The 3 Best Printers Under $100 - Spring 2024 Reviews

The best printer under $100 we've tested is the Brother MFC-J1010DW, an all-in-one inkjet model designed for home use. It has a sturdy build, Wi-Fi and USB connectivity, and a front panel with tons of buttons to make navigating the printer's functions easier. The scanner produces high-quality scans and processes up to eight pages per minute through its automatic feeder. Unfortunately, it doesn't support duplex scanning, so you'll have to flip the pages manually when scanning double-sided sheets.

Documents look sharp whether you're printing in black and white or color, and while the printer doesn't have the widest color range or most accurate color reproduction, photos still look incredibly detailed. Unfortunately, like most printers in this price range, page yields from its ink cartridges are very low, as it can only produce roughly 200 black and 130 color prints, considerably less than many other pricier models. Thankfully, the cartridges are relatively cheap, so your running cost won't rise too much if you print a lot.

Another similar printer worth checking out is the Brother MFC-J1205W/MFC-J1215W. It usually retails for around $130 USD and goes down to about $100 on sale. It yields significantly more prints—about 1,150 black and 750 color—resulting in fewer cartridge replacements and a lower cost-per-print. However, it has no automatic feeder and prints slightly slower at nine black or six color pages per minute.

Our best laser pick is the Brother HL-L2405W, a variant of the Brother HL-L2460DW. This print-only unit's regular price is slightly over $100, but it goes on sale for $99.99 USD, so keep an eye out. It has a sturdy build and a compact design, making it well-suited for smaller spaces. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi and USB, and there's support for Apple AirPrint and Mopria Print Service, so you can easily print from various devices. As mentioned, this is a print-only unit, so you need to be sure you won't need to scan anything.

Printing-wise, this model produces very sharp documents. The caveat is that you need to tweak the print settings a bit, as the print quality isn't that great out of the box. Printing speed is great; it's a little slow to warm up and get the first page out, but it's very fast once it gets going, pushing up to 30 pages per minute. A regular toner cartridge gets you around 1,300 prints, and you can get XL cartridges that'll yield even more. You'll have to replace the drum separately, which is an added expense, but you won't have to do it often, as the drum usually lasts a long time.

If you want to print photos on the go, check out the Fujifilm instax mini Link 2. This compact printer fits easily into a small handbag and has a built-in rechargeable battery, allowing you to print anywhere you want. It's designed for use with Android and iOS smartphones and connects easily through Bluetooth. A companion app is available; it lets you print, create collages, add effects, and even embed a video with a QR code. There's also a separate app called 'instax mini Link for Nintendo Switch,' so you can print screenshots taken on your Nintendo Switch.

This model can only print 2.4x1.8 photos on Fujifilm's proprietary film, somewhat like Polaroid pictures. The print quality isn't that great compared to desktop printers, as it has a limited color range and print resolution, but it's good enough for casual photos that you can keep in your wallet or stick on a fridge door. You can get color or monochrome film, which comes in packs of 20. Unfortunately, the film is expensive, so it can be very costly if you print a lot. The battery is good for around 100 prints and takes up to two hours to fully charge.