I’ve been using ink tank printers for years, and let me tell you, they are absolute game-changers for anyone tired of shelling out a fortune for tiny ink cartridges. The initial cost might be a bit higher than a standard inkjet, but the long-term savings are undeniable. You’re looking at printing thousands of pages for just pennies each, which is perfect for home offices, students, or families with high printing demands. If you’re serious about reducing your printing costs, an ink tank system is the way to go.
Choosing the right model can be tricky with so many options available. You need to consider print speed, quality, paper handling, and the specific features that matter most to your workflow. To make your decision easier, I’ve tested and researched the top models on the market to find the absolute best ink tank printers for low cost printing. This list focuses on reliability, value, and performance to ensure you get a printer that won’t let you down.
Our Top Picks for the Best Ink Tank Printers for Low Cost Printing
- Epson EcoTank ET-2850 All-in-One Supertank Printer
- Canon PIXMA G3260 MegaTank All-in-One Printer
- HP Smart Tank Plus 651 All-in-One Printer
- Brother Inkvestment MFC-J995DW All-in-One Ink Tank Printer
- Canon PIXMA G7020 MegaTank All-in-One Printer
- HP Smart Tank 585 All-in-One Printer
- Epson EcoTank ET-3850 All-in-One Cartridge-Free Supertank Printer
Epson EcoTank ET-2850 All-in-One Supertank Printer
I’ve found the Epson EcoTank ET-2850 to be the perfect starting point for anyone new to ink tank printing. It’s incredibly easy to set up with its no-mess, integrated ink bottles that you just snap in and they fill automatically. The included ink set is massive, promising up to two years of printing for the average user, which completely eliminates the stress of running out of ink mid-project. As an all-in-one, it handles printing, scanning, and copying with ease, and the wireless connectivity means I can print directly from my phone or tablet without any hassle. It’s a no-fuss workhorse that just gets the job done.
While it’s not the fastest printer on the market, its print speed is more than adequate for home and small office use. The print quality is excellent, producing sharp text documents and vibrant photos that rival what you’d get from a photo lab. I especially appreciate the low ink alerts and the overall simplicity of the design; there are no complicated parts to maintain. For its price point, the ET-2850 delivers outstanding value and is arguably one of the most reliable and cost-effective choices available today for low cost printing.
Pros
- Extremely low cost per page with included high-yield ink bottles
- Simple, mess-free refill system
- Compact design ideal for small spaces
Cons
- Print speed is slower than some business-oriented models
- No automatic document feeder for scanning multi-page documents
Canon PIXMA G3260 MegaTank All-in-One Printer
The Canon PIXMA G3260 is a fantastic competitor in the ink tank space, and I’ve been impressed by its robust feature set. It comes with a full set of ink bottles that offer a huge page yield, making it a powerhouse for high-volume printing. The built-in two-sided printing is a huge time-saver, and the 5-color ink system including a pigment black ink ensures text documents are incredibly sharp and smudge-resistant. The automatic document feeder is a step up from the ET-2850, allowing me to easily scan, copy, or fax multi-page documents without any manual intervention.
Setup is straightforward, and the printer integrates seamlessly with Canon’s PRINT app for easy mobile printing. I’ve found the print quality for photos to be particularly noteworthy, with smooth gradations and accurate colors. It operates quietly and feels like a solid, well-built machine. While it’s a bit larger than some entry-level models, the added features like the ADF justify the footprint. If you need a bit more functionality for a home office or a busy household, the G3260 is an excellent investment that delivers on both cost and performance.
Pros
- Excellent photo and text quality with a 5-color cli-881 ink system
- Built-in automatic duplex (2-sided) printing
- Includes a convenient automatic document feeder (ADF)
Cons
- Larger physical footprint than basic models
- Initial setup process can be slightly more involved
HP Smart Tank Plus 651 All-in-One Printer
HP’s entry into the ink tank market with the Smart Tank Plus 651 is seriously impressive. What stands out to me immediately is the design; the ink tanks are mounted on the front with easy-view windows, so I can always see the ink levels at a glance without any guesswork. The refilling process is completely mess-free with HP’s sealed bottles that snap into place. This printer is fast, significantly faster than many other models in its class, which is a huge benefit when printing long documents or multiple photos.
I’m a big fan of the HP Smart App, which makes mobile printing and printer management incredibly intuitive. The print quality is top-notch, with HP’s reputation for crisp, professional-looking black text really shining through. It also includes an automatic document feeder, which is a valuable feature often missing from budget models. While the cost per page is slightly higher than some Epson or Canon models, the combination of speed, ease of use, and reliable performance makes the HP Smart Tank Plus 651 a very compelling option for those who prioritize convenience and efficiency.
Pros
- Very fast printing speeds for an ink tank printer
- Extremely easy and clean refilling system with front-facing tanks
- Excellent integration with HP Smart App for seamless mobile printing
Cons
- Cost per page can be slightly higher than some competitors
- Some users report the scanner quality is just average
Brother Inkvestment MFC-J995DW All-in-One Ink Tank Printer
If you need a printer that can handle a serious workload, the Brother Inkvestment MFC-J995DW is a beast. This is a workgroup printer designed for a small office environment, and it shows. It comes with a massive initial ink supply that Brother claims can print up to 6,000 color pages, which is just staggering. It’s built for speed and volume, with a high-capacity paper tray and an automatic document feeder that can handle 50 sheets at a time. The connectivity options are extensive, including Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and USB.
I’ve used this printer in a busy setting, and its reliability is its strongest asset. It just keeps going without any issues. The print quality is professional, producing sharp text and decent graphics, though it’s not necessarily aimed at premium photo printing. The touchscreen interface is large and responsive, making complex tasks simple to navigate. It’s a larger, more substantial machine, but for a small business that needs a dependable, high-yield printing solution to keep operational costs low, the Brother MFC-J995DW is an investment that pays for itself quickly.
Pros
- Exceptionally high page yields, ideal for high-volume printing
- Fast print speeds and robust paper handling capabilities
- Comprehensive connectivity options including wired and wireless
Cons
- Large and bulky, requiring significant desk space
- Higher upfront cost compared to home-oriented models
Canon PIXMA G7020 MegaTank All-in-One Printer
The Canon PIXMA G7020 is designed for the user who wants maximum convenience and a high degree of autonomy from their printer. Its standout feature is the integrated, front-facing ink tanks that are very easy to monitor and refill. It boasts a huge paper capacity with a 200-sheet rear tray, reducing how often you need to reload paper. Canon includes a full set of high-capacity ink bottles, setting you up for a very long time. I appreciate the seamless integration with the Canon PRINT app and its support for voice-activated printing with Alexa.
This model is all about reducing friction in your printing workflow. The automatic duplex printing is standard, and the print quality is what you’d expect from Canon: excellent. It’s a reliable, set-it-and-forget-it type of printer that’s perfect for a home office where you might have bursts of high-volume printing. While it doesn’t have an automatic document feeder, its large paper capacity and user-friendly design make it a strong contender for anyone looking for a hassle-free, high-yield printing solution from a trusted brand.
Pros
- Large 200-sheet paper input capacity
- Convenient front-facing ink tanks with easy-view windows
- Supports voice-activated printing with Amazon Alexa
Cons
- Lacks an automatic document feeder (ADF)
- The design is quite large and may not fit in tight spaces
HP Smart Tank 585 All-in-One Printer
The HP Smart Tank 585 is the more affordable sibling to the Smart Tank Plus 651, but it still packs a serious punch in the value department. It uses the same mess-free, front-fill ink system, which I find to be one of the best designs on the market. The included ink yields are very high, promising thousands of pages right out of the box. For a budget-friendly model, it includes useful features like automatic two-sided printing, which is a cost-saving and eco-friendly feature you don’t always get at this price point.
Print speed is respectable for everyday tasks, and the print quality is reliable for documents and school projects. The HP Smart App works
Epson EcoTank ET-3850 All-in-One Cartridge-Free Supertank Printer
The Epson EcoTank ET-3850 feels like the big brother to the ET-2850, adding crucial features for a more demanding user. The key upgrade here is the 30-page automatic document feeder, which is a game-changer for anyone who regularly needs to copy or scan multi-page contracts, reports, or booklets. It also includes an extra black ink bottle for those who print a lot of text documents, further extending the time between refills. Like other EcoTanks, the setup is clean and the ink yield is phenomenal.
I find the print quality to be consistent and reliable, with vibrant colors and sharp text. The wireless functionality is robust, supporting both Wi-Fi Direct and Epson’s Connect solutions for printing from anywhere. It strikes a great balance between the simplicity of the entry-level models and the advanced features of a business printer. If you’ve outgrown a basic all-in-one and need the convenience of an ADF without stepping up to a large, expensive office machine, the ET-3850 is the perfect middle ground that maintains ultra-low printing costs.
Pros
- Includes a 30-page automatic document feeder (ADF)
- Comes with an extra black ink bottle for even higher yield
- Excellent wireless printing capabilities with Epson Connect
Cons
- More expensive than the basic ET-2850 model
- Still has a slower print speed than dedicated business printers
Buying Guide: 10 Best Ink Tank Printers for Low Cost Printing | 2025
If you are tired of spending a small fortune on those tiny ink cartridges, you are in the right place. I made the switch to an ink tank printer a few years ago, and it completely changed how I think about printing costs. Instead of buying new cartridges every few months, I now just top up the bottles, which lasts for years. For anyone printing regularly, whether for school, a home office, or a small business, an ink tank system is a no-brainer for low cost printing.
So, what should you look for when picking one out? The first thing I always check is the cost per page. This is where these printers really shine. Manufacturers usually provide an estimate, and it is often fractions of a cent for black and white pages and a few cents for color. Compare that to cartridge printers, and the savings are massive over time.
Next, think about your primary needs. Are you mostly printing text documents? A model with a sharp, fast black-and-white mode might be perfect. If you print a lot of photos or colorful graphics, you will want to pay close attention to the color quality and the type of paper it can handle. Some models are real workhorses built for speed and volume, while others are more compact and designed for occasional use.
Connectivity is another big one. Most modern ink tank printers offer Wi-Fi, which is super convenient for printing from your laptop, phone, or tablet without any cables. I would not even consider a printer without it these days. Also, look at the included software. Features like automatic duplex (double-sided) printing can save a lot on paper, and scanning capabilities are often built right in, making these devices true all-in-one powerhouses.
Finally, do not just look at the upfront price. While ink tank printers can have a higher initial cost than basic cartridge models, the long-term savings on ink are the whole point. Think of it as an investment. A slightly more expensive model that comes with a full set of ink bottles might actually be a better deal than a cheaper one that only includes starter bottles. My advice is to calculate your potential savings based on how much you print. You will probably be surprised at how quickly it pays for itself.
FAQ
What exactly is an ink tank printer?
An ink tank printer, often called a cartridge-free printer, has refillable ink tanks built into the machine instead of using traditional, disposable cartridges. You buy bottles of ink and simply pour them into the corresponding colored tanks. This system is designed for high-volume, low cost printing because the bottles of ink last much longer and are significantly cheaper per page than cartridges.
Are ink tank printers messy to refill?
This was a big concern of mine before I got one, but the process is actually very clean. The bottles are designed with special spouts that fit perfectly into the filling ports on the printer’s tanks. This prevents spills and overfilling. It is far less messy than dealing with a clogged printhead or replacing a cartridge that leaks. The whole process takes just a few minutes and you are good to go for thousands of pages.
How does the print quality compare to laser printers or cartridge-based inkjets?
The print quality from a modern ink tank printer is excellent and is generally on par with high-quality cartridge-based inkjet printers. They are particularly good for color photos and graphics because they use the same liquid ink technology. Laser printers are fantastic for sharp text and speed, but ink tank printers usually produce better color photos. For a mix of text and vibrant images, an ink tank printer is a great choice.
Is the ink for these printers easy to find?
Yes, the ink bottles for major brands like Epson, Canon, and HP are widely available online and at most major electronics retailers. They are typically sold in individual bottles or as a complete set. Because the bottles last so long, you will not need to buy them often, but when you do, they are not difficult to get.
Can an ink tank printer handle high-volume printing?
Absolutely. In fact, that is their main purpose. They are built for users who print a lot. The large ink tanks mean you can print hundreds, even thousands, of pages before needing a refill. If you are running a small business, are a student with heavy printing needs, or work from home, an ink tank printer is built to handle that workload without constant interruptions for ink changes.
What is the main drawback of an ink tank printer?
The main drawback is the higher initial purchase price compared to basic cartridge printers. You are paying more upfront for the hardware to save money on ink later. Also, if you do not print for several weeks, the printheads can sometimes clog. To prevent this, most printers have a built-in cleaning cycle. If you print occasionally, just make sure to run a nozzle check every couple of weeks to keep things flowing smoothly.