When it comes to printing, ink can be a costly expense. That’s why finding a printer with affordable ink is essential for anyone who frequently prints. With so many printer options available, it can be overwhelming to know which one offers the best value. In this article, we will explore which printers have the cheapest ink, helping you find the most cost-effective option for your printing needs. Let’s get started!
Which printers are most economical on ink?
Inkjet printers are the most economical on ink, using less ink per page than other types. However, printer model, usage pattern, and ink cartridge type can affect consumption and cost. Consider upfront printer costs and ongoing ink costs when making a purchase decision.
Best Cheap Ink Printers for Business Use in 2023
Running a successful business requires keeping expenses low without sacrificing quality. One effective way to cut costs is by choosing printers with cheap ink. Whether you work in a standard office or are learning how to start a sticker business, here are eight of the best ones for business use in 2023:
1. Canon PIXMA G6020
The Canon PIXMA G6020 MegaTank All-In-One Inkjet Printer comes with a full set of ink bottles, which includes two extra black bottles, providing ink savings of over $1,100. The printer uses Canon MegaTank Ink Bottles, which offer over 30 times the amount of ink versus standard cartridges. The PIXMA G6020 can print up to 7,700 color pages or 6,000 black text pages per bottle set.
Pros:
Exceptional ink value with considerable up-front savings
Produces excellent print quality, particularly for photos
Includes a duplexer for double-sided printing and copying
Dual paper trays hold 350 sheets total: 250 in the main cassette, 100 in rear
Cons:
There’s no automatic document feeder
The two-sided printing feature is slow
2. Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5880
The EcoTank Pro ET-5880 is a wireless all-in-one printer that utilizes supersized ink tanks as opposed to cartridges, resulting in low-cost printing and zero cartridge waste. It has PrecisionCore Heat-Free Technology for high-quality output and a 500-sheet paper capacity. The printer features a 4.3″ color touchscreen and hands-free voice-activated printing. It has SmartWay certification for environmentally friendly operation.
Pros:
High-quality print output with sharp and clear text and graphics
EcoTanks provide an extended ink supply, reducing the need for replacement ink
Three paper sources (2 trays and 1 rear feed)
Auto 2-sided printing for convenience
Cons:
Steep purchase price
Users report it going offline on its own
3. Epson EcoTank ET-4850
The Epson EcoTank ET-4850 all-in-one printer offers fast color printing, copying, scanning, and faxing. It has a 2.4″ color touchscreen and a 250-sheet paper tray for borderless 4″ x 6″ photos. It features Ethernet and wireless connectivity, voice-activated printing, and the Epson Smart Panel App for easy printing from smart devices. With its cartridge-free ink system, you can print over 7,000 black text pages or about 6,000 color pages. The printer produces extremely sharp text and impressive color photos and graphics on virtually any paper type.
Pros:
It prints, copies, scans, and faxes
Can be connected via Wi-Fi, USB, or Ethernet
Able to print from mobile devices and scan to them as well
Really simple setup
Cons:
Not the most expensive purchase price, but still pretty high
Can be difficult to see small fonts
4. Brother MFC-J4335DW
The Brother MFC-J4335DW provides up to 1-year of ink in-box, has front-loading ink cartridges, a mobile app for easy printing, and can produce up to 20 black text pages per minute and 19 color pages per minute. It is also ENERGY STAR certified and has a 2-year limited warranty.
Pros:
A great purchase price at under $150
One of the best ADFs of printers in the sub-$200 all-in-one category
Beautifully prints highly detailed images and produces crisp, precise documents
Fast printing speed
Cons:
Auto document feeder (ADF) duplex scanning is not supported
Not great for photos, which come out grainy
5. Epson EcoTank ET-2760
The EcoTank ET-2760 printer uses easy-to-fill ink tanks for cartridge-free printing. It offers low-cost replacement ink bottles that can save up to 90% and up to 2 years of ink. With each replacement set, users can print up to 7,500 pages in black or 6,000 in color, which is equal to about 80 individual cartridges. The printer also features automatic two-sided printing, scanning, copying, and a 1.44-inch color display.
Pros:
Incredible ink savings
High-quality prints with good color
Light and compact, making it easy to carry or transport
Compatible with SD memory cards
Cons:
Printing speed is painfully slow
Guides can be a pain to adjust
6. HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e
The HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e is a high-performance all-in-one printer suitable for small businesses and for use as home office printers. It comes with advanced features such as fast color printing, dual-band Wi-Fi, automatic 2-sided printing and scanning, and security essentials such as basic encryption and password protection. The printer can be activated with HP+ for 6 months of free ink delivery and access to smart features such as mobile printing and enhanced cloud-based security.
Pros:
Exceptional printing speed across the board
Produces high-quality documents in both black and color
Priced affordably
35-sheet auto-duplexing ADF
Cons:
Designed to work with original HP-compatible ink cartridges only
The scanner isn’t great at picking up fine details
7. Pantum P3302DW
The Pantum P3302DW printer offers fast, high-definition printing up to 33ppm, supports various media sizes and weights, and has a sleek off-white color and compact size. Its metal frame structure ensures long-term use, and it can be easily installed wirelessly with multiple connection options, including mobile devices. It comes with a separate drum and toner, and its starter cartridge can print up to 1500 pages while the drum unit has a lifetime of 12000 pages.
Pros:
A high print speed at a low price point
Capable of both wired and wireless connections
Good text-quality printing
Feeds thicker card stock well
Cons:
Mobile printing setup instructions are poor
Not compatible with Chrome
8. HP Neverstop Laser MFP 1202w
The HP Neverstop 1202w All-in-One laser printer offers black-and-white printing at 21 pages per minute. It also scans, copies, and has wireless printing capabilities. It includes up to 5,000 pages of toner, with the option to purchase a separate kit for over 2,000 pages worth of Original HP Toner. The printer is also ENERGY STAR 3.0 certified.
Pros:
Affordable purchase price
Budget-friendly ongoing costs
Print quality is very good
The toner refill kit is easy to use and mess-free
Cons:
No automatic double-sided printing
Doesn’t print in color
How to Choose the Best Printer with the Cheapest Ink
Choosing the right printer is key to ensuring you get the most bang for your buck in terms of ink costs. When selecting the best printer with cheap ink, consider these factors:
Printer Type
Inkjet models are generally the most economical choices, as they are equipped with separate cartridges for each color and use a different printing method than laser types.
Ink Refill Kits
When selecting a printer, check if there are refill ink kits available for it as this can help reduce your total cost of ownership significantly.
Cartridge Price and Yield
Make sure you understand what kind of cartridge prices and page yield you’re expecting from your chosen printer model to get an accurate picture of long-term costs.
Print Quality and Speed
Look out for the print speed and quality specs when making your decision, as some printers may have lower costs up front but slow print times or poor output quality that ends up eating away at any potential savings.
Maintenance and Support Costs
If possible, also consider potential maintenance and support costs associated with the printer model you choose to make sure there won’t be any hidden expenses on top of the initial cost of purchase and refills.
What is the best printer that uses less ink?
When looking for a printer that uses less ink, any of the ones on our list will do. It’s important to choose an ink-efficient model that’s right for your printing demands and specific business needs.
Which printer is the cheapest to run?
The Epson EcoTank ET-2760 is the cheapest printer to run with affordable refillable ink bottles. It costs on average 1 cent per color ISO page compared to ink cartridges which cost about 20 cents. It also includes up to two years of ink.
Which is cheaper overall, laser printers or inkjet printers?
Laser printers are typically cheaper than inkjet printers in both purchase price and running costs. As laser toners have more pages per cartridge, it reduces the frequency of buying ink and associated costs.
Does Epson or HP have cheaper ink?
Even with HP Instant Ink being so affordable, Epson is the clear winner when it comes to saving money with the cheapest ink cartridges, costing an average of only about 6.9 cents per page, which is hard to beat.
Where is the best place to buy cheap ink cartridges?
The cheapest places to buy printer ink online include online retailers such as the ones mentioned in this article. They offer competitive prices, good quality products, and fast shipping on cheap office supplies.
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Image: Envato Elements
This article, “Which Printer Has the Cheapest Ink? Find the Best Value for Your Prints” was first published on Small Business Trends
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