Printers

The real price of a printer is the ink. Here is how the four big brands compare.

The real price of a printer is the ink

Here is something the printer business does not advertise: the printer is the cheap part. The ink or toner is where the money goes. An $80 printer can easily cost you $300 in ink over a few years, while a $250 printer with cheap ink can cost less in the long run. There are three ways printers feed themselves.

Ink cartridges

Small, pricey ink boxes. The classic trap: a cheap printer whose ink costs a fortune. A black cartridge can run out after just a few hundred pages.

Ink tanks

Big refillable tanks you fill from bottles — Epson EcoTank, Canon MegaTank, HP Smart Tank. Ink drops to about a penny a page. The catch: print something regularly, or the print head can clog.

Laser toner

Powder, not liquid ink. Costs a few cents a page and never dries out, even if the printer sits for months. Most laser printers print black and white only.

The four brands, compared

Biggest seller
Budget to premium • Inkjet and laser

HP

The world's biggest printer seller, by far. You will find an HP in nearly every store.

Printing styleDoes everything. HP sells inkjets for homes, LaserJets for offices, and everything in between.
Ink costsVaries. Standard cartridges are pricey. HP pushes Instant Ink, a monthly plan that mails you ink. Read the terms: if you cancel, the printer can stop working until you buy regular cartridges.
ReliabilityGood. HP printers are everywhere, so parts and help are easy to find.
StrengthsEnormous range. Easy to find in stores. The LaserJet models are office workhorses.
Watch-outsMany HP printers refuse ink cartridges that are not made by HP, even ones you already own. A software update can trigger this. If you buy HP, plan on buying HP ink.
Best for photos
Budget to premium • Inkjet and laser

Canon

The photographer's choice. Canon printers are famous for beautiful photo printing.

Printing stylePhoto-first. The PIXMA line prints gorgeous photos. The MegaTank line uses refillable tanks for cheaper everyday printing.
Ink costsVaries. Standard PIXMA cartridges are pricey per page. MegaTank models bring costs down to about a penny a page.
ReliabilityGood. Canon printers are dependable and long-lived.
StrengthsSuperb photo quality. The MegaTank line gives you cheap ink too. Simple to use.
Watch-outsCheap PIXMA models have the classic expensive-cartridge problem. For everyday documents, look at MegaTank instead.
Cheapest ink
Budget to premium • Mostly inkjet

Epson

The ink-tank pioneer. Epson's EcoTank line made cheap ink mainstream.

Printing styleInk tanks lead. EcoTank printers print in color for about a penny a page.
Ink costsLowest. A set of refill bottles costs little and prints thousands of pages.
ReliabilityGood, with one condition. Print something at least every week or two. Sitting idle can clog the print head.
StrengthsThe cheapest color printing you can buy. Great if you print photos, schoolwork, or crafts often.
Watch-outsCosts more up front. Needs regular use to stay healthy. Not the pick if you print once in a blue moon.
Simplest to own
Budget to mid-range • Mostly laser

Brother

The no-nonsense choice. Brother lasers are famous for simply working, year after year.

Printing styleLaser-first. The HL and MFC lines print crisp black-and-white documents fast. Toner never dries out.
Ink costsLow. Toner costs a few cents a page, and one cartridge prints thousands of pages.
ReliabilityExcellent. Brother printers are famously dependable and ask for little.
StrengthsPerfect if you mostly print documents. Sits for months without a problem. Straightforward and honest.
Watch-outsMost models print black and white only. Not for photos. Color lasers cost more to run.

Which one should you pick?

  • Mostly documents, and you print now and then: a Brother black-and-white laser (the HL line). The toner never dries out, and it just works.
  • Lots of color printing, and you print regularly: an Epson EcoTank. The cheapest color per page there is.
  • Photos matter most: a Canon PIXMA for beautiful prints — or a Canon MegaTank if you also print a lot.
  • A small office that wants one brand for everything: HP, especially the LaserJet line. Just go in knowing you will be buying HP ink.

Printer acting up?

The complete fix-it guide is on our Learn page

Paper jams, stuck print queues, a printer that says “offline,” getting on Wi-Fi, low-ink warnings, and printing from your phone — every fix is covered step by step in plain language, with a free printable guide.

Open the printer guide →

Want help choosing the right one?

Call Straight 2 Work Tech Solutions for patient help choosing or setting up your new printer.

(813) 770-6082
Call Sean — (813) 770-6082