What is a cheap printer ink solution in 2023?

We like to think we have become a paperless society, but many of us still need to print documents from time to time.

And whether you’re a small business owner, a student, or a freelancer working at home, you will know all the usual problems.

· Ink is so expensive.

· Cartridges don’t last very long.

· You run out of ink at the worst moment.

· Are those empty plastic cartridges sustainable?

Thankfully, printer manufacturers have been listening.

Read on to see what two clever innovators have come up with.

Epson Eco Tank.

Epson’s website says “Kiss expensive cartridges goodbye”.

Nice catchphrase, but does it live up to the hype?

Epson’s Eco Tank system uses refillable ink tanks in their printers. You buy large bottles which hold enough ink for thousands of pages. When the ink tanks are empty, you simply refill them from the bottles.

Pros.

The cheap ink bottles last for months, so there is less waste and it’s more sustainable than a cartridge printer.

Cons.

Unfortunately, refilling the tanks by hand increases the chances of messy spills. And if you don’t print regularly, the ink can dry out and cause clogged print heads.

HP Instant Ink.

HP has taken a different approach. Their low-cost, monthly ink subscription service charges by the page instead of the amount of ink used. You choose your subscription based on a page limit.

With wifi connected printers, HP ‘knows’ when your ink is running low and automatically sends you new supplies. Empty cartridges are sent back to HP in pre-paid envelopes for recycling.

Pros

HP Instant Ink’s automatic renewal means no more level checking, and you know how much everything will cost each month. The charge-by-the-page system is especially useful for people who print with a lot of pictures, and the sustainable return service is a nice touch.

Cons.

Unfortunately, if there’s a postal delay, you might be stuck with no ink. And if you go over your chosen monthly page limit, extra pages are expensive.

Final thoughts.

Epson’s Eco Tank is a low-cost ink solution for regular printers who demand high-quality prints and don’t mind taking control of their ink use.

HP’s Instant Ink subscription means you never need to worry about running out, and is a cheap, sustainable service for people who want their needs taken care of by someone else.

Do you know of any other ink services that are cheap, efficient and sustainable?

Let me know below.