For most buyers, the best budget printer depends on what you print. Buy the Brother HL-L2460DW for inexpensive black-and-white documents, the Brother MFC-J1360DW for inexpensive color printing with scanning and copying, or a refillable tank model such as the Canon MegaTank G3270/G3290 or Brother MFC-T780DW if you print color frequently enough to justify a higher purchase price.
A $60 cartridge inkjet can be the cheapest printer to buy, but it is not necessarily the cheapest to own. Replacement ink, maintenance cycles, paper, subscription requirements, and the cost of replacing a partly used color cartridge can matter more than the hardware price.
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US buying guide, updated August 9, 2026. Prices and availability change quickly. The Brother MFC-J1360DW page showed $109.99, while the Epson XP-4200 page showed a discounted $59.99 listing but was out of stock. Canon’s US store marked the G3290 and MG3620 unavailable or discontinued. Verify the exact model, retailer, warranty, and consumable prices before ordering.
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| Printer | Approximate price or status | Technology | Functions | Duplex | ADF | Paper capacity | Best for | Main drawback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brother HL-L2460DW | Check current retailer pricing | Monochrome laser | Print only | Automatic printing | None | 250-sheet tray plus single-sheet manual feed | Black-and-white documents and labels | No color, scanner, or copier |
| Brother MFC-J1360DW | $109.99 on Brother US page | Cartridge inkjet | Print, scan, copy | Automatic printing | 20-sheet, single-sided | 150 sheets | Best cheap color all-in-one | Modest cartridge yields |
| Epson Expression Home XP-4200 | $59.99 stated sale price; currently out of stock on Epson’s page | Cartridge inkjet | Print, scan, copy | Automatic printing | None; flatbed only | Check the exact manual/specification | Occasional color printing at a low upfront price | Low yields and possible clogging during long idle periods |
| Canon MegaTank PIXMA G3270/G3290 | G3290 marked no longer available in Canon’s US store; check third-party stock | Refillable ink tank | Print, scan, copy | Automatic printing | None | One tray | Low running cost for regular color printing | Availability uncertainty and no ADF |
| Brother INKvestment MFC-T780DW | Check current retailer pricing | Refillable ink tank | Print, scan, copy | Automatic printing | 20-sheet; not duplex | Modest paper handling | Higher-budget tank printer with office features | Higher upfront price, small LCD, no duplex ADF |
| HP Smart Tank 7602 | Check current retailer pricing | Refillable ink tank | Print, scan, copy, fax | Automatic printing | 35-sheet | 250 sheets | Students and home offices needing an ADF, Ethernet, or fax | Usually costs more than a basic cartridge printer |
| HP LaserJet M209dw | Check current retailer pricing | Monochrome laser | Print only | Automatic printing | None | One feed | Compact black-and-white printing | Low-capacity included toner and expensive replacements |
Cost-per-page figures cannot be responsibly fixed without the current price of the exact cartridge, toner, or bottle at the time of purchase. Use the formulas below and include the full color set, not just the cheapest individual cartridge.
Which budget printer should you buy?
Buy the Brother HL-L2460DW for mostly black text
The Brother HL-L2460DW is the strongest general-purpose cheap printer for return labels, forms, shipping documents, school reports, and other black-and-white work. It is a print-only monochrome laser, so it avoids the inkjet printhead-clogging problem when left unused. That does not make any laser printer maintenance-free, but it is generally a better fit than an inkjet for someone who prints sporadically.
#1 Best Overall
- BEST FOR HOME OFFICES & SMALL TEAMS – Engineered for consistent, premium print quality, the Brother HL-L2460DW Monochrome (Black & White) Laser Printer produces documents that are clear, crisp, and easy to review and share, all at an affordable price
- COMPACT, CONNECTED, EXCEPTIONALLY EFFICIENT– Connect with built-in dual-band wireless (2.4GHz/5GHz), Ethernet, or to a single computer via USB interface. Prints at speeds up to 36ppm(2), plus automatic duplex printing saves time and reduces paper waste
- BROTHER MOBILE CONNECT APP – Manage your wireless printer remotely and print from your mobile device anytime, from almost anywhere. Order Brother Genuine Supplies, track toner usage, and complete more work on-the-go(3)
- VERSATILE PAPER HANDLING – Tackle high-volume black & white printing with the 250-sheet capacity paper tray.(4) The manual feed slot enables printing on envelopes and specialty paper
- BROTHER IS AT YOUR SIDE – Backed by Brother with a 1-year limited warranty and free online, call, or live chat support for the life of your printer
Brother rates it at up to 36 pages per minute. It has automatic two-sided printing, a 250-sheet main tray, a single-sheet manual feed, dual-band Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB 2.0, Wi-Fi Direct, AirPrint, Mopria, and Brother Mobile Connect. The manual feed supports media such as envelopes and labels, although you should check the paper guide before using unusually heavy stock.
Brother lists approximately 1,200 pages for the standard TN830 toner, 3,000 pages for the TN830XL, 3,300 pages for the TN830V, and 15,000 pages for the DR830 drum. RTINGS reported different results in its own testing—approximately 1,300 pages from standard toner and up to 5,000 from an XL cartridge. Those numbers are not necessarily contradictory: cartridge variant, regional supply, test coverage, and test method can produce different results. Use Brother’s published yields for a like-for-like purchasing calculation, and treat the independent figures as test evidence rather than a guarantee.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesChoose it if: you need cheap, sharp text, automatic duplexing, a large paper tray, or a printer that may sit idle for weeks.
Do not choose it if: you need color, scanning, copying, or faxing. A print-only laser can become false economy if you later have to buy a separate scanner or repeatedly use a phone-scanning workaround.
Buy the Brother MFC-J1360DW for cheap color and an all-in-one
The Brother MFC-J1360DW is the best fit for a household that needs color worksheets, occasional photos, copies, and scans without paying tank-printer pricing. Brother’s US page listed it at $109.99 in the supplied research. It prints, scans, and copies; it does not fax.
Key features include automatic duplex printing, a 150-sheet paper tray, a 20-sheet single-sided automatic document feeder, a 1.8-inch color display, dual-band wireless, USB 2.0, Wi-Fi Direct, AirPrint, Mopria, and Brother Mobile Connect. The ADF is useful for copying or scanning several pages, but it cannot automatically scan or copy both sides of a document.
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Brother rates the printer at up to 16 pages per minute in black and 9 pages per minute in color. Its standard cartridges are rated at approximately 250 black pages and 200 pages for each color cartridge. High-yield cartridges are rated at approximately 500 pages per cartridge. Because the colors are separate, you replace cyan, magenta, and yellow independently rather than throwing away all remaining colors in one tri-color cartridge.
RTINGS found sharp text, detailed output, good casual photos, and an effective ADF scanner. Its testing produced roughly 400 black-and-white pages and 300 color pages, higher than Brother’s published standard yields. Use the manufacturer’s yields in a cost comparison and regard the RTINGS results as a separate hands-on measurement.
Choose it if: you want a reasonably priced color all-in-one, scan multiple pages occasionally, and print a moderate rather than heavy volume.
Do not choose it if: you print hundreds of color pages every month. At that workload, compare a refillable tank printer before committing to replacement cartridges.
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Buy the Epson XP-4200 only for occasional use and a low upfront price
The Epson Expression Home XP-4200 is the classic low-purchase-price option. Epson’s US page stated a $59.99 price after a discount, but the product page was out of stock in the supplied research. That makes it a possible clearance or occasional-use choice, not a dependable universal recommendation.
It is a four-color cartridge inkjet all-in-one with a flatbed scanner, automatic two-sided printing, individual cartridges, and a maximum stated resolution of 5,760 by 1,440 optimized dpi. Epson lists ISO speeds of 9.0 black pages per minute and 4.5 color pages per minute. Standard 232 cartridges are rated at 175 black pages and 165 color pages; XL cartridges are rated at 500 black pages and 450 color pages.
RTINGS measured approximately 15 black pages per minute and seven color pages per minute in its testing, along with roughly 250 black and 190 color pages per ink set. Again, the manufacturer’s ISO yields and the reviewer’s test results measure different things and should not be blended into one promised figure.
The XP-4200 has no ADF. Scanning one receipt or one page is straightforward, but scanning a stack requires manually replacing each sheet. Epson also recommends regular use to reduce clogging risk; RTINGS specifically suggests printing about once a week. That weekly maintenance page consumes ink and is not a guarantee against clogged nozzles.
Choose it if: it is genuinely available at a low price, you print only occasionally, and you need a small color all-in-one.
Do not choose it if: the printer may sit unused for months, you scan multi-page documents, or you expect low running costs from frequent printing.
Rank #2
- BEST FOR HOME OFFICES & SMALL TEAMS – Engineered for consistent, premium print quality, the Brother HL-L2460DW Monochrome (Black & White) Laser Printer produces documents that are clear, crisp, and easy to review and share, all at an affordable price
- COMPACT, CONNECTED, EXCEPTIONALLY EFFICIENT– Connect with built-in dual-band wireless (2.4GHz/5GHz), Ethernet, or to a single computer via USB interface. Prints at speeds up to 36ppm(2), plus automatic duplex printing saves time and reduces paper waste
- BROTHER MOBILE CONNECT APP – Manage your wireless printer remotely and print from your mobile device anytime, from almost anywhere. Order Brother Genuine Supplies, track toner usage, and complete more work on-the-go(3)
- VERSATILE PAPER HANDLING – Tackle high-volume black & white printing with the 250-sheet capacity paper tray.(4) The manual feed slot enables printing on envelopes and specialty paper
- BROTHER IS AT YOUR SIDE – Backed by Brother with a 1-year limited warranty and free online, call, or live chat support for the life of your printer
Choose a Canon MegaTank G3270 or G3290 for regular color printing—after checking availability
A refillable tank printer is usually the better long-term financial choice when you print color regularly. The Canon MegaTank PIXMA G3270/G3290 family is a strong example: you pay more for the printer and refill the built-in tanks from bottles rather than replacing small cartridges.
The G3290 is a four-color tank all-in-one with print, scan, copy, automatic duplex printing, borderless printing, and a 2.7-inch touchscreen. Canon’s support information lists approximately 11 black pages per minute and 6 color pages per minute. Tom’s Guide measured approximately 9.2 pages per minute overall and 7.2 pages per minute for duplex text, along with very low ink costs and high image quality.
There are important limitations. The G3290 has no ADF and one paper tray, so multi-page scanning and switching between paper types are less convenient. Most importantly, Canon’s US online store said the G3290 was no longer available, even though third-party retailers and current review coverage still listed it. Buy only from a reputable seller offering a clear US warranty, and do not confuse a remaining old-stock listing with an actively supported mainstream model. The G3270 may be available separately, but verify the exact SKU, features, supplies, and warranty rather than assuming it is identical.
Choose it if: you print enough color pages for low bottle costs to offset the higher initial price and you can confirm legitimate current stock.
Do not choose it if: you need an ADF, fax, multiple trays, or a guaranteed current manufacturer-store listing.
Choose the Brother MFC-T780DW for a more capable tank all-in-one
The Brother INKvestment MFC-T780DW is a higher-budget alternative for people who want tank economics with more office functionality. Tom’s Guide named it its overall printer pick after testing more than 500 pages. It has four refillable tanks, automatic duplex printing, a 20-sheet ADF, Ethernet, USB, and Wi-Fi.
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Tom’s Guide measured approximately 0.3 cents per text page and less than one cent per color page in its testing. These are independent test results, not a universal promise; bottle prices, page coverage, maintenance, and paper still affect your household cost.
The printer produced fast text and good scans in that review, but the 20-sheet ADF is small and cannot perform two-sided ADF scanning or copying. Other drawbacks include a small LCD, finicky setup, and modest paper handling. It is not the right answer to a strict $100 printer budget, but it can be financially sensible for a family, student, or home office that prints color regularly.
Choose it if: you want a tank printer with an ADF, wired networking, and stronger office functionality than a basic MegaTank model.
Do not choose it if: your monthly workload is only a few pages or your budget is based on the printer’s purchase price alone.
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The HP Smart Tank 7602 is aimed at students and home offices rather than the lowest-cost buyer. HP lists print, copy, scan, fax, automatic duplex printing, a 250-sheet input tray, a 35-sheet ADF, a 3-inch touchscreen, dual-band Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, USB, and Ethernet. Its listed black ISO speed is up to 15 pages per minute, its recommended monthly volume is 400 to 1,200 pages, and its hardware warranty is one year.
Tom’s Guide named it a student pick and found very low ink costs. The 35-sheet ADF is larger than those on the Brother recommendations, and fax can matter for administrative, medical, legal, or specific office workflows. Confirm the current street price before buying: tank printers can be a good long-term value while still exceeding a strict cheap-printer budget.
HP ownership requires extra attention to enrollment prompts. Instant Ink is an optional subscription, while HP+ is a separate activation choice on eligible models. According to HP’s Instant Ink FAQ, Instant Ink cartridges stop working after the current billing cycle ends when the subscription is canceled; you must install standard cartridges to continue printing. HP also says that HP+ printers require Original HP cartridges even after a trial ends. Check whether the exact model is an HP+ model, whether an HP account and internet connection are required, and whether the terms fit your preference before accepting setup offers.
Choose it if: you need color tank economics plus a larger ADF, fax, Ethernet, and a 250-sheet tray.
Do not choose it if: you want the simplest possible ownership arrangement or you are trying to minimize the initial purchase price.
Rank #3
- BEST FOR HOMES & HOME OFFICES – Engineered for consistent, premium print quality, the Brother HL-L2405W Monochrome (Black & White) Laser Printer delivers sharp, crisp prints at an affordable price. Prints one-sided documents at speeds up to 30ppm(2)
- COMPACT, CONNECTED PRINTER – Flexible connection options make this an ideal printer for home use and at-home offices. Securely connect to multiple devices with built-in dual-band wireless (2.4GHz/5GHz) or locally to a single computer via USB interface
- BROTHER MOBILE CONNECT APP – Manage your printer remotely and print from your mobile device anytime, from almost anywhere. Order Brother Genuine Supplies, track toner usage, and complete more work on-the-go(3)
- VERSATILE PAPER HANDLING – Enjoy seamless, reliable everyday printing with the 250-sheet paper tray(4) and a manual feed slot that enables printing on envelopes and specialty pape
- BROTHER IS AT YOUR SIDE – Backed by Brother with a 1-year limited warranty and free online, call, or live chat support for the life of your printer
Choose the HP LaserJet M209dw when desk space matters most
The HP LaserJet M209dw is a compact monochrome laser alternative. PC Guide’s hands-on review found sharp text and clean lines, automatic duplex printing, USB 2.0, 100 Mbps Ethernet, 2.4/5GHz Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, and mobile printing.
It has no scanner, color capability, or ADF, and only one paper feed. The review also found weak gray-scale gradients and low-contrast images, a low-capacity included toner cartridge, and expensive replacement toner. The Brother HL-L2460DW is the better lead when paper capacity, published speed, toner choices, and overall flexibility matter. The HP can make sense when its compact footprint or a specific sale price is more important.
Cartridge inkjet, tank, or laser: the real budget decision
Cartridge inkjet: cheapest to buy
Cartridge inkjets are usually the easiest way to get color printing, scanning, and copying for a low initial price. They suit occasional color documents, casual photos, and small homes that need an all-in-one but print only a few pages each month.
The trade-off is recurring cost. Cartridges have limited yields, maintenance cycles consume ink, and inkjet nozzles can dry or clog when the printer sits unused. Some models use a tri-color cartridge, so the entire cartridge must be replaced when one color runs out. The Canon PIXMA MG3620 is a clear example: RTINGS found good color and black document quality but criticized its low-yield tri-color cartridge and the need to replace the complete color cartridge when one color is depleted.
Refillable tank: cheapest color printing over time
Tank printers are designed for regular color printing. Their ink bottles generally provide much more ink for the money than small cartridges, making them suitable for worksheets, reports, labels, schoolwork, and occasional photos.
The financial catch is the higher purchase price. A tank printer saves money only if you print enough pages for the ink savings to recover that premium. It is also still an inkjet: printheads can clog, refilling can spill, and entry-level tanks may lack an ADF, Ethernet, fast speeds, or multiple trays.
Monochrome laser: simplest for black documents
A monochrome laser is usually the best match for text-heavy black-and-white work. Toner does not dry like liquid ink, output is typically sharp, and document printing is often faster. It is especially practical for shipping labels, forms, return labels, and users who may print only once every few weeks.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchLaser is not automatically the cheapest option for every workload. Basic models cannot print color or scan, and the total supply cost includes toner and, eventually, a drum. Gray-scale graphics and photos are generally less attractive than inkjet output. Also, say that laser printers avoid the inkjet printhead-clogging issue; do not treat that as a guarantee that a laser printer can never need maintenance.
How much printing makes a tank printer worthwhile?
Use workload bands rather than a false exact break-even point:
- A few pages per month: Choose a cheap cartridge inkjet if you need color, or a monochrome laser if you need only black text.
- Several dozen pages per month: A separate-cartridge inkjet can work, but compare its high-yield supplies with an entry-level tank.
- Hundreds of pages per month: Favor a tank printer or laser and avoid the cheapest cartridge models.
- Mostly black text: A monochrome laser is usually the simplest financial and maintenance choice.
- Frequent color: A tank printer generally deserves consideration even with a higher initial cost.
- Frequent photos: Compare photo quality, paper handling, color accuracy, and print mode separately. Low ink cost does not automatically mean the best photos.
The basic break-even calculation is:
Tank-printer premium ÷ monthly cartridge-ink savings = months to break evenFor example, if a tank printer costs $80 more but saves $10 per month in ink, the hardware premium takes eight months to recover. That is a hypothetical illustration, not a current model price. If you print only 10 pages per month, the savings may be too small to justify a tank; if you print hundreds of color pages, the premium can recover much faster.
How to calculate cost per page
For black-and-white printing:
Black cost per page = black cartridge or toner price ÷ rated black-page yieldFor color printing:
Color cost per page = price of all required color supplies ÷ rated color-page yieldWith separate cyan, magenta, and yellow cartridges, add the price of all three cartridges and use the relevant color yield. With a tri-color cartridge, the full cartridge price applies even when only one color is empty. If black is used in color documents, include the black cartridge too.
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallFor the Brother HL-L2460DW, compare the current price of TN830, TN830XL, or TN830V toner with Brother’s approximately 1,200-, 3,000-, or 3,300-page ratings, and eventually account for the DR830 drum’s approximately 15,000-page rating. For the MFC-J1360DW, use approximately 250 black pages and 200 pages per color cartridge for standard supplies, or approximately 500 pages per high-yield cartridge. For the XP-4200, Epson lists 175 black and 165 color pages for standard 232 cartridges, or 500 black and 450 color pages for XL cartridges.
These are comparison figures, not guaranteed household results. ISO yields depend on standardized coverage. Actual results change with photographs, heavy graphics, duplexing, paper type, print quality, cleaning cycles, wasted setup ink, and pages that are discarded. Brother identifies ISO/IEC 24711 for ink yields and ISO/IEC 19752 for monochrome toner yields in its documentation.
A realistic household calculation should also ask:
- Is the included starter cartridge smaller than the normal replacement? The HP M209dw review specifically found low-capacity included toner.
- Does the printer use separate colors or a tri-color cartridge?
- Are maintenance and printhead-cleaning cycles frequent?
- Are taxes, shipping, paper, and subscription fees included?
- Will the printer force you to replace a cartridge before every drop of ink is usable?
- Is a drum or other replacement part separate from toner?
All-in-one, ADF, and duplex features that affect value
Print-only versus all-in-one
A print-only printer is smaller and often cheaper. It is appropriate when your phone can scan everything you need and you never make copies.
Rank #4
- BEST FOR SMALL BUSINESSES – Engineered for extraordinary productivity, the Brother DCP-L2640DW Monochrome (Black & White) 3-in-1 combines laser printer, scanner, copier in one compact footprint and delivers high-quality black & white prints
- FAST PRINTER WITH EFFICIENT SCANNING – Produces documents quickly with print speeds up to 36 ppm(2) and scan speeds up to 23.6/7.9 ipm(3) (black/color). A 50-page auto document feeder(4) allows for convenient, time saving multi-page scanning and copying
- FLEXIBLE CONNECTION OPTIONS – Easily navigate the changing demands of your business with secure multi-device connectivity via built-in dual-band wireless (2.4GHz / 5GHz) and Ethernet. Or connect locally to a single computer via USB interface
- BROTHER MOBILE CONNECT APP – Print, scan, and manage your wireless printer anytime, from almost anywhere from your mobile device. Order Brother Genuine Supplies, track toner usage, and complete more work on-the-go(5)
- CHOOSE BROTHER GENUINE TONER – When it’s time to replace your toner, be sure to choose Brother Genuine TN830 or TN830XL replacement toner. And with Refresh EZ Print Subscription Service, you’ll never worry about running out of toner again and you’ll enjoy savings of up to 50%(6) on Brother Genuine Toner. Get started with Refresh today with a Free Trial(1)
A three-in-one printer adds scanning and copying and is the best default for many homes. You will eventually need to scan a receipt, signed form, identification document, school worksheet, or return label. A four-in-one adds fax, which is useful only for particular office, medical, legal, or administrative workflows. The HP Smart Tank 7602 is the main recommendation here that explicitly includes fax.
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An automatic document feeder matters when you scan or copy multiple pages. It is not the same as having a flatbed scanner:
- Brother MFC-J1360DW: 20-sheet single-sided ADF.
- HP Smart Tank 7602: 35-sheet ADF.
- Brother MFC-T780DW: 20-sheet ADF, but no two-sided ADF scanning or copying.
- Canon G3290: no ADF.
- Epson XP-4200: flatbed scanner only.
Automatic duplex printing does not mean automatic duplex scanning or copying. Confirm both features separately if you regularly work with double-sided documents.
Automatic duplex printing
Automatic duplexing prints on both sides without requiring you to turn the pages manually. It reduces paper use and is convenient for reports and schoolwork. It can be slower than one-sided printing and may not work with every paper size, envelope, label, or heavy stock.
The Brother HL-L2460DW, Brother MFC-J1360DW, Epson XP-4200, and Canon G3290 support automatic two-sided printing. Always consult the exact manual for cardstock and specialty-media restrictions.
Paper handling and connectivity
Before ordering, check more than the word wireless:
- Paper: Confirm letter and legal support, envelope handling, cardstock limits, borderless photo sizes, and whether labels must use a rear or manual feed.
- Duplex restrictions: Heavy paper, envelopes, labels, and photo media often cannot use automatic duplexing.
- Trays: A 250-sheet tray is more convenient than constantly loading paper. The G3290 and M209dw have one feed, while the HL-L2460DW has a 250-sheet main tray plus a single-sheet manual feed.
- Wired networking: Do not assume wireless models have Ethernet. The HL-L2460DW, MFC-T780DW, HP Smart Tank 7602, and HP M209dw list Ethernet; verify other models individually.
- Wi-Fi bands: Check whether the exact printer supports 2.4GHz, 5GHz, or both. Wireless does not automatically mean dual-band.
- Direct printing: Look for Wi-Fi Direct, AirPrint, Mopria, and the manufacturer’s mobile app if you print from phones or tablets.
- Chromebooks and cloud services: Confirm current compatibility and any account or internet requirements on the exact US product page.
- Physical size: Measure depth with trays extended, not only the printer’s folded-up dimensions. This is particularly important in a dorm, apartment, or home office shelf.
Subscription and cartridge restrictions
A printer subscription can lower the monthly bill for a predictable workload, but it changes how you buy supplies. Do not accept a free-trial or setup offer without reading what happens when it ends.
HP Instant Ink: HP says enrolled Instant Ink cartridges stop working after the current billing cycle ends when the subscription is canceled. You then need standard cartridges to continue printing.
HP+: HP+ is not simply the same thing as Instant Ink. HP says HP+ printers require Original HP cartridges even after a trial ends. HP+ can also involve an HP account and internet connection. Confirm whether the exact model is an HP+ model before activation.
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Brother Refresh EZ Print: Some Brother listings may offer this as an optional subscription. Treat it as a separate purchasing choice and compare its monthly allowance and overage terms with buying cartridges directly.
Third-party supplies: Compatibility is model- and region-specific. HP’s guidance on non-HP cartridges and dynamic security means you should not assume every third-party cartridge will continue working after a firmware update. If independent supply choice is a priority, review the exact model’s terms before purchase.
The practical rule is simple: if you want to buy cartridges independently, do not enroll accidentally, distinguish an optional subscription from HP+ activation, and retain the ability to install standard supplies.
What happens when an inkjet sits unused?
Liquid ink can dry in the nozzles or require cleaning after a long idle period. A weekly nozzle-use page may reduce the risk, but it uses ink and cannot guarantee trouble-free operation. Tank printers are still inkjets and still need sensible maintenance.
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Best Value
- Cool Toner Compatible High Yield Toner Cartridge for Brother TN830XL TN830/XL/V TN830 XL XL/V/R 830XL Toner Cartridge
- Package Contents: 2 Pack TN-830 TN-830XL Black Toner Cartridge for HL-L2460DW DCP-L2640DW Toner Printer
- Compatible for Brother Printers: HL-L2460DW HL-L2400D HL-L2405W HL-L2420DW HL-L2460DWXL HL-L2465DW HL-L2467DW HL-L2480DW HL-L2865DW, DCP-L2640DW DCP-L2647DW, MFC-L2820DW MFC-L2760DW MFC-L2807DW MFC-L2820DWXL MFC-L2900DW MFC-L2900DWXL MFC-L2980DW
- Page yield: Up to 3,000 Pages Per TN 830XL 830 TN830XL TN-830 High Yield Black Toner Cartridge (Letter/A4, at 5% Coverage) for HL-L2460DW DCP-L2640DW Toner
- High quality: Cool Toner TN830XL TN 830 TN-830 Toner Cartridges Deliver Superior Printing Results with Clear prints
If you print only a handful of pages every month—or may leave the printer unused for several months—a monochrome laser is usually the safer choice for black documents. If you need color only occasionally, a cartridge inkjet can still be reasonable, but factor in the possibility of cleaning cycles and wasted ink.
Models that should not be automatic recommendations in 2026
Brother MFC-J1010DW
The MFC-J1010DW appears in older budget-printer coverage, but Brother’s 2025–2026 replacement guide lists it as discontinued and identifies the MFC-J1360DW, MFC-J1365DW, and MFC-T780DW as replacements. Treat a J1010DW listing as old stock only, and check the warranty and cartridge availability carefully.
Canon PIXMA MG3620
The MG3620 remains in some independent testing roundups and can be acceptable as clearance stock. Canon’s US store marks the model discontinued and out of stock. It has automatic duplex printing, wireless printing, AirPrint, Mopria, and a flatbed scanner, but its tri-color cartridge means all colors share one cartridge. It is not a current mainstream recommendation unless the price is unusually low and the seller provides a valid warranty.
Epson EcoTank ET-2850
The ET-2850 is a compact tank all-in-one with good documents, a quality scanner, automatic duplexing, and low operating costs according to PC Guide’s February 2024 hands-on review. It lacks Ethernet and an SD-card slot. Because that review is older, its 2026 value and availability need checking.
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Do not repeat Bluetooth as an ET-2850 feature without confirming it for the exact US SKU. The detailed review lists USB, 802.11b/g/n wireless, and Wi-Fi Direct; manufacturer specifications for the exact product should take priority.
HP Envy 6120e and 6155e
These compact HP color all-in-ones can make sense for occasional home printing, with automatic duplexing and flatbed scanning. Their weaknesses are low-yield cartridges, high cost per print without a subscription, and weaker photo color accuracy in PC Guide’s coverage. Because the models use HP’s e branding, check HP+ and Original HP cartridge requirements before activation.
HP OfficeJet Pro 9012e
The 9012e remains documented in HP support material and lists a 250-sheet tray, 35-sheet ADF, automatic duplexing, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and a recommended monthly volume up to 1,500 pages. However, it is an older generation, and HP’s US store marks the closely related OfficeJet Pro 9012 as discontinued. PC Guide found good standard-document quality but slow color printing, bland or grainy photos, subscription-heavy setup prompts, and difficult cartridge installation. Consider it only if you find a current, warrantied US listing at a compelling price.
A practical buying checklist
- Estimate your real monthly pages. Separate black text, color documents, and photos.
- Decide whether you need color. If not, do not pay for an inkjet all-in-one.
- Decide whether you need scanning and copying. A print-only model is not a bargain if you later need a separate scanner.
- Require an ADF if you scan stacks. Flatbed-only models are fine for occasional single pages.
- Require duplex printing if you print reports or schoolwork. Check whether the media you use supports it.
- Price the supplies before the printer. Compare standard and high-yield cartridges, toner, bottles, and drums.
- Calculate the full color set. Do not calculate color cost from only the cheapest cartridge.
- Check subscriptions. Identify Instant Ink, HP+, Brother Refresh EZ Print, setup trials, account requirements, and cancellation behavior.
- Check connectivity. Confirm USB, Wi-Fi bands, Wi-Fi Direct, Ethernet, AirPrint, Mopria, and mobile-app requirements.
- Check paper handling. Look for legal paper, envelopes, labels, cardstock, photo sizes, manual feeds, and tray count.
- Check current availability. Search results can continue showing discontinued models such as the Canon MG3620 and Brother MFC-J1010DW.
- Check the warranty and seller. Old stock and marketplace listings may not provide the same support as an authorized retailer.
Final decision tree
Need only black-and-white documents? Yes → Brother HL-L2460DW. No → Need scan and copy at the lowest sensible upfront price? Yes → Brother MFC-J1360DW. No → Print color regularly? Yes → Compare the Canon G3270/G3290, Brother MFC-T780DW, and HP Smart Tank 7602. No → Epson XP-4200 or another low-cost cartridge all-in-one, if available.Bottom line
The Brother HL-L2460DW is the safest budget choice for black text, particularly when the printer may sit unused. The Brother MFC-J1360DW is the best low-cost color all-in-one for moderate use because it adds scanning, copying, an ADF, and automatic duplex printing without tank-printer pricing. For regular color printing, move beyond the cheapest cartridge models and compare a refillable tank such as the Canon MegaTank G3270/G3290, Brother MFC-T780DW, or HP Smart Tank 7602—but verify current stock, exact features, warranty, and the cost of supplies first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a cheap printer worth buying if I print only a few pages each month?
Usually yes, but choose according to the type of page. A cartridge inkjet is often the lowest-cost way to get occasional color, while a monochrome laser is generally better for occasional black-and-white documents because liquid ink can clog after long idle periods. A refillable tank printer may never recover its higher purchase price at only a few pages per month.
Do I need an automatic document feeder?
Choose an ADF if you regularly scan or copy multiple pages. The Brother MFC-J1360DW has a 20-sheet single-sided ADF, the Brother MFC-T780DW has a 20-sheet ADF, and the HP Smart Tank 7602 has a 35-sheet ADF. The Epson XP-4200 and Canon G3290 use flatbed scanning only.
What is the cheapest printer to run?
For regular color printing, a refillable ink-tank model usually has the lowest ink cost. For mostly black text, a monochrome laser can be economical and easier to leave unused. The lowest-running-cost model is not automatically the cheapest overall because tank printers cost more upfront and lasers cannot print color.
Can I cancel HP Instant Ink and keep using the printer?
Yes, but HP says Instant Ink cartridges stop working after the current billing cycle ends when the subscription is canceled. Install standard cartridges to continue printing. Also check whether the printer was activated as an HP+ model, because HP says HP+ printers require Original HP cartridges after a trial ends.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →The Bottom Line
Best black-and-white value: Brother HL-L2460DW. Best inexpensive color all-in-one: Brother MFC-J1360DW. Best long-term color value: a refillable tank printer, provided your print volume justifies the higher upfront price and the exact model is currently available. The purchase price is only one part of a printer’s cost; supplies, maintenance, features, and ownership restrictions determine the real bargain.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
