In some ways, digital presses are similar to digital desktop printers, but they are physically larger and can produce larger volumes of documents and at a higher rate than desktop printers. The smaller desktop printers could also be considered small digital presses because some of the same technologies are used for both. Many digital presses use electrophotography to produce printed images and some use ink-jet technology. Many of them can print on both sides of the paper in one pass through the press (duplex printing).

Digital presses are part of the totally electronic workflow, also known as computer-to-paper technology. They utilize an image carrier that can be reimaged with every revolution of the press, which makes it possible to print a different page of content on every sheet of paper that passes through the press. This type of printing is known as "variable data printing" and is a unique feature of digital printing systems.

Like digital desktop printers, digital presses produce documents from electronic files. The processing time through the RIP doesn't allow digital equipment to print as fast as conventional printing equipment. Digital equipment usually cannot exceed a speed of 300 feet per minute.

The price per copy of an application printed on a digital press is usually the same regardless if one document is printed or one-thousand. The cost per copy may be higher than the same job printed with conventional processes, but the time spent producing the job is less than what it would be if printed with conventional means. This allows for more jobs to be printed within the same amount of time that is required to produce one job with conventional methods. The use of digital presses for various print applications is a good choice, especially if the application contains continuous tone images and the quality must be good.