By the dealdey.com team | Last updated: November 2026 | Prices checked: Nov 2026
Our top pick is the Brother Work Smart MFC-J1360DW. It's a current wireless color all-in-one at around $89–$110, which leaves room under our $150 ceiling for paper and replacement ink, and that matters because a printer that's cheap to buy isn't always cheap to own. Every pick here is a cartridge inkjet, so if you print only a few times a year, read "Who should skip these" before buying anything.
Here are our six picks, from the best all-rounder to the cheapest machine worth a cautious look:
Our picks at a glance
-
Best overallBrother Work Smart MFC-J1360DW
Students, families and light home users who want a current color all-in-one near $110
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Best for home officeCanon PIXMA TR4720
Students and home-office buyers scanning or copying multi-page packets
-
Best premium and best for photos and craftsEpson Expression Premium XP-7100
Photo, invitation, greeting card and craft projects where color quality matters most
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Best sale-price pickCanon PIXMA MG3620
Basic print, scan and copy buyers who can find a genuine sale price under about $80
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Cautionary label, not an awardHP DeskJet 2855e
Buyers who need the cheapest color all-in-one for genuinely light use and can return it if setup fails
Typical prices; prices change, and the button shows today's price at the retailer.
Top pick vs budget pick
Students, families and light home users who want a current color all-in-one near $110
Check price at Brother (opens in a new tab)Occasional document users who want the lowest upfront cost
Check price at Amazon (opens in a new tab)Choosing the budget pick saves about $29 at typical prices.
- Canon positions it as a basic home printer
- No ADF, no fax, and automatic duplex not confirmed
How we chose
- Five decision factors. We weighed total ownership cost, how often you print, which office features you'll actually use, setup and subscription friction, and whether the model is still current.
- Research, not hands-on testing. We compared manufacturer specs, independent reviews and owner feedback. Our sources were Amazon specs and ratings, manufacturer pages, retailer comparisons and owner discussions on Reddit and forums. We did not print test pages or measure yields. Our awards reflect specs, price, ratings and owner sentiment.
- A $150 ceiling, with a preference for under $120. The lower target leaves money for paper and a first set of replacement cartridges.
- What we cut.
- The Canon PIXMA TR8620a is discontinued [Source: Canon], and so is the TS6420a [Source: B&H].
- The Epson WorkForce Pro WF-3820 had no verified current price.
- The HP OfficeJet Pro 8135e fit the budget but used nearly all of it. It also drew an owner-reported account-association problem [Source: Reddit].
- One honest limit. Every pick here is a cartridge inkjet. Infrequent printers are better served by a monochrome laser, which we cover below.
| Product | Price (checked Nov 2026) | Functions | ADF | Auto duplex | Ink architecture | Connectivity | Model status | Best for | CTA button | Check price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brother Work Smart MFC-J1360DW Top pick | ~$90–$110 | Print, scan, copy | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Wireless | Not confirmed | Students, families and light home users | Check price at Brother | Check price at Brother (opens in a new tab) |
| Canon PIXMA TR4720 | ~$79–$130 | Print, copy, scan, fax | Yes (manufacturer-confirmed) | Not confirmed | Two-cartridge system | Wireless and mobile printing | Not confirmed | Home office (multi-page scanning) | Check today's price at Amazon | Check price at Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| Epson Expression Premium XP-7100 | ~$130–$150 | Print, scan, copy | Reported in comparison sources, not confirmed | Not confirmed | Five individual cartridges | Wireless | Not confirmed | Photo and craft user | Check today's price at Amazon | Check price at Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| Canon PIXMA TS3720 Budget pick | ~$43–$99 | Print, scan, copy | No | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Wireless, mobile-friendly | Not confirmed | Occasional document user | Check today's price at Amazon | Check price at Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| Canon PIXMA MG3620 | ~$60–$149 | Print, scan, copy | No | Shopping text only, not confirmed | Not confirmed | Wireless, mobile and tablet printing | Not confirmed; end-of-life unverified | Sale-price buyer under about $80 | Check today's price at Amazon | Check price at Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| HP DeskJet 2855e | ~$49–$100 | Print, scan, copy | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | 2.4GHz-only per shopping text | Not confirmed | Cheapest light-use color all-in-one, with setup caution | Check today's price at Amazon | Check price at Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
Typical prices, checked Nov 6, 2026. Prices change; the button shows today's price.
Best overall: Brother Work Smart MFC-J1360DW
Brother Work Smart MFC-J1360DW
- Wireless color inkjet all-in-one (print, scan, copy)
- Current model priced well under the $150 ceiling, leaving room for paper and ink
- Refresh ink plan reported as optional for basic printing; duplex, ADF, tray, and yields not confirmed
- Best for
- Students, families and light home users who want a current color all-in-one near $110
- Skip if
- The printer will sit unused for months, or you need a confirmed document feeder or verified low running cost
The MFC-J1360DW wins for the typical home buyer because it covers the basics without eating the whole budget. It's a wireless color inkjet all-in-one that prints, scans and copies [Source: Amazon]. It costs around $89–$110. Owners report sale swings within that range [Source: Reddit r/printers]. Even at the top end, the rest of a $150 budget covers paper and ink.
Setup is the other reason it's our top pick. One owner comparison against Epson models suggests Brother didn't force app or immediate Wi-Fi setup. Another owner said initial setup went smoothly [Source: Reddit r/printers]. That's two reports, not a pattern.
Brother sells an ink plan called Refresh. One owner discussion reports that enrollment isn't required for basic printing, while another owner found Brother's registration prompts hard to skip [Source: Reddit r/printers]. Seeing a prompt doesn't mean you're required to sign up.
The trade-off is thin evidence. Independent testing is sparse. We couldn't confirm cartridge yields, cost per page, duplex printing, a document feeder or tray size. If any of those matter to you, check the live listing and price the replacement cartridges before you buy.
Skip it if the printer will sit unused for months, because a laser suits you better. Also skip it if you need a confirmed document feeder for multi-page scans. The Canon TR4720 covers that.
What we like
- Covers basic print, scan and copy needs without using the whole budget
- Owner reports suggest setup is less app- or Wi-Fi-dependent than Epson models
- Refresh enrollment reported as optional for basic printing
What we don't
- Sparse independent testing
- Cartridge yields and cost per page not confirmed
- Duplex, document feeder and tray size not confirmed
Check price at Brother (opens in a new tab) or Check price at Amazon (opens in a new tab). Price checked Nov 2026; prices change often.
Best for home office: Canon PIXMA TR4720
Canon PIXMA TR4720
- Four-in-one print, copy, scan and fax
- Manufacturer-confirmed automatic document feeder (ADF)
- Two-cartridge ink system with wireless and mobile printing
- Best for
- Students and home-office buyers scanning or copying multi-page packets
- Skip if
- Photo quality matters, you want individual color cartridges, or the printer will sit idle for long stretches
The TR4720 is the pick if you scan or copy multi-page packets like tax forms, leases or school paperwork. At the low end it undercuts the Brother. At the high end you're paying for the ADF and fax, so buy it only if you'll use them.
It's the only printer in our set with a manufacturer-confirmed automatic document feeder (ADF) [Source: Canon]. The XP-7100's feeder appears only in retailer comparison data. The TR4720 also adds fax to print, copy and scan, plus wireless and mobile printing [Source: Canon].
It costs around $79–$130. Even at the top of that range, it stays about $20 under the ceiling.
Its two-cartridge ink system is simpler to replace than the XP-7100's five cartridges [Source: Canon]. We couldn't confirm page yields or cost per page. We also couldn't confirm whether the color cartridge must be replaced when one color runs out. Look up the replacement cartridge price and rated yield before checkout.
Check price at Amazon (opens in a new tab). Price checked Nov 2026; prices change often.
Canon sells near-identical numbered variants, such as the TR4722, through different retailers [Source: Canon]. Match the exact model and color (black or white) to the listing you expect.
Skip it if photo quality matters, you want individual color cartridges, or the printer will sit idle for long stretches.
What we like
- Only pick in the set with a manufacturer-confirmed ADF
- Adds fax at a price under the ceiling
- Simpler to re-ink than the five-cartridge Epson XP-7100
What we don't
- Page yields and cost per page not confirmed
- Unconfirmed whether the color cartridge must be replaced when one color runs out
- Not the choice for photo quality or individual color cartridges
Check price at Amazon (opens in a new tab). Price checked Nov 2026; prices change often.
Best premium and best for photos: Epson Expression Premium XP-7100
Epson Expression Premium XP-7100
- Print, scan and copy over wireless
- Five individual ink cartridges
- Duplex-capable document feeder per comparison sources
- Best for
- Photo, invitation, greeting card and craft projects where color quality matters most
- Skip if
- You print mostly black text, the printer will sit for months, or your budget must also cover replacement ink
The XP-7100 is our pick for photos, invitations, greeting cards and craft projects. It uses five individual ink cartridges and prints, scans and copies over wireless. Retailer comparison data also lists a duplex-capable document feeder [Source: B&H].
One 2026 owner praised three things [Source: Reddit r/printers]:
- Its photo quality.
- Its USB, Wi-Fi and Ethernet connections.
- No clogging after a week of sitting idle.
That's a single anecdote, not a test.
Check price at Amazon (opens in a new tab). Price checked Nov 2026; prices change often.
The trade-off is money and complexity. It costs around $130–$150. The low end was a short-lived B&H sale [Source: B&H], so budget for the top of that range rather than planning on the dip.
That uses nearly the whole budget before you buy paper or ink. Five cartridges also mean five consumables to track and replace.
If you edit photos before printing, see our guide to the best budget monitor for photo editing.
Skip it if you print mostly black text, the printer will sit for months, or your budget also has to cover replacement ink.
What we like
- Strong photo and craft candidate
- One 2026 owner reported no clogging after a week idle (single anecdote)
What we don't
- Plan on the upper end of the price range, which uses nearly the whole budget
- Five cartridges mean five consumables to track and replace
- Poor fit for mostly black-text printing or long idle periods
Check price at Amazon (opens in a new tab). Price checked Nov 2026; prices change often.
Best budget: Canon PIXMA TS3720
Canon PIXMA TS3720
- Wireless print, scan and copy
- Mobile-friendly operation with flatbed scanner
- No ADF or fax confirmed; duplex, tray, speed and yield not confirmed
- Best for
- Occasional document users who want the lowest upfront cost
- Skip if
- You scan multi-page documents, print regularly, or expect a cheap printer to be cheap to run
The TS3720 is the cheapest credible new name-brand printer we found. It costs around $43–$99, depending on seller, color and listing.
It's a wireless print, scan and copy machine with a flatbed scanner and mobile-friendly operation. That makes it right for the occasional document user printing a permission slip, a return label or a few color pages for a school project.
Check price at Amazon (opens in a new tab). Price checked Nov 2026; prices change often.
Here's what you give up:
- It's basic. Canon positions it as a basic home printer [Source: Amazon].
- Limited office features. We found no ADF, fax or confirmed automatic duplex [Source: Amazon].
- Unknown running costs. Nothing in our research points to low long-term ink cost. Later cartridge purchases can cancel out the low sticker price, so check the replacement cartridge price before you decide it's a bargain.
The white (B0D1DV6FV5) and black (B0D2RMZTJJ) versions are separate listings, so confirm which one you're buying.
Skip it if you scan multi-page documents, print regularly, or expect a cheap printer to be cheap to run.
What we like
- Lowest credible new name-brand price floor in the set
- Handles occasional forms, return labels and basic color pages
- Scans and copies despite entry-level positioning
What we don't
- Canon positions it as a basic home printer
- No ADF, no fax, and automatic duplex not confirmed
- Running costs unknown, so cartridge prices can cancel out the low sticker price
Check price at Amazon (opens in a new tab). Price checked Nov 2026; prices change often.
Best sale-price pick: Canon PIXMA MG3620
Canon PIXMA MG3620
- Wireless color all-in-one with print, scan and copy
- Mobile and tablet printing
- Auto-duplex appears in shopping text only; speed, tray and yield not confirmed
- Best for
- Basic print, scan and copy buyers who can find a genuine sale price under about $80
- Skip if
- You need an ADF or fax, or you cannot find a sale in the lower part of the range from a trusted seller
The MG3620 is a wireless color all-in-one that prints, scans and copies, with mobile and tablet printing [Source: Amazon]. Canon still publishes manuals and software for it [Source: Canon].
It only earns its spot at the right price. Listings cost around $60–$149. That spread signals seller and condition differences [Source: Amazon], so verify seller, condition and warranty before calling anything a deal.
Check price at Amazon (opens in a new tab). Price checked Nov 2026; prices change often. Verify seller and return window.
How the price changes the call:
- At a genuine sale under about $80 from a reputable seller with a valid warranty, it's a sensible, proven choice.
- Near the top of its range, the TR4720 or the Brother gives you more for similar money.
It's an older design than Canon's TS and TR lines, with no ADF, fax or touchscreen. Shopping text mentions automatic duplex, but we couldn't confirm it. We also couldn't confirm its official end-of-life status, so don't treat it as current-generation.
Skip it if you need an ADF or fax, or you can't find a genuine sale under about $80 from a seller you trust.
What we like
- Proven and widely available
- Sensible choice at a genuine sale price in the lower part of its range
What we don't
- Older design than Canon's TS and TR lines
- No ADF, fax or touchscreen
- Wide price spread signals seller and condition differences; end-of-life status unverified
Check price at Amazon (opens in a new tab). Price checked Nov 2026; prices change often. Verify seller and return window.
Cheapest, but read the setup warning: HP DeskJet 2855e
HP DeskJet 2855e
- Wireless color inkjet all-in-one with scanner and copier
- Shopping text lists 2.4GHz-only wireless
- Speed, tray, duplex and yield not confirmed
- Best for
- Buyers who need the cheapest color all-in-one for genuinely light use and can return it if setup fails
- Skip if
- You want account-free setup, predictable ink costs, frequent printing or strong owner sentiment
The DeskJet 2855e is one of the cheapest color all-in-ones from a major brand in our set. It costs around $49–$100 from mainstream sellers. Ignore marketplace listings priced far above that [Source: Amazon].
It's wireless and includes a scanner and copier [Source: Amazon]. Its low price is the only reason it's here, which is why it gets a warning label instead of an award.
Check price at Amazon (opens in a new tab). Price checked Nov 2026; prices change often. Verify seller and return window.
Recent owners report account, cartridge and printhead problems [Source: Reddit r/printers]. Those are individual reports, not a recall or a proven defect.
Before you buy, make two checks:
- Your Wi-Fi band. Shopping text lists 2.4GHz-only wireless [Source: Amazon]. Confirm your router broadcasts a 2.4GHz network.
- Setup without enrollment. HP's "e" printers are marketed with trial ink through Instant Ink, HP's consumables program. During setup, confirm that local printing and scanning work without enrolling.
Keep the box until you've printed and scanned successfully inside the return window.
Skip it if you want account-free setup, predictable ink costs, or a printer with strong owner sentiment.
What we like
- Cheapest brand-name color all-in-one in the set
- Suits very light use if setup works
What we don't
- Owner reports of account, cartridge and printhead problems (anecdotal)
- Possible 2.4GHz-only limitation; HP trial-ink program
Check price at Amazon (opens in a new tab). Price checked Nov 2026; prices change often. Verify seller and return window.
Best cheap home printer by use case
Occasional document user. The Canon TS3720 is the lowest-cost way to print a form or return label. If the printer will sit idle for months, owners point to a monochrome laser instead.
Student or family. The Brother MFC-J1360DW is our pick for this buyer. It's a color all-in-one that leaves budget for ink, and Refresh enrollment is reported as optional [Source: Reddit r/printers]. Price the replacement cartridges first, since we couldn't confirm yields. Students setting up a study space may also want our best budget laptop picks.
Home office (multi-page scanning). The Canon TR4720 is the only pick with a manufacturer-confirmed ADF, and it adds fax. Buy it if you scan or copy packets of pages.
Photo and craft user. The Epson XP-7100 has five individual cartridges. It uses nearly the whole $150 budget.
Who should skip these
All six picks are cartridge inkjets under $150. That suits a lot of homes, but not all of them.
You print a few times a year. Owners consistently report liquid ink drying or clogging over long idle periods, while toner doesn't dry the same way [Source: Reddit r/printers]. That's anecdotal rather than a controlled test, but it's the advice we saw repeated most often.
A monochrome laser fits this buyer better. New multifunction lasers usually cost more than $150 and can't print color. We don't have a verified current price for any laser, so we're not naming a pick.
Some owners suggest a used laser instead [Source: Reddit r/printers]. If you go that route, check condition and warranty.
You print hundreds of color pages a month. A refillable ink-tank printer, such as an Epson EcoTank or Canon MegaTank, may be cheaper to run at that volume. Suitable new models often cost more than $150 [Source: Reddit r/printers], so stretching the budget is probably worth it. Some owners suggest a used tank printer, which is anecdotal.
You only need to view or sign documents. A screen may be enough. See our best tablet under $200 picks.
You want a 3D printer. See our best budget 3D printers.
You found discontinued clearance stock. We don't recommend it, because ink supply and support can dry up.
Buyer's guide
Five factors decide whether a printer under $150 stays cheap after checkout.
1. Total ownership cost beats sticker price. Divide the cartridge price by its rated page yield, for both black and color. Check whether a combined color cartridge must be tossed when one color runs dry, and whether XL cartridges exist.
Owners warn that a cheap cartridge printer can turn costly once the starter cartridges run out [Source: Reddit r/printers]. We couldn't source verified yields or cartridge prices for our picks. So we haven't published cost-per-page figures, and we won't guess.
2. Printing frequency decides inkjet vs laser.
- You print most weeks: a cartridge inkjet is defensible.
- You print 10–20 pages a month with long gaps, or only a few times a year: owner advice favors a monochrome laser [Source: Reddit r/printers]. That's owner consensus, not a controlled test.
- You print hundreds of color pages a month: an ink tank makes more sense.
3. Buy office features only if you need them.
- An ADF pays off for multi-page scans and copies.
- A flatbed handles one-page forms and photos fine [Source: Amazon].
- Automatic duplex saves flipping pages, but we couldn't confirm it on most picks.
- Skip fax and touchscreens you won't use.
4. Setup, account and subscription design. Here's what owners report by brand:
- HP. "e" models come with trial ink through Instant Ink, and recent DeskJet 2855e owners describe enrollment friction [Source: Reddit r/printers].
- Brother. Refresh is reported as optional [Source: Reddit r/printers].
- Epson. One commenter warned about cartridge restrictions on an Epson office model, not the XP-7100 [Source: Reddit r/printers].
Prefer Wi-Fi plus a USB or Ethernet fallback, since owners report wireless discovery can fail [Source: Reddit r/printers]. During setup, confirm that local printing and scanning work without enrolling, and do it inside your return window.
5. Model status and supply. Discontinued printers risk ink supply and support. Match the exact model and ASIN, since near-identical variants exist. As a rough screen, look for 4.0 stars on a large review base.
Deal and value: what $150 buys
Ceiling: $150, with a preference for under about $120. The Brother and the TR4720 leave headroom for paper and ink, while the XP-7100 uses nearly all of it.
What you give up versus pricier machines:
- Lower yields and less clarity on ink costs.
- The idle reliability owners describe with lasers.
- Color laser multifunction.
- Tank-style low running costs.
When prices drop:
- Prices can swing about $20–$50 within days [Source: Reddit r/printers].
- B&H briefly ran the XP-7100 about $20 below its usual price [Source: B&H].
- Retailer variants and older designs like the MG3620 can cost less, but check the seller.
Refresh prices ahead of major sale periods.
Three common mistakes
- Buying the cheapest printer without checking cartridge yield and price.
- Buying an inkjet for very infrequent use.
- Paying for fax, ADF or a touchscreen you won't use.
FAQ
What is the best low-budget printer?
For general color home use under $150, the Brother MFC-J1360DW and Canon TR4720 are the strongest current value candidates. Users who print only a few times per year should consider a monochrome laser instead.
Is HP or Epson better for a cheap home printer?
In this set Epson has the stronger photo candidate (XP-7100). The HP DeskJet 2855e and OfficeJet 8135e drew recent owner account and cartridge complaints.
What is the No. 1 printer brand?
There is no universal best. Owners tend to favor Brother for low-maintenance laser, Epson for photo or tank systems, Canon for inexpensive multifunction inkjets, and HP for retail availability. It depends on workload.
Will ink dry if I don't print for several weeks?
Inkjet owners frequently report dried or clogged ink after long idle periods, while laser toner is generally recommended for infrequent printing. This is owner experience, not a controlled test.
Should I buy a laser if I print only 10–20 pages a month?
Recent owner advice favors laser at that volume with long idle periods, though a new multifunction color laser usually needs a higher budget.
Is a $50 printer actually cheaper than a $120 printer?
Not necessarily. Total cost depends on replacement cartridge price and page yield, and low-cost machines can recover the discount through consumables.
Can I use a printer without an ink subscription?
Brother owners report that Refresh enrollment is optional. For HP, verify account and cartridge requirements during setup, because recent owners describe enrollment friction.
Do I need an automatic document feeder?
An ADF is worthwhile for scanning or copying multi-page packets. A flatbed-only model suffices for occasional one-page forms and photos.
Bottom line
Our pick for most homes: Brother Work Smart MFC-J1360DW. It's a current color all-in-one at around $89–$110. Refresh enrollment is reported as optional, and it leaves room under $150 for ink. Check price at Brother (opens in a new tab)
Best budget: Canon PIXMA TS3720. If upfront cost matters most, it costs around $43–$99 and handles occasional forms and labels. Price its cartridges first. Check price at Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Best for photos and crafts: Epson XP-7100. It's the best-rated printer in our set, at around $130–$150. Check price at Amazon (opens in a new tab)