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A cheap inkjet printer sounds like a bargain — until the second month when you are spending more on cartridges than you did on the machine itself. The real trick in this category is finding a printer that stays affordable to run week after week, not just one that looks cheap on the shelf. This guide walks you through seven models at different upfront costs and shows you exactly which ones keep ink costs low and which ones will quietly eat your budget.
I’m Mohammad Maruf — the founder and writer behind WellFizz. This guide is built by comparing the manufacturers’ published specifications and the patterns across verified customer reviews, so you get each pick’s real strengths and trade-offs instead of marketing spin.
You want a cheap inkjet printer that keeps printing without making you dread the next cartridge swap — whether for homework or home-office work. The best one for most people is the Brother Work Smart 1410, because it prints faster than any other in this lineup (16 pages per minute in black) and includes a 2.7-inch touchscreen, an automatic document feeder, and a 150-sheet paper tray — all at a reasonable price. If you want the lowest ink costs, choose the Epson EcoTank ET-2400, whose bottle system prints up to 4,500 black pages per refill. And for a budget-friendly model with automatic duplex (two-sided printing) and a solid 14 ppm black speed, the Canon PIXMA TR7120 gives you the most features per dollar.
Our Picks at a Glance
How To Choose The Best Cheap Inkjet Printer
A low sticker price is tempting, but the printer you buy and the ink you feed it are two very different bills. Here is what you should check before clicking “add to cart.”
Separate the upfront cost from the running cost
The cheapest printer on the shelf often ships with “starter” cartridges that run dry after only a few dozen pages. A model that costs a bit more but comes with high-yield ink or a bottle-based refill system can save you several times its price difference in the first year alone. Look at the page yield numbers — the total number of pages each cartridge set can print — rather than just the price tag.
Match print speed to your workload
Print speed is measured in pages per minute (ppm). A printer rated for 7.5 ppm black will handle the occasional school assignment or receipt just fine. If you regularly print multi-page documents, bump up to a model closer to 14-16 ppm so you are not standing around waiting. Color speeds are always slower than black-and-white, so factor that in if you print a lot of color handouts or photos.
Decide which extra features matter
Automatic duplex (2-sided) printing cuts your paper bill roughly in half and is worth seeking out. An automatic document feeder (ADF) saves you from manually feeding each page when scanning or copying a stack. A touchscreen display makes navigation easier, while a basic LCD or LED panel is fine if you mostly print from a phone or laptop. Wireless connectivity is standard now, but check whether the printer supports both 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi — some budget models only work on the older 2.4GHz band.
Quick Comparison
| Model | Best For | B&W Speed | Color Speed | Paper Tray | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HP DeskJet 2855e★ Best Overall | Dorm room basics | 7.5 ppm | 5.5 ppm | 60 sheets | Amazon |
| Brother Work Smart 1410Also Great | Home office speed | 16 ppm | 9 ppm | 150 sheets | Amazon |
| Brother INKvestment 1365 | Long-lasting starter ink | 16 ppm | 9 ppm | 150 sheets | Amazon |
| Epson EcoTank ET-2400 | Ultra-low ink costs | 10 ppm | 5 ppm | — | Amazon |
| Canon PIXMA TR7120 | Dual-band Wi-Fi & duplex | 14 ppm | 9 ppm | 100 sheets | Amazon |
| HP Envy 6155 | Home color printing | 10 ppm | 7 ppm | 100 sheets | Amazon |
| Canon PIXMA TR4720 | Budget with ADF | 8.8 ppm | 4.4 ppm | 100 sheets | Amazon |
In‑Depth Reviews
1. HP DeskJet 2855e Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer
The cheapest way to get a wireless all-in-one if you only print occasionally.
At the lowest upfront cost, the DeskJet 2855e is designed for very light home use — printing a to-do list, a letter, a school form. Speeds are 7.5 ppm black and 5.5 ppm color, which is fine for single pages but slow for multi-page documents. It only works on 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, not the faster 5GHz band.
The highlight here is the price. Buyers report the setup took less than 20 minutes and the print quality is sharp for a basic printer. One college student called it perfect for a dorm room. The downsides are the usual HP frustrations — software can be buggy (one reviewer described it as “a complete mess”), and the printer is designed to use HP’s Instant Ink subscription, which locks you into their cartridge system. If you do not subscribe, standard HP 67 cartridges are expensive for the page yield.
Lowest Entry Cost
- Very low upfront price — the cheapest model here
- Compact size fits a dorm desk or small shelf
- Owners mention setup in under 20 minutes
Expensive to Run
- Small 60-sheet tray means constant reloading
- Only 2.4GHz Wi-Fi — no 5GHz support
- Cartridge costs are high without Instant Ink subscription
Ideal for: A student or light home user who prints a few pages a month and wants the absolute lowest sticker price. Keep the Instant Ink trial active to keep running costs down.
Pass on it if: You print more than 20-30 pages a month — the 60-sheet tray and slow speed will frustrate you, and cartridge costs will pile up fast. A Brother or EcoTank will save you money within a year.
2. Brother Work Smart 1410 Wireless Color Inkjet All-in-One Printer (MFC-J1410DW)
A home-office speed demon that prints documents before you finish reaching for the paper.
You get black prints at 16 pages per minute (ppm) and color at 9 ppm — faster than the Canon PIXMA TR7120 (14 ppm black) and the HP DeskJet 2855e (7.5 ppm black). That speed saves you time on multi-page reports or school worksheets. The 150-sheet paper tray and 20-page automatic document feeder (ADF — a slot that feeds multiple pages without you standing there) let you load a job and walk away.
The 2.7-inch color touchscreen lets you connect to cloud apps like Google Drive and Dropbox directly from the printer, so you do not need your phone for every scan. Buyers report that setup was easy and the wireless connection has been reliable. The first set of ink cartridges is still going after six months for one owner. The trade-off is that ink does run faster than on a tank-based system, though Brother’s genuine LC501 cartridges are reasonably priced compared to some competitors.
Speed & Features
- Fastest black print speed in this lineup at 16 ppm
- 150-sheet tray and 20-sheet ADF handle bigger jobs
- 2.7-inch color touchscreen with cloud app access
The Trade-Offs
- Ink is still cartridge-based so cost per page is higher than bottle systems
- Setup can be involved if you hit Wi-Fi hiccups
Who it fits: Home-office and small-office users who need speed, a touchscreen, and the ability to scan multi-page docs without standing there.
One caveat: If your printing is ultra-light — a few pages a month — a cheaper cartridge model might make more sense. For regular use, this is the fastest and most capable pick here.
3. Brother INKvestment 1365 Wireless Color Inkjet All-in-One Printer (MFC-J1365DW)
Box-fresh ink that lasts months instead of weeks, right out of the package.
What makes the INKvestment 1365 different is what is in the box — a black cartridge rated for 1,200 pages and three color cartridges rated for 500 pages each. That yield is 1,200 pages black and 500 pages color, compared to typical starter cartridges that yield around 120 pages. You can go months without shopping for replacement ink, which changes the whole ownership experience for a home-office printer.
Print speed is the same as the Work Smart 1410 — 16 ppm black and 9 ppm color — so you are not sacrificing speed for the ink longevity. It also has the same 150-sheet paper tray, 20-page ADF, and automatic duplex printing. Owners mention that the print quality rivals laser output and that the colors, while clean, lack some intensity on plain paper. The 1.8-inch color display is smaller than the touchscreen on the 1410, but still functional for navigating cloud apps.
Ink That Lasts
- 1,200-page black starter cartridge included
- Same fast 16 ppm speed as the top pick
- 150-sheet tray and auto duplex printing
The Catch
- Setup can be tricky — one reviewer noted needing to move the printer closer to the router to connect
- 1.8-inch display is smaller than the touchscreen on the 1410
Ideal for: Anyone who hates running out of ink after the first few weeks and wants a printer that is ready to run hard from day one.
Downside: If you prefer a large touchscreen interface, the Work Smart 1410 is a better fit for a small price step up.
4. Epson EcoTank ET-2400 Wireless Color All-in-One Supertank Printer
The only printer on this list where refilling ink feels cheaper than buying cartridges ever did.
The EcoTank ET-2400 replaces cartridges with refillable ink tanks. One set of bottles gives you up to 4,500 black-and-white pages and up to 7,200 color pages, which the maker says equals roughly 80 individual cartridges. That means you may go a year or more before buying ink again, depending on how much you print. Buyers consistently call this the most cost-efficient home printer they have owned, with one nursing student noting it handles lecture slides and study guides without breaking stride.
The trade-off is that the upfront cost is higher than any cartridge-based model here, and the print speed is slower — 10 ppm black and 5 ppm color. It also lacks automatic duplex printing (only manual 2-sided), and the plastic body feels light and a little fragile, as several reviewers noted. But if you print regularly — even just 20-30 pages a week — the per-page cost drops so low that the printer essentially pays for itself over a year compared to a cartridge model.
Savings That Add Up
- Up to 4,500 B&W pages per bottle set — months or years between refills
- Transparent tanks let you see ink level instantly
- Clear print quality for documents and enough for photos
Slow & Simple
- No automatic duplex printing — you flip pages manually
- Plastic housing feels less durable than Brother models
- Print speed is slower: 10 ppm black, 5 ppm color
Choose this if: You print regularly and are tired of buying expensive cartridges every few months. The higher upfront cost is recouped fast.
Pass on it if: You need fast double-sided printing or only print a few pages a month — the lower upfront cost of a cartridge model makes more sense.
5. Canon PIXMA TR7120 Wireless Color Inkjet Printer
A compact Canon that prints both sides automatically and still keeps the price reasonable.
For a budget-friendly printer, the TR7120 packs impressive speed — 14 ppm in black and 9 ppm in color. It prints at 9 ppm color compared to the Canon PIXMA TR4720’s 4.4 ppm, and at 14 ppm black compared to the HP DeskJet 2855e’s 7.5 ppm. It also includes automatic duplex printing and a 20-sheet Auto Document Feeder, so multi-page scanning or copying is hands-free.
A key advantage is dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz and 5GHz), which gives you a more stable connection than single-band models. Customers note replacing an old HP and printing 500 pages with no jams, and that setup was “easy peasy.” The 1.42-inch monochrome OLED screen is small but shows ink levels and printer status clearly. The catch, as several reviewers point out, is that the starter ink runs out quickly and replacement cartridges are expensive — all colors come in one cartridge, so you replace the whole thing when one color empties.
Speed & Smart Features
- Fast 14 ppm black and 9 ppm color — top-tier for this price tier
- Automatic duplex and ADF for multi-page jobs
- Dual-band Wi-Fi for reliable wireless connection
Expensive Ink
- Starter ink runs out quickly — one buyer mentioned it after 500 pages
- All colors in one cartridge, so you toss remaining ink when one color is empty
- Limited off-brand cartridge options available
Best for: Light-to-moderate home users who want fast printing and automatic duplex on a budget. The combo of speed, ADF, and dual-band Wi-Fi makes it the most feature-balanced value pick here.
skip it if: You print heavy volume — the cartridge cost per page will hurt. Look at the EcoTank instead.
6. HP Envy 6155 Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer
An HP that makes colors pop on paper as much as they do on your screen.
The Envy 6155 is designed for homes that print a mix of documents and color photos. It uses HP’s P3 Technology, which delivers a wider color range than typical sRGB printers, so photos and graphics come out looking closer to what you see on your monitor. Print speeds are 10 ppm black and 7 ppm color — solid for the price, though not as fast as the Canon TR7120 (14 ppm black).
It includes a 2.4-inch color touchscreen — the same size as many mid-range printers — and auto 2-sided printing. The 100-sheet input tray is standard for this tier. The printer also has HP’s AI feature that strips unwanted content from web pages before printing, saving ink and paper. The catch is that this printer is designed to block non-HP cartridges, so you are locked into HP’s ink. The starter cartridges are low-yield — about 120 pages black and 75 pages color — so you will be buying replacements soon.
Great Color Output
- P3 color technology for wider, more vibrant color gamut
- 2.4-inch touchscreen makes navigation easy
- AI-powered web page printing removes clutter
Ink Lock-In
- Blocks non-HP cartridges — no cheap alternatives
- Starter cartridges are low-yield (120 black, 75 color)
- Only 2.4GHz Wi-Fi — no 5GHz support
Ideal for: Home users who print photos and color documents regularly and want the most vibrant output a cheap inkjet can produce. The touchscreen makes it easier to use than button-only models.
Not for you if: You want the lowest ink costs or plan to use third-party cartridges — the EcoTank or a Canon without cartridge blocking would be better.
7. Canon PIXMA TR4720 All-in-One Wireless Printer
A low-priced 4-in-1 that adds an auto document feeder without breaking the budget.
Most printers in this price range skip the ADF, forcing you to feed multi-page documents one sheet at a time. The TR4720 includes one, along with fax capability (yes, some people still use it) and automatic duplex printing. The 100-sheet input tray has a 100-sheet capacity compared to the HP DeskJet 2855e’s 60-sheet tray, so you reload less often.
The trade-off is speed — 8.8 ppm black and 4.4 ppm color, compared to the Canon TR7120’s 9 ppm color. Several reviewers point out that the ink cartridges do not last long, and one noted the printer broke after about 50 pages, just past the return window. For very light, occasional use it works fine — other shoppers say it is easy to set up, the wireless connection is reliable, and the print quality is clear for everyday documents.
Paper Handling Value
- Auto Document Feeder at a budget-friendly price point
- 100-sheet tray beats many competitors at this tier
- 4-in-1 functionality: print, copy, scan, fax
Slow & Unreliable
- Slow print speed — 4.4 ppm color is the slowest of the Canon options
- Multiple reports of early failure and short ink life
- Only single-band 2.4GHz Wi-Fi
Best for: Someone who needs an ADF and fax on a very tight budget and prints only a few pages a week — the feature set is generous for the price.
Watch out: Reliability and ink longevity are real concerns. The Canon TR7120 costs a little more but is significantly faster and more dependable.
Understanding the Specs
Pages per minute (ppm)
This is the number of pages a printer can spit out in one minute. Black ppm is always faster than color ppm because color printing requires laying down multiple ink layers. A 7-8 ppm printer is fine for a few pages a day; 14-16 ppm makes a real difference if you print multi-page documents regularly. Do not treat the listed speed as a promise — real-world speed depends on document complexity and the printer’s warm-up time.
Cartridge vs tank ink systems
Cartridge-based printers are cheap to buy but expensive to feed. If you plan to print more than 50-100 pages a month, a tank system pays for itself in the first year. If you print rarely, stick with cartridges and accept the higher per-page cost.
FAQ
Will a cheap inkjet printer work with my Chromebook or phone?
How many pages do the starter ink cartridges last?
Can I use third-party or refilled ink cartridges?
What is automatic duplex printing and why does it matter?
Is a printer with an automatic document feeder worth it?
Why do some printers only work on 2.4GHz Wi-Fi?
How long does a cheap inkjet printer typically last?
Can I print borderless photos on a cheap inkjet?
What does “page yield” mean and how do I compare it?
Is Instant Ink from HP worth it?
Final Thoughts: The Verdict
Across the board, the cheap inkjet printer winner is the Brother Work Smart 1410 because it combines the fastest print speed in this lineup (16 ppm black) with a 2.7-inch touchscreen, an automatic document feeder, and a 150-sheet paper tray — all at a price that stays reasonable. If you want the lowest ink costs by a wide margin, grab the Epson EcoTank ET-2400 — its bottle system prints up to 4,500 black pages per refill. And for a budget-friendly model that still offers automatic duplex (two-sided printing) and a solid 14 ppm black speed, the Canon PIXMA TR7120 delivers the best feature-to-dollar ratio in this group.
How We Picked
We do not accept paid placement. Every pick is matched to a real buyer and a real use-case; we do not hands-on test units.
Sources & Methodology
Specifications: manufacturer listings and product documentation. Review insights: verified customer reviews, as of July 2026. Pricing: not shown on this page (it changes often); check the current price via the retailer link.
As an Amazon Associate, WellFizz earns from qualifying purchases. This does not affect which products we feature.
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Mo Maruf
I created WellFizz to bridge the gap between vague wellness advice and actionable solutions. My mission is simple: to decode the research and give you practical tools you can actually use.
Beyond the data, I am a passionate traveler. I believe that stepping away from the screen to explore new environments is essential for mental clarity and physical vitality.