the result to your phone. Quality is good, and the workflow is straightforward.

Firmware updates. HP pushes bug fixes and AirPrint stability improvements through firmware. HP Smart is the easiest way to install them without navigating the printer’s web interface.

Works with HP+ printers. HP+ is HP’s program that bundles Instant Ink, extended warranty, and cloud features. HP+ printers require an HP account and internet connection. HP Smart is the management hub for HP+ features.

HP Smart: Common Complaints

Account creation pressure. HP Smart pushes you to create an HP account during setup and repeatedly afterward. Some features — remote printing, Instant Ink, HP+ — require an account. Basic local printing through the app works without one, but the app keeps asking.

Printer discovery failures. “Printer not found” is the most common HP Smart complaint. Often the printer is on the network and AirPrint works fine — but HP Smart cannot locate it. This is usually a permissions issue (Bluetooth or location access denied) or a network isolation problem (guest Wi-Fi, AP isolation enabled on the router).

Bloated interface. HP Smart has grown beyond a print app into a marketing platform for HP services. Instant Ink promotions, supply ordering, and HP+ upsells take up screen space that could go to printing. If you want a clean print button, HP Smart is not it.

App size and updates. HP Smart is a large app that updates frequently. On older phones, it can feel slow to launch and navigate.

Privacy considerations. Print jobs sent through HP Smart may route through HP’s servers, especially for remote printing features. AirPrint, by contrast, keeps jobs on your local network. If document privacy matters, prefer AirPrint over HP Smart for daily printing.

HP+ lock-in. HP+ enrolled printers require Original HP ink and an active internet connection. HP Smart enforces these restrictions. If you did not intend to enroll in HP+ and your printer activated it during setup, you may face limitations on third-party ink.

Alternative 1: Smart Printer (Best Overall Replacement)

Most complaints in the section above are not about printing — they are about everything HP wraps around printing. Smart Printer is the closest like-for-like replacement because it keeps the print and scan workflow and drops the account, the ink store, and the upsells.

It is a third-party iOS app, not made by HP, and it prints through AirPrint — the same protocol the iOS Share menu uses. It does not bypass AirPrint or reach printers that lack it. What it adds is the workflow: one place to import, scan, preview, set options, and print, instead of jumping between Mail, Files, and Photos.

That brand-neutrality matters more than it sounds. HP Smart stops being useful the day you add a Canon to the house. Smart Printer does not care which badge is on the printer.

What it does not do:

• HP ink monitoring or Instant Ink management
• Firmware updates
• HP-specific maintenance (nozzle checks, alignment)
• Connect to non-AirPrint printers

Best for: HP owners who print and scan regularly, want the app friction gone, and would rather not install a second app when they buy a different brand of printer.

Honest take: If you are on Instant Ink or HP+, this replaces HP Smart for daily printing but not for account management — keep HP Smart installed and buried in a folder for those. If you are not on either, Smart Printer can replace it outright.

Alternative 2: iOS Built-In Print Dialog (Best for Simplicity)

The lightest alternative to HP Smart is not an app at all. AirPrint is built into iOS, and most HP Wi-Fi printers support it.

How it works:

1. Connect your HP printer to Wi-Fi (use HP Smart once for this, then ignore it).
2. Open any document on your iPhone.
3. Tap Share → Print.
4. Select your HP printer. Done.

No account, no HP login, no app updates, no promotional banners. Our print from iPhone guide covers the full workflow, and our HP AirPrint printers guide confirms which HP models support it.

Best for: Anyone who prints occasionally and does not need scanning, a file library, or ink monitoring.

What you lose: Ink level alerts, firmware updates through the app, scanning from the printer’s ADF, Instant Ink management, HP+ features, and any memory of what you printed last time.

Honest take: If your HP printer is already on Wi-Fi, you are not on Instant Ink, and you print a handful of times a year, you may never need to open HP Smart again.

Alternative 3: Canon PRINT or Epson Smart Panel (Best if You Own Multiple Brands)

This is not a direct HP Smart replacement — it is a strategy for households with printers from multiple manufacturers. HP Smart only works with HP. If you also own a Canon or Epson, you need their apps too, or you skip manufacturer apps entirely.

The multi-app problem: HP Smart for the HP, Canon PRINT for the Canon, Epson Smart Panel for the Epson. Three apps, three accounts, three interfaces.

The AirPrint solution: Use AirPrint for printing on all brands and only open manufacturer apps when you need brand-specific maintenance. Our best printer apps guide compares manufacturer apps across brands.

If you are considering switching from HP to another brand partly because of HP Smart frustrations, our AirPrint compatible printers guide and brand-specific guides for Canon, Epson, and Brother help you evaluate alternatives.

Alternative 4: Printer Pro by Readdle (Best for PDF Power Users)

Printer Pro is a long-standing iOS print app from Readdle, the company behind Documents and PDF Expert. It prints to AirPrint-compatible printers and offers features HP Smart lacks for document-heavy users.

Strengths:

• Prints web pages, emails, and attachments with better formatting control
• Integrates with Readdle’s Documents app ecosystem
• Prints to non-AirPrint printers through a desktop helper app (Printer Pro Desktop) — a unique workaround if you have an older HP without AirPrint and a Mac or PC available

Weaknesses:

• The desktop helper requirement for non-AirPrint printers adds complexity
• No HP-specific ink or maintenance features
• Paid app (not free like HP Smart)

Best for: Users who print complex documents, web pages, and emails with specific formatting needs, or who have an older HP printer without AirPrint and a computer to act as a print server.

Alternative 5: Mopria Print Service (Best for Android in Mixed Households)

If your household has both iPhones and Android phones connected to the same HP printer, HP Smart on Android is equally bloated. Mopria Print Service is a free Android app that adds universal print support across brands — the Android equivalent of relying on AirPrint instead of a manufacturer app.

On iPhone, AirPrint already fills this role. On Android, install Mopria alongside or instead of HP Smart for cleaner local printing. Our print from Android guide covers the setup.

For households that want one printing approach across all devices: AirPrint on iPhone, Mopria on Android, manufacturer app installed but rarely opened except for maintenance.

HP Smart vs. Alternatives: Comparison

Read that top half and bottom half separately. Everything above the divider is day-to-day printing, where HP Smart has no real advantage. Everything below is HP hardware management, where nothing else comes close — which is exactly why the answer for most people is a replacement for daily use plus HP Smart kept around for the occasional ink or firmware job.

When to Keep HP Smart Installed

HP Smart earns its place on your phone if:

• You are on HP Instant Ink and want shipment tracking and page counts
• Your printer is HP+ enrolled and requires the app for full functionality
• You scan regularly from your HP all-in-one’s flatbed or ADF
• You want firmware update notifications
• Your HP printer lacks AirPrint and only prints through HP’s protocol

When to Ditch HP Smart

Remove or ignore HP Smart if:

• Your HP printer supports AirPrint and is already on Wi-Fi
• You print occasionally and do not need ink alerts
• The app’s account prompts and ads annoy you more than the features help
• You use a third-party app like Smart Printer for your daily print workflow
• You care about print privacy and want jobs to stay on your local network

You can always reinstall HP Smart later for firmware updates or Instant Ink management. Deleting the app does not affect your printer’s ability to receive AirPrint jobs.

Troubleshooting HP Smart Issues

Before switching to an alternative, try these fixes for common HP Smart problems.

Printer not found: Grant Bluetooth and location permissions in iPhone Settings → HP Smart. Confirm phone and printer are on the same Wi-Fi network. Restart the printer and the app. If AirPrint finds the printer but HP Smart does not, use AirPrint and treat the HP Smart issue as non-critical.

App crashes on launch: Update HP Smart to the latest version. Update iOS. If crashes persist, delete and reinstall the app.

Stuck on account creation: You can skip account creation on some models by tapping “Continue without account” or similar — the option is not always obvious. Basic local printing works without an HP account.

Print job sent but nothing prints: Check the printer for errors — paper jam, low ink, offline. Our fix printer offline guide and AirPrint not working guide cover network and printer-side issues that affect all printing methods, not just HP Smart.

HP+ restrictions: If your printer enrolled in HP+ during setup and you want to use third-party ink, check whether the enrollment period allows opt-out. HP+ terms vary by model and region.

Setting Up Your HP Printer Without HP Smart

If you want to avoid HP Smart entirely:

1. Wi-Fi setup via printer touchscreen — most HP models with displays have a wireless setup wizard. Navigate Setup → Network → Wireless Setup Wizard and enter your Wi-Fi password.
2. WPS setup — press WPS on your router, then the wireless button on the printer.
3. Web setup — some HP printers create a temporary Wi-Fi network. Connect your phone to it, open a browser, and enter your home network credentials.

Once the printer is on Wi-Fi, verify AirPrint by printing from your iPhone’s Share menu. Our connect printer to iPhone guide covers these methods in detail.

The Bottom Line

HP Smart is a capable but heavy app that HP designed to keep you in their ecosystem — Instant Ink, HP+, supply ordering, and account lock-in. For Wi-Fi setup and ink management, it works. For daily printing from your iPhone, AirPrint is faster, cleaner, and more private.

The five alternatives each serve a different need: Smart Printer as the all-round replacement if you print and scan regularly, the iOS print dialog if you barely print at all, other manufacturer apps for multi-brand homes, Printer Pro for PDF power users, and Mopria for Android. Most HP owners land in the same place: something clean for daily printing, with HP Smart kept installed but rarely opened, for ink and firmware only.

You bought a printer, not a subscription to an app ecosystem. Print however works best for you.