Our readers keep the lights on and my morning glass full of iced black tea. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.5 Best Cheap Printer And Scanner | Ink Costs Less Than You Think

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This brother prints black pages at 16 ppm, versus the Epson WF-2930’s 10 ppm, and handles multi-page scans without you hovering.

You get black prints at 16 ppm and color at 9 ppm. That is 16 ppm black versus the Epson WF-2930’s 10 ppm black, and 9 ppm color versus the Canon TR4720’s 4.4 ppm color. A 2.7-inch color touchscreen display lets you navigate cloud apps like Google Drive and Dropbox for scanning directly, without a computer. The 20-sheet automatic document feeder (ADF) — a slot that feeds pages one by one — handles multi-page scan and copy jobs. So you do not feed pages one at a time like on the HP Envy 6155, which lacks an ADF entirely. Buyers report this is the fastest color printer they have owned, running quietly, with cartridges lasting six months or more. A few mention minor network setup hiccups and note that firmware updates pop up frequently, but most agree it delivers good value. The catch: some units have had paper jams — one reviewer returned three Brother MFCs since 2026 — so quality control is not perfect across every box.

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The TR7120 shrinks your desk footprint without cutting features — you still get an ADF and automatic 2-sided printing.

If desk space is tight, the TR7120 wins on footprint — a compact white unit that slides into small corners. You get an auto document feeder for multi-page scanning and copying, plus automatic 2-sided printing (duplex, which prints both sides of the paper for you). The hybrid ink system uses two cartridges to deliver sharp text and vivid colors on documents and borderless photos up to 8.5 by 11 inches. Customers note printing 500 pages without a single jam, with easy setup and reliable dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz or 5GHz). One owner mentioned the starter ink ran out quickly, but after four months of light use, the original cartridge was still going strong. The 1.42-inch monochrome OLED display gives you a clear view of ink levels and settings. The weak point: the single color cartridge makes replacements pricier than individual tanks, and cheap off-brand options are limited. This is a solid pick if you print in bursts rather than every day.

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The Envy 6155 uses a 2.4-inch color touchscreen — the most modern interface in this lineup — for flipping through menus and checking ink levels.

You get HP’s 2.4-inch color touchscreen, which makes adjusting settings and checking ink levels feel intuitive. It prints at up to 10 ppm black and 7 ppm color — faster than the Canon TR4720 on color but slower than the Brother 1410. It includes automatic 2-sided printing, but lacks an auto document feeder, so multi-page scanning means lifting the lid for each page. Buyers appreciate the easy Wi-Fi setup and stable dual-band connection. The 3-month trial of Instant Ink (HP’s subscription delivery service) delays ink anxiety. The catch: some reviewers report connectivity is a dealbreaker — one buyer could not connect it to their computer or phone at all and returned it. The build uses at least 60% recycled plastic, which feels flimsy to some, but holds up in daily use. HP blocks non-HP cartridges via firmware, so you are locked into their ink ecosystem.

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The TR4720 has the lowest upfront cost in this group, but its color speed of 4.4 ppm, compared to the Brother 1410’s 9 ppm.

This Canon undercuts everything else on upfront cost, yet it still packs an auto document feeder and automatic 2-sided printing — features you often lose at this price. Black prints come at 8.8 ipm (images per minute, roughly comparable to 8.8 ppm), acceptable for occasional documents. But color printing drops to 4.4 ppm, half the pace of the Brother 1410, and noticeably slow for a batch of color handouts. Reviewers point out it is great for light home use — draft mode saves ink, and the starter cartridges are cheap to replace via Canon’s refill service. The trouble: one buyer says the auto document feeder snapped after about 50 pages, calling the build flimsy and the color quality faded or pastel. Another reported that after 16 months, the cartridges stopped printing on first try and the unit became unusable. The 100-sheet input tray is fine for low volume, and the LCD is tiny and hard to read. If your budget is very tight and you print lightly, this works — but do not expect it to survive heavy use.

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The WF-2930 includes a 30-sheet auto document feeder — the largest in this group — but a firmware update can lock out third-party ink, according to buyers.

You get 10 ppm black and 5 ppm color, middle-of-the-pack here — faster than the Canon TR4720 on color but slower than the Brother 1410 on both counts. It comes with a 1.4-inch color display for navigation, a 30-sheet auto document feeder (the largest in this group), and automatic 2-sided printing. The Epson Smart Panel app makes setup and mobile printing straightforward. Individual ink cartridges let you replace only the empty color. Here is the decisive factor: shoppers say that Epson issued a firmware update that disabled third-party cartridges, forcing them into expensive Epson-brand ink. Rolling back the update requires a special USB cable, a key combination, and manually downloading old firmware — a painful process during a work emergency. Positive reviews note the printer is dependable and compact, with one fan saying it fits well on a short desk and leaves very little footprint. But the firmware policy is a dealbreaker if you want the freedom to use cheaper ink. The included setup cartridges also run out fast.