10 Best Printer With Low Ink Cost

The Epson EcoTank ET-8550 is a strong choice if you're looking for a printer that keeps ink costs low while delivering high-quality prints. Instead of regular cartridges, it uses refillable ink tanks with specially designed bottles, which means you can print around 2,300 photos from a single refill—this significantly lowers your cost per page compared to many cartridge-based printers. The six-color ink system, including a grey ink for sharp black-and-white prints, ensures vibrant photos and clear text. It handles large prints up to A3+ size, which is great for photo enthusiasts or those needing bigger documents.

Besides ink savings, it supports duplex (double-sided) printing, saving paper and making it practical for everyday use. Connectivity is modern and flexible, with Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and direct printing from USB or SD cards, plus a touchscreen for easy control. The printer also supports various media types, including CDs and thick craft paper, adding creative options.

On the downside, the print speed is moderate—up to 16 pages per minute in black-and-white and 12 in color—which might feel slow if you need lots of prints quickly. The maximum resolution for color printing is decent but not the highest available, so while photos look good, professionals wanting ultra-fine detail might find it limiting. The upfront cost and the 11.1 kg weight make it less portable and more of a permanent home or office fixture. Lastly, while ink bottles are convenient, they may not be as easy to find in all locations as standard cartridges. This printer is well suited for users who value low running costs and quality photo printing, especially at larger sizes, and who do not require very fast print speeds.

The Canon PIXMA G650 is a refillable MegaTank inkjet printer designed for users who need to print large volumes, especially photos, without frequently changing ink. Its main advantage is the high-capacity ink tanks, which can produce roughly 3,800 4x6 photo prints per refill, making it very cost-effective in terms of ink usage. The six dye-based ink system, including extra red and grey inks, enhances photo quality with vibrant colours and good contrast, making it a solid choice for photo enthusiasts.

The printer supports duplex (double-sided) printing, helping save paper and reduce running costs. Front-facing ink tanks and easy-to-use bottles simplify monitoring and refilling ink, which is a plus for hassle-free maintenance. It also features user-replaceable parts like the print head and maintenance tank, minimizing downtime if issues arise. Connectivity options like WiFi, USB, and compatibility with mobile printing apps make it convenient to print from various devices.

On the downside, its print speed is modest at about 3.9 pages per minute for both colour and black-and-white prints, so it may not suit users needing fast turnaround. Also, despite being listed with laser printing technology in specs, it is an inkjet printer, which means it might not have the same speed or efficiency as laser printers for general document printing. This printer is best suited for users who prioritize low ink costs and high-quality photo printing in a home or small office setting, rather than speed or heavy document printing.

The Brother MFC-J6940DW is a versatile all-in-one inkjet printer designed to handle printing, copying, scanning, and faxing up to A3 size, which is larger than the standard A4. It stands out for its high ink efficiency: the included ink cartridges can print up to 550 pages, and high-yield replacements plus value packs help reduce the cost per page, making it a strong choice if you want to keep ink expenses low. The printer supports automatic duplex (double-sided) printing, which can save paper and add to cost savings. Print speeds are quite fast—up to 28 pages per minute for both black-and-white and color—which is helpful for busy environments.

It connects via Wi-Fi, USB, and NFC, and also supports printing from your smartphone through the Brother Mobile Connect app, adding convenience. The 8.8 cm touchscreen makes operation straightforward. On the downside, the maximum color print resolution is 600 dpi, which is decent but not ideal for very high-quality photo prints. Also, the printer is quite large and heavy (over 23 kg), so it requires a good amount of space.

While the ink cartridges are genuine Brother supplies, which ensures reliability, replacement cartridges might be pricier than generic options. If your priority is a printer with low ink cost, good page yield, and the ability to handle larger paper sizes with fast duplex printing, this model fits well. However, if you need ultra-high photo quality or a very compact device, you might want to consider alternatives.