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If you print regularly, a refillable ink-tank printer can cut replacement-ink costs compared with a cartridge model—but it usually costs more upfront. The right choice depends on how many pages you print, what they contain, and whether you need features such as automatic two-sided printing or an automatic document feeder (ADF).
For a budget color all-in-one, the Canon PIXMA MegaTank G3270 is a reasonable starting point. For more home-office features, consider the Epson EcoTank ET-4950; for frequent text printing, the Brother INKvestment MFC-T780DW has a notably low published estimate for black ink. None is the cheapest for every buyer, and the cited estimates do not establish a like-for-like lifetime-cost winner.
Which printer with cheap ink should you choose?
| Printer | Best fit | What the cited source says | Important trade-offs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canon PIXMA MegaTank G3270 | Budget color printing and everyday home use | TechRadar’s September 2026 budget-printer guide names it as a budget tank recommendation and says bottled refills cost less than traditional cartridge ink. TechRadar’s budget-printer guide | No automatic duplex printing, front paper drawer, or ADF; paper capacity is low. TechRadar identifies the G3270 as a US model; its guide refers to the G3570 name outside the US. |
| Epson EcoTank ET-4950 | Home-office printing and document handling | TechRadar’s July 2026 ink-tank roundup names it best overall in that guide and lists 250-sheet capacity and 18 ppm mono speed. TechRadar’s ink-tank roundup | Costs more than basic models. The guide lists no Bluetooth and says it cannot scan heavy paper; verify the exact regional model and current specifications. |
| Brother INKvestment MFC-T780DW | Frequent text-heavy document printing | Tom’s Guide reports a $20.99 black-ink bottle rated for 7,500 pages and estimates about 0.3 cents per text page by dividing price by yield. Tom’s Guide’s review | The per-page figure is a yield-based estimate, not a guaranteed real-world cost. Actual use varies with page coverage and maintenance. |
These are use-case recommendations, not results from a shared head-to-head cost test. Prices, stock, regional model names, and specifications can change, so check the exact printer and matching replacement ink before buying.
How to compare the real cost of cheap ink
A low refill price alone does not tell you what printing will cost. Compare the printer’s purchase price with the replacement ink you expect to use over your ownership period. A tank printer may save on consumables but take longer to pay for itself if you print only occasionally.
#1 Best Overall
- Innovative Cartridge-Free Printing ― High-capacity ink tanks mean no more tiny, expensive ink cartridges; Epson’s exclusive EcoFit ink bottles make filling easy and worry-free
- Impressive Print Quality ― Unique Micro Piezo Heat-Free Technology produces sharp text – plus impressive color photos and graphics – on virtually any paper type
- Zero Cartridge Waste – By using an EcoTank printer, you can help reduce the amount of cartridge waste ending up in landfills
- Built-in Scanner & Copier ― High-resolution flatbed scanner and a color display for easy document copying and navigation
Estimate ink cost per page
Use this simple estimate for a specific ink color:
Replacement ink cost ÷ manufacturer-rated page yield = estimated ink cost per page
For example, Tom’s Guide’s reported Brother black bottle price of $20.99 divided by its rated 7,500 pages works out to about 0.3 cents per text page. That is the reviewer’s calculation from a rated yield, not a promise that every page will cost that amount. The calculation also excludes the printer’s purchase price.
Rank #2
- THE LAST PRINTER YOU'LL EVER NEED – Set it up once and print with confidence; no complicated maintenance, just easy, reliable printing you can count on
- FULLY LOADED WITH SAVINGS – Best for low-cost, high-volume printing—up to 3 years of HP Ink included; get up to 6,000 color or black pages right out of the box
- KEY FEATURES – Print, copy and scan, plus borderless prints, mobile and wireless printing
- MESS-FREE REFILL – Replenish ink with HP's easy-access, mess-free refill system; simply plug the ink bottles into this cartridge-free ink tank and let them drain—no squeezing, no spilling
- BEST PRINT QUALITY, PERIOD – Sharper text, richer colors, only with HP Smart Tank
Rated yields are useful for comparing consumables, but your results depend on page coverage, the mix of text and color, print volume, and maintenance. Canon says page yield may be a factor in choosing an inkjet printer and provides yield information for its inkjet products. Canon’s inkjet page-yield information
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Account for the upfront price and your print volume
To compare two models, estimate your total cost over a period that reflects how long you expect to keep the printer:
Rank #3
- INNOVATIVE CARTRIDGE-FREE PRINTING — No more dealing with tiny, expensive ink cartridges; With this wireless printer each ink bottle set is equivalent to about 80 individual cartridges²
- LESS FREQUENT INK REPLACEMENT — Replacement ink bottles don't have to be changed nearly as often as ink cartridges¹; Color printer lets you print up to 4,500 black and white pages and 7,200 color³
- PRINT FOR LONGER — Up to 2 years of ink in the box⁴ (and with every replacement ink set) for fewer out-of-ink frustrations; This home printer keeps printing longer
- HIGH CAPACITY INK TANKS – Printer, scanner and copier utilizes Epson’s exclusive EcoFit ink bottles, making the refill process easy and worry-free
- ZERO CARTRIDGE WASTE — By using an Epson EcoTank printer you can help reduce the amount of cartridge waste ending up in landfills; Cartridge-free printer utilizes ink bottles for more convenience and less waste
Estimated ownership cost = printer purchase price + expected replacement-ink cost
Use your own expected pages per month and document mix rather than assuming every page matches a manufacturer’s yield test. If a tank printer costs more initially, compare that premium with the expected ink savings over the same period. A buyer printing hundreds of pages each month may reach a different result from someone printing a few pages every few weeks. The available published figures do not provide a common set of prices and assumptions for all three models, so they cannot establish a universal cheapest option.
Rank #4
- STRESS-FREE PRINTING — Epson EcoTank comes with enough ink to print up to 6,600 pages black/5,500 color¹⁰ for fewer out-of-ink frustrations. Each replacement ink bottle set is equivalent to about 80 cartridges¹¹
- SIMPLE INK REFILLING — Supersized ink tanks and uniquely keyed EcoFit bottles make refilling ink simple—no mess, no stress and no ink bottle mix-ups
- THE WORLD’S #1 SELLING SUPERTANK PRINTER² — Epson invented EcoTank to revolutionize the way people print; we’ve sold 100 million EcoTanks worldwide⁷ and this is our 7th generation of cartridge-free printers
- ADVANCED PRODUCTIVITY FEATURES — Fast 15 black/8 color ISO ppm print speeds with zero warmup time, built-in scanner, 100-sheet paper tray, auto duplex printing and a 1.44" color display for easy navigation
- STUNNING PRINT QUALITY — High 4800 x 1200 dpi print resolution for exceptional photos and text; enjoy amazing image quality on a wide range of media
What to check beyond ink price
Choose features around the work you actually do. A printer that saves on ink but makes routine tasks slower or harder may not be the best value for your household or office.
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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →- Automatic duplex printing: Prints both sides of a page without manual reloading. This matters if you regularly print multipage documents.
- ADF: Lets you feed multiple pages for copying or scanning. It is useful for forms and office paperwork, but not necessary for occasional single-page scans.
- Paper capacity: A larger tray means fewer reloads. The cited ET-4950 guide lists 250-sheet capacity; TechRadar notes low capacity for the G3270.
- Print and scan speed: Consider whether you often print or scan batches. The ET-4950 guide lists 18 ppm mono, while Tom’s Guide reports differing print, copy, and scan speeds among models.
- Color and photo needs: A text-heavy user should focus on black-ink costs; color documents and photos use different inks and can change total consumption.
- Connectivity: Check the wireless and mobile-printing options you need. Feature availability can differ by model and region.
What included-ink yield claims mean
Epson’s US EcoTank category page advertises up to 6,600 color pages and up to 5,500 black pages for included ink on its latest generation. Those are Epson’s manufacturer-advertised figures for that generation, not independently measured yields or figures that apply to every EcoTank. Epson also says savings vary with print tasks, volume, and usage conditions. Check the specifications for the exact model you are considering. Epson’s US EcoTank home-office printer information
Included ink and replacement ink are also different parts of the ownership calculation: a large initial supply may postpone the first refill, but future costs still depend on the model’s compatible bottles and your print habits. Match ink by the printer’s exact model and the correct regional bottle series.
Quick Recap
How to make the final choice
- Estimate your monthly pages. Separate mostly-black text from color documents and photos; those workloads can use ink differently.
- Decide which features you need. Identify whether automatic duplex, an ADF, larger paper capacity, or particular connectivity is essential.
- Check the exact regional model. Confirm the model name, current availability, specifications, and compatible replacement-ink series for your market.
- Compare purchase and refill costs. Use current prices and rated yields for the exact printer and ink, then estimate costs across the period you expect to own it.
- Choose for your workload, not a headline. A budget tank may suit light color use; a feature-rich model may justify a higher initial cost for office tasks; a low text-ink estimate matters most when you print enough text pages to benefit.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
