What are the Best Printers With the Cheapest Ink?

Last Updated on March 6, 2023 by Christian Ralph

Finding the best printer with the cheapest ink can be a daunting task. With printing costs easily spiralling out of control, choosing a printer that provides a great economy without compromising on performance or features can seem impossible.

To help with the selection process, we’ve compiled the best options available to users looking for an inkjet printer solution on a budget.

What Are the Best Printers With the Cheapest Ink in 2022?

Before you decide to buy a new printer, you’ll need to have a look at the different models and brands available, to see what’s best for you and your printing needs.

We’ve compiled a list of some of the best printers with the cheapest ink on the market at the moment – all our printers can be purchased instantly from our website, but if you need any more advice, we’re happy to help.

Ink Tank Printers

Revolutionising inkjet technology, ink tank printers are a popular choice amongst users looking to lower their print costs.

With the potential to lower print costs by up to 90% compared to conventional inkjet printers, ink tank printers provide high-quality printing at a much cheaper price point.

Whilst ink tank printers have generally higher hardware costs compared to cartridge-based inkjet printers, their unique design makes them much more cost-effective in the long run. Whereas regular inkjet printers use a disposable cartridge design, refillable ink tank technology allows for the replenishment of ink levels using bottled ink.

Ink tank printing also allows for increased print speeds when compared to standard inkjet printers, helping users to boost their productivity whilst reducing overall running costs. It’s also much more sustainable than using a typical inkjet printer, as ink tank printers drastically reduce plastic waste, – the unique reservoir design also allows for mess-free, convenient refills.

The large ink tanks allow for much higher ink capacities when compared to cartridge-based inkjet printers, meaning more pages can be printed between refills. Integrated ink tank printers offer compact, space-saving designs. Reduced waste and power consumption also means that ink tank printers are the perfect option for users looking to reduce their carbon footprint.

The Epson EcoTank range continues to produce the best ink tank printers on the market , featuring innovative designs and ultra-low-cost printing.

Epson EcoTank printers feature a durable permanent printhead, meaning downtime and expensive replacements are not needed, due to refitting. Shipped with large amounts of ink included, this fantastic range of printers allows users to tackle demanding workloads straight out of the box.

HP Smart Tank printers are another compelling choice for users looking for a tank-based printing solution. Ideal for home workers, the HP Smart Tank range delivers outstanding print quality with a cartridge-free design.

With models featuring up to 3 years of ink included in the box, HP Smart Tank printers excel at cheap, high-capacity printing. The HP Smart App also allows users to take advantage of a host of mobile features, including the ability to print, scan and copy from anywhere.

HP Instant Ink

HP Instant Ink is a no-commitment print service perfect for users looking for cheap inkjet printing. With plans starting from just £0.99 per month, HP Instant Ink offers an option for everyone. The monthly fee includes genuine supplies, smart delivery and recycling, taking the stress out of printing.

Plans are based on monthly usage and are highly scalable, with options ranging from 10 to 700 pages per month. Whether users print photos or text, the costs remain the same regardless of what has been printed. Users can enjoy complete peace of mind with the flexibility to change or cancel the plan anytime at no cost. At Printerland, we offer support for devices that work with an HP Instant Ink plan – you can sign up here.

HP Instant Ink includes a prepaid responsible recycling service to ensure as green a printing experience as possible – we also have a range of eco-friendly printer options available, which you could combine with HP Instant Ink to create a greener work environment.

Smart delivery automatically resupplies ink cartridges before they’re empty, ensuring HP Instant ink users never run low on ink again. Using genuine HP supplies ensures you’ll get the highest quality possible for your prints, with anti-counterfeit measures ensuring printers are protected from inferior inks.

Users can easily monitor their usage via the HP Smart App to keep track of print usage, ink levels and more. With a wide range of compatible models from the HP+ printers range, users can easily find an HP Instant Ink solution to suit their needs. Users can also count on chatbot support via the HP Smart App, in case any issues arise.

HP+ models boast impressive features including enhanced security and reliable connections, as well as self-healing Wi-Fi to ensure network stability. For business users looking to print higher volumes,
the HP PageWide & OfficeJet ranges are designed specifically with busier work environments in mind.

Epson ReadyPrint

Epson ReadyPrint is a service provided by Epson, offering a flexible, monthly plan which helps users save up to 70% on genuine Epson ink.

An Epson ReadyPrint plan is tailored to the requirements of the user, with all plans including the automatic delivery of genuine supplies before they run out, for a fuss-free printing solution.

The ReadyPrint EcoTank is a comprehensive inkjet print plan which includes an Epson EcoTank printer and ink, allowing users to save up to 90% on print costs.

Epson EcoTank printers feature a unique refillable ink tank system, with one bottle of ink providing the equivalent of five cartridges worth of ink, cutting costs and reducing the need for frequent replacements.

Offering both mono and colour options, the Ready Print EcoTank allows for fixed monthly cost plans based on the pages printed per month. With unused pages rolled over for 2 months, users can make the most of every print.

ReadyPrint Flex is designed exclusively for Expression Home or WorkForce printers and is an ink-only plan for users looking to keep costs to a minimum. Available on plans ranging from 30 – 500 pages per month, ReadyPrint Flex plans allow users to swap between plans at any time (dependent on print needs) for ultimate flexibility.

For those looking for a contract-free ink solution, ReadyPrint Go plans allow users to receive all the ink they require without the need for a fixed monthly subscription. Automated notifications are sent when the ink is running low, which means that users can decide when to start the reordering process, reducing downtime for hassle-free printing.

Business Inkjet Printers

Inkjet printers have garnered a reputation as being a choice solely for home users. However, business inkjet printers challenge that stereotype.

Offering print speeds that rival laser printer equivalents, business inkjet printers allow users to enhance productivity whilst benefiting from low-cost printing. They also feature impressive multifunction functionality with printing, copying, scanning, and faxing capabilities and A3 models available.

The Epson WorkForce Pro range includes a line-up of inkjet printers that can hold their own in any business environment. An innovative ink supply system combined with larger ink yields means Epson WorkForce Pro printers can rival the running costs of their laser printer equivalents.

Without the need to warm up like laser printers, these models can achieve outstanding print speeds, having the ability to print a single page in under five seconds. Large capacity ink cartridges mean users can print up to 10,000 pages between supply changes, drastically reducing user intervention.

With Epson WorkForce Pro models reducing energy consumption by up to 83% compared to laser models, users can benefit from reduced running costs and make their business more sustainable.

The HP OfficeJet Pro range are another powerful family of business inkjets. As highly versatile inkjet printing solutions, HP OfficeJet Pro printers are designed for challenging workplaces.

This range is brimming with impressive features such as HP Shortcuts, which allows users to create editable, searchable documents directly from a smartphone. Users can also leverage impressive multifunction capabilities with a huge versatility, which is accessible via vibrant colour touchscreens.

HP Wolf Security software provides cutting-edge protection against a host of malicious attacks. Embedded security features including automatic firmware updates and secure boot with firmware validation ensure that sensitive data is kept safe.

Toner Vs. Ink Cartridges

Users may assume that because inkjet printers and inks have generally lower up-front costs compared to laser printers and toner, that inkjet printing is the cheaper option by default. However, when considering the overall running costs, laser printing can represent a cheaper option in the long term.

Whereas inkjet printers use tiny ink droplets to print, toner cartridges use microscopic powder particles which are heated and attached to the page via the drum’s electrical charge. The highly accurate laser printing process is less wasteful compared to inkjet printing, meaning toner cartridges generally last far longer than their inkjet equivalents.

Toner also avoids the risk of smudging and cartridges drying out, thanks to its powder composition. This increased efficiency means the toner provides considerably lower cost-per-page compared to inkjet printing. Additionally, the high precision that toner allows for means that laser printers are better suited to fast, high-volume text-based printing.

Toner cartridges generally feature increased print capacities when compared with ink cartridges, allowing for cheaper supplies on a cost-per-page basis. This means that you’ll need to replace your cartridges at a slower rate, which is also more sustainable in the long run.

For those looking to explore laser printing, Printerland offers a wide range of models across many different brands, including Xerox, HP, Kyocera and more. Our models include A4 and A3 print sizes , as well as both single-function and multifunction laser printers.

How To Cut Your Printer Ink Costs

Although it may seem counter-intuitive, lower hardware and ink costs do not necessarily mean low long-term running costs. To ensure overall running costs are kept in check, users must consider a variety of factors that contribute to economical printing.

Printing features such as automatic double-sided printing and the ability to automatically skip blank pages can help cut down on media wastage. Eco-settings such as automatic sleep modes when the printer is not in use and economical draft modes can help reduce ink use and energy consumption.

Users can also benefit from an even lower cost-per-page by using optional high-capacity toners, which also reduces the frequency of user intervention. Depending on the user’s needs, choosing a monochrome inkjet printer over a colour inkjet printer can help significantly to cut down on printing costs, particularly in terms of buying ink.

With a single ink setup (compared to coloured CMYK printers), a monochrome inkjet printer substantially reduces the cost of consumables without compromising print quality. Mono inkjet printers are also generally faster than their colour inkjet counterparts, making them a perfect choice for busy work environments.

Switching to a multifunction inkjet printer can help cut costs by consolidating several devices into one. Bypassing the need to buy different devices for various tasks, a multifunction printer can significantly reduce running costs with reduced supplies, media and power consumption. Offering the option to print, copy, fax and scan, multifunction printers can help users substantially lower printing costs over the long term, due to their versatility.

Printerland’s Range of Inkjet Printers

For those looking for an economical inkjet printer that doesn’t compromise on quality, Printerland features a broad range of models and brands, such as HP, Epson & Canon, all available to purchase directly from our website.

Models include a variety of solutions including A4, A3, multi-function and more – all our printers are also available to buy instantly from our website.

With managed print services available to all users for a fuss-free approach to inkjet printing, our advisors can recommend a plan based on a wide range of requirements. Catering to all budgets, our team of expert printer advisors can help you make the right decision for your printing needs.