

That said, you can use the Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY app to print, scan, check ink levels, and start printhead cleanings, so you don't necessarily need to deal with the small screen for much. If the message or menu title is long, you have to wait for it to scroll, which is annoying when other models have much larger, touchscreen displays. Unfortunately, it has a tiny, two-line display screen, similar to most scientific calculators. While some colors are a little off from what they're supposed to be, your pictures will still look nice and natural. Its images are more detailed, and there's much less graininess and banding. This model is a lot better than the others on this list for photos. It has four refillable tanks and comes with three black bottles instead of just one, so you don't have to worry about black ink for a long time after the initial buy. While its retail cost is a bit on the pricey side, it's well worth it if you can spend more upfront to save money later. If you want a model with good photo quality, we recommend the Canon PIXMA G7020. Overall, if you're on a budget and want something that won't break the bank, this one is one of the best home printers with cheap ink that we've tested. Also, there's no display screen (just buttons and status lights), but you can use the mobile app to do everything you need. It can't automatically print double-sided, so you'll have to hang around to flip over the stack of papers to print the second side. Of course, as an inexpensive option, there are a few downfalls. That said, it's still the more cost-effective option since you can get a lot more pages out of the cartridges this means you won't have to go out and spend money on replacements too often anyway.

Like most Brother printers, the cartridges are a bit expensive compared to the cartridges of other budget printers.

It uses the same hybrid tank–cartridge system as the Brother MFC-J4335DW, meaning you can print lots of pages before you're out of ink with this one. If our first pick is a bit too expensive for you, look at the Brother MFC-J1205W. You can also check out our recommendations for the best home printers, the best photo printers, and the best all-in-one printers. We've tested over 125 printers, and below are our recommendations for the best printers for home use with cheap ink you can buy, all depending on your needs. Generally, the most cost-effective printers are a bit more expensive, but dishing out the extra money is often worth it thanks to the much larger page yields. Additionally, finding a printer with cheap ink isn't only about the cost of new cartridges, but how cost-efficient their cartridges are over time. Printers themselves can also have a low page yield, so you're stuck constantly replacing your ink cartridges if you want to keep printing, which can quickly add up over time. Some ink bundles can cost up to your printer's original price, making refills costly. Whether you've started to run low or you're now completely out of ink, you can be in for a nasty surprise when it comes time to replace your cartridges or bottles.
