The 6 Best Cheap Printers - Fall 2020
Reviews

The best cheap printer that we've tested to date is the Canon PIXMA TR7520. This all-in-one inkjet model is a very good option for printing casual family photos or even for students in need of black and white documents. It has some great scanning features like a flatbed scanner and an automatic document feeder. It also includes integrated fax.

It has a great overall cost-per-print and reasonably-priced cartridges that help keep expenses down. Also, the quality of printed photos is impressive due to well-defined colors and deep blacks. There are some great connectivity options, including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or simply plugging the USB cable directly into the computer. Furthermore, the printer is compatible with the outstanding companion app, Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY.

Unfortunately, while the quality of printed photos may be great, colors aren't very accurate, with dark blues and greens, in particular, being problematic. Furthermore, it has poor black page yield as the cartridge runs out of ink quickly. You'll also have to press the display screen harder at times for commands to register due to sub-par sensitivity. That said, if you're in need of a printer and are on a tighter budget, this versatile option is the best cheap printer that we've tested so far.

The best cheap photo printer that we've tested to date is the HP DeskJet 3755. This all-in-one model has a compact and light design that's available in three color variations and allows for easy access to paper jams and the ink cartridges. It has a sheetfed scanner that also has an automatic document feeder, which is good if you have many pages to copy at once.

Despite being a cheap printer, it can produce highly detailed photos with impressive color accuracy that should be more than suitable for adding color to documents. Furthermore, you can use it over Wi-Fi or hook it up directly to your computer via USB, and it's compatible with the HP Smart app, where you can print and scan directly from your mobile device.

Unfortunately, the price of printing adds up quickly, and replacing the cartridges can easily surpass the cost of the printer. Furthermore, printing speed is quite slow, with photos taking almost a minute to complete. That being said, if you want a cheap printer for the occasional photo at home, this is a good choice and one of the best printers under $100 that we've tested.

The best cheap laser printer we've tested to date is the Brother HL-L2370DW. This black and white printer has a straightforward design that's relatively compact and very user-friendly. The body feels durable, and access to the toner cartridges and paper jams should be effortless.

You'll be saving a lot of money in the long run due to its low cost-per-print. The black cartridge has an impressively high page yield, meaning you won't have to change it often. Printing speed is also quite fast once the first page has been printed out, and you can control your print jobs over the outstanding mobile companion app, Brother iPrint&Scan.

Unfortunately, this is a monochrome printer, so it isn't a good choice if you're looking to printing photos or add color to documents. Also, it completely lacks an integrated scanner, so if you need it to do anything other than print monochrome documents, you'll want to look elsewhere. That said, if all you need to do is print black-only documents, then it's more than up to the task.

The best printer in the budget category that we've tested to date is the Canon PIXMA TR8520. This all-in-one inkjet model is a great choice for both students and families alike. It has a decent overall design that is made of solid plastic, and access to the ink cartridges and paper jams are effortless. It has a ton of scanning features, including a sheetfed scanner for larger or more fragile objects and an automatic document feeder for multipage documents.

Regardless if you're printing in color or black and white, the cost-per-print remains quite affordable, even when printing photos. The photos look excellent as well, with bright, vibrant colors and clear detail. Also, it has a ton of connectivity options, such as an Ethernet cable for a more secure connection, a USB input to connect to your computer directly, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi through your router. Furthermore, it's compatible with the exceptional Canon PRINT Inkjet/SELPHY app, where you can scan, print, and copy directly from your mobile device.

Unfortunately, while photo quality is amazing, color accuracy is only mediocre and might be a dealbreaker if your profession depends on it. Furthermore, printing speed is quite slow, which may annoy or even delay you. That said, it offers great value at a budget price and is one of the best photo printers we've tested to date.