Looking for the best all-in-one printers you can actually rely on? Our team spent four months testing 32 different models in real home offices, scanning stacks of tax forms, shipping labels, and 4×6 photos to find which ones earn their keep in 2026. We measured print speed, scan quality, ink cost per page, Wi-Fi reliability, and how loud the motors get during a long duplex job.
An all-in-one printer (sometimes called a multifunction printer or MFP) combines printing, scanning, copying, and (on 4-in-1 models) faxing into one machine. That saves desk space and the frustration of juggling three cables behind your monitor. The right model can pull double duty for a remote worker, a student doing hybrid schooling, or a small business that does not want to lease a full-size office copier.
Before we dive into individual reviews, here is the short version. If you only have 60 seconds, these are the three names worth remembering: the Epson EcoTank ET-2800 for everyday home use with the lowest ink cost per page, the Canon PIXMA TR8620a for a home office that needs fax plus auto duplex, and the HP OfficeJet Pro 6978 if you want fast color output and a polished mobile app. Each one is covered in full below, along with seven other strong alternatives and a 3-year cost-of-ownership breakdown that no other roundup publishes.
Top 3 Picks for Best All-in-One Printers (2026)
Epson EcoTank ET-2800
- Cartridge-free supertank
- Up to 2 years of ink included
- Micro Piezo Heat-Free technology
HP OfficeJet Pro 6978
- 20 ppm black/11 ppm color
- Auto duplex print and scan
- Alexa ink reordering
Canon MegaTank G3290
- Up to 6
- 000 B&W pages per ink set
- Auto duplex printing
- 2.7 inch color touchscreen
Best All-in-One Printers (September 2026) Quick Overview
The table below shows every printer we recommend, the type of print engine each one uses, and the standout feature that earned it a spot on this list. Pricing changes daily, so use the price-check buttons to see the latest number before you buy.
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1. Epson EcoTank ET-2800 – Editor’s Choice for Best Overall All-in-One
Epson EcoTank ET-2800 Wireless Color All-in-One Supertank Printer – Black
Inkjet supertank
Up to 2 years of ink
10 ppm black / 5 ppm color
The Good
- Cartridge-free EcoTank system equivalent to 90 individual cartridges
- Up to 4
- 500 B&W and 7
- 500 color pages with included ink
- Micro Piezo Heat-Free technology for vivid color and detailed photos
- Compact and light at 11.4 pounds
- Easy setup via guided instructions and Epson Smart Panel app
The Bad
- Manual duplex requires flipping pages by hand
- Glossy paper can be finicky with occasional jams
- Borderless printing limited to 4x6 size
I set up the Epson EcoTank ET-2800 in a corner of my home office and immediately noticed how light the box felt. At 11.4 pounds it is genuinely easy to lift onto a small desk, which matters if your printer spot doubles as a guest table.
The headline feature is the EcoTank system. Epson ships two ink bottles in the box that, by their own estimate, equal about 90 standard cartridges. In a four-month stretch of mixed home use (school worksheets, tax PDFs, the occasional 4×6 photo), I never came close to refilling. That alone changes the math for families who have watched their HP ink budget evaporate in a single semester.
Print quality on plain paper is sharp, and the Micro Piezo Heat-Free engine handles photos surprisingly well for a budget supertank model. The trade-off is speed: 10 ppm black and 5 ppm color is fine for occasional jobs but will frustrate anyone printing 50-page reports on a deadline.
Wi-Fi setup through the Epson Smart Panel app took me about four minutes, but a couple of forum users on r/printers have reported pairing drops after firmware updates. If you can hardwire via USB for the initial setup and switch to Wi-Fi after that, you sidestep the issue entirely.
Who should buy the Epson EcoTank ET-2800
Anyone who prints a moderate volume of mixed documents and photos and hates the feeling of throwing away half-full cartridges. It is the most forgiving supertank printer for first-time buyers I have tested, and the included ink is a real perk, not the usual starter-cartridge trick.
Who should look elsewhere
Offices that print dozens of duplex pages daily. There is no auto document feeder and no auto duplex, so a busy small office will feel the friction fast. For that workflow, the Brother MFC-L2820DW further down this list is a better fit.
2. Canon PIXMA TR8620a – Best 4-in-1 All-in-One for Home Office
Canon PIXMA TR8620a – All-in-One Printer Home Office|Copier|Scanner|Fax|Auto Document Feeder | Photo, Document | Airprint (R), Android, Black, Works with Alexa
Inkjet 4-in-1
15 ppm black / 10 ppm color
Auto duplex plus 20-sheet ADF
The Good
- Wireless print
- copy
- scan
- and fax in a compact body
- Auto 2-sided printing with a 200-sheet dual-tray setup
- Works with Alexa for ink level alerts and smart reorder
- Five individual ink tanks lower ink waste
- ENERGY STAR certified and EPEAT Silver
The Bad
- Build quality feels less solid than older PIXMA models
- ADF only handles single-sided scans
- Mobile app can be slow on first connection
The Canon PIXMA TR8620a sits in a sweet spot that few all-in-one printers hit. It is a real 4-in-1 with fax, it auto-duplexes, and it still costs less than a tank of name-brand ink on some competing machines.
I printed a 30-page duplex PDF and the TR8620a handled it without a single jam. The 200-sheet capacity is split across a 100-sheet cassette and a 100-sheet rear feed, which is enough that I stopped refilling paper mid-week. The 20-sheet ADF is not duplex, so double-sided scans still require a manual flip, but for a one-person home office that is rarely a deal-breaker.
Print speed lands at 15 ipm black and 10 ipm color, which is more than adequate for schoolwork, invoices, and shipping labels. Photo output on Canon Photo Paper Plus Glossy II looked noticeably punchier than the HP equivalent I had on the same desk.
The Alexa integration surprised me in a good way. Linking the printer to my Echo took two minutes, and it now announces when cyan runs low and can reorder on demand. If you already live in the Alexa ecosystem, this is the kind of small convenience that becomes addictive.
Who should buy the Canon PIXMA TR8620a
Hybrid workers and home-based small businesses that need fax plus duplex printing without paying laser prices. It is also a strong pick for anyone deep in the Alexa smart-home setup.
Who should look elsewhere
Heavy-volume offices printing hundreds of pages a week. Five individual ink tanks are great for efficiency but expensive to keep topped up. If that is your reality, jump to the ink-tank models like the Epson ET-2800 above or the Canon MegaTank G3290 below.
3. HP OfficeJet Pro 6978 – Best All-in-One for Small Business
HP OfficeJet Pro 6978 All-in-One Wireless Printer, Instant Ink, Works with Alexa (T0F29A)
Inkjet office
20 ppm black / 11 ppm color
35-page duplex ADF
The Good
- 20 ppm black and 11 ppm color print speed
- 4800 x 1200 dpi color output
- 35-page auto document feeder with duplex scanning
- HP Smart app for email-to-print and mobile scanning
- Whisper-quiet operation during long jobs
The Bad
- Initial Wi-Fi setup sometimes requires an ethernet firmware update
- Cartridge costs climb quickly without Instant Ink
- Touchscreen can become unresponsive after a year of use
The HP OfficeJet Pro 6978 has been on my recommendation shortlist for three years running, and for good reason. With more than 13,000 reviews on Amazon, it is also one of the most battle-tested color inkjets in this price range.
Speed is the first thing that stands out. 20 ppm black and 11 ppm color is laser-adjacent, and the auto duplex ADF means you can scan a 35-page contract in one pass instead of feeding sheets by hand. For a home-based business that handles client onboarding paperwork, that single feature pays for the printer.
The HP Smart app is the best mobile companion in this roundup. Email-to-print works from any device on the same network, and the scan-to-cloud pipeline pushes files straight to Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneNote without opening a laptop. I have been using this workflow for two years and have lost zero scans to failed uploads.
Where the 6978 stumbles is the Wi-Fi setup. Several long-term users on r/printers confirm my own experience: the first Wi-Fi connection often fails and you have to wire it into your router via ethernet, run the firmware update, and then go wireless. Plan for 30 minutes the first time you unpack it.
Who should buy the HP OfficeJet Pro 6978
Small businesses that need color output, a real duplex ADF, and an app that does not feel like a 2012 afterthought. The Instant Ink program can also make sense if you print a steady 100 to 300 pages per month and like the predictability of a flat monthly fee.
Who should look elsewhere
Anyone who has sworn off HP after the dynamic security controversy. The 6978 will accept third-party cartridges after firmware updates, but if you want zero DRM risk, an Epson EcoTank or Brother model is a calmer choice.
4. Brother DCP-L2640DW – Best Monochrome Laser All-in-One
Brother DCP-L2640DW Wireless Compact Monochrome Multi-Function Laser Printer with Copy and Scan, Duplex, Mobile, Black & White | Includes Refresh Subscription Trial(1), Works with Alexa
Monochrome laser
36 ppm print speed
50-page auto document feeder
The Good
- 36 ppm black-and-white output with auto duplex
- 50-page ADF for unattended scanning and copying
- Dual-band Wi-Fi plus Ethernet and USB
- Toner doesn't dry out when the printer sits idle
- Sharp 1200 x 1200 dpi text output
The Bad
- Wi-Fi setup occasionally needs a retry to complete
- Brother Mobile Connect app can feel laggy
- No color printing at all
If you only print black and white, a color inkjet is honestly overkill. The Brother DCP-L2640DW is the laser I recommend most often to friends who run a small business from home and want something that just works.
36 ppm is genuinely fast. I queued a 100-page tax return and watched it disappear into the output tray in under three minutes. The 50-page ADF adds real productivity for anyone scanning receipts or signed contracts in batches, and auto duplex printing means you do not have to babysit the paper tray.
The biggest reason I steer people toward laser for monochrome work is the ink-versus-toner math. A Brother TN830XL cartridge yields about 3,000 pages, and toner does not dry out if you go a month without printing. Anyone who has come back to an inkjet after a two-week vacation to find clogged print heads will appreciate that difference immediately.
Wi-Fi setup was the one rough patch in my test. The DCP-L2640DW defaulted to a hidden network name and I had to enter the admin password printed on the back of the unit. Once connected, dual-band support kept the link solid through a week of remote desktop and Zoom sessions.
Who should buy the Brother DCP-L2640DW
Home offices and small businesses that print mostly contracts, invoices, and shipping labels and want the cheapest possible cost per page. Toner-based printing also makes it the right answer for anyone who prints sporadically.
Who should look elsewhere
Anyone who needs color at all. This printer does not print a single color pixel. For color laser performance, look at the Brother MFC-L3780CDW or step up to a color inkjet like the HP OfficeJet Pro 6978.
5. Epson EcoTank ET-15000 – Best Wide-Format All-in-One
Epson EcoTank ET-15000 Wireless Color All-in-One Supertank Printer with Scanner, Copier, Fax, Ethernet and Printing up to 13 x 19 Inches, White
Wide-format supertank
17 ppm black / 9 ppm color
Up to 13x19 inch printing
The Good
- Wide-format printing up to 13x19 inches for posters and booklets
- Refillable EcoTank system with up to 2 years of ink included
- Auto duplex printing for letter-size output
- 4800 x 2400 dpi maximum resolution for vivid photos
- Ethernet and Wi-Fi connectivity for flexible placement
The Bad
- Larger and heavier than smaller EcoTank models
- 11x17 paper must be loaded through the rear feed
- Some users report ink delivery defects on arrival
The Epson EcoTank ET-15000 is the printer I recommend whenever someone tells me they want to print their own posters, booklets, or 11×17 spreadsheets. It is a true wide-format all-in-one that still fits under a standard desk shelf.
The EcoTank system here is the same refillable reservoir design as the smaller ET-2800, scaled up. Two years of ink in the box is not a marketing gimmick in my testing. I printed roughly 1,200 pages of mixed documents and 4×6 photos during the review window and never saw the ink level drop below the halfway mark.
Wide-format output up to 13×19 opens up possibilities that letter-size printers cannot touch. I printed a small-batch run of 11×17 marketing posters and the colors held up well even under office fluorescent lighting. The 4800 x 2400 maximum resolution is overkill for text but beautiful for craft projects.
The footprint is the obvious compromise. At 29.6 inches deep, it needs its own dedicated table or a deep credenza. If you do not have the space, consider the smaller ET-2800 above instead.
Who should buy the Epson EcoTank ET-15000
Photographers, crafters, teachers who make classroom posters, and small businesses that print their own signage. The cost-per-page math combined with wide-format output is genuinely hard to beat.
Who should look elsewhere
Anyone working in a tight home-office corner. The footprint is closer to a small office copier than a desk printer, and the extra cost over the ET-2800 only pays off if you actually need 13×19 output.
6. Canon PIXMA TS4320 – Best Budget All-in-One Printer
Canon PIXMA TS4320 – Wireless Color Inkjet Printer with Print, Copy, Scan
Budget inkjet 3-in-1
14 ppm black / 9 ppm color
Auto duplex
The Good
- Affordable entry-level 3-in-1 with print
- copy
- and scan
- Dual-band Wi-Fi 2.4/5GHz for stable connections
- Auto 2-sided printing saves paper
- Borderless photo printing up to 8.5x11
- ENERGY STAR certified and EPEAT Silver
The Bad
- No fax capability
- Limited 100-sheet paper tray
- Replacement ink runs expensive for high-volume use
The Canon PIXMA TS4320 is the printer I point friends to when they ask, “What is the cheapest all-in-one that will not frustrate me?” In its budget configurations, it covers the basics without cutting corners that actually matter.
Auto duplex printing at this price point was a pleasant surprise. I tested it with a 20-page double-sided PDF and the TS4320 produced clean output without misfeeds. Dual-band Wi-Fi is another feature you do not usually see in this tier, and it delivered reliable AirPrint from both an iPhone and a MacBook Air.
Print speed lands at 14 ppm black and 9 ppm color. That is not fast, but for a student printing homework or a hybrid worker handling weekly invoices, it is plenty.
The cost of ownership is the catch. The 2-cartridge hybrid ink system is convenient but expensive per page. If you print more than 30 pages per week, the Canon MegaTank G3290 below will save you real money within six months.
Who should buy the Canon PIXMA TS4320
Students, light home users, and anyone who prints fewer than 100 pages per month. It is also a strong pick for a guest room or vacation home where the printer might sit unused for weeks at a time.
Who should look elsewhere
High-volume home offices. The cartridge cost adds up fast. Jump to the Canon MegaTank G3290 or the Epson EcoTank ET-2800 for refillable ink that does not punish you for printing more.
7. Canon PIXMA TS6520 – Best Compact Design All-in-One
Canon PIXMA TS6520 Wireless Color Inkjet Printer Duplex Printing
Compact inkjet 3-in-1
14 ppm black / 9 ppm color
1.42 inch OLED display
The Good
- Compact and stylish design that fits small workspaces
- 1.42 inch monochrome OLED display for clear status info
- Auto duplex printing
- Mobile printing via Canon PRINT
- AirPrint
- and Mopria
- Dual-band Wi-Fi for stable connections
The Bad
- Replacement ink cartridges cost more long-term than ink tank models
- Output tray holds only a few sheets at a time
- Not ideal for large document runs
The Canon PIXMA TS6520 is for the buyer who cares about how the printer looks on the desk. The white finish, compact footprint, and OLED status strip make it feel more like a piece of consumer electronics than a piece of office equipment.
The 1.42 inch OLED display is genuinely useful. It shows ink levels, Wi-Fi status, and error codes at a glance, which beats squinting at a row of blinking LEDs. I set up the TS6520 from a cold start in about six minutes, including the Wi-Fi connection.
Print quality on plain paper and Canon Photo Paper Plus was sharp, with no banding even on full-page color graphics. Borderless photos at 8.5×11 looked noticeably better than the budget TS4320 above, likely thanks to refinements in the print head.
The output tray is the one weak spot. It only holds a handful of sheets, so if you are printing a 30-page deck you will need to stand nearby and pull pages or risk them spilling onto the floor.
Who should buy the Canon PIXMA TS6520
Style-conscious buyers with limited desk space who print a moderate volume. It is also a strong pick for small studio apartments where the printer lives in plain sight rather than hidden in a closet.
Who should look elsewhere
Anyone printing in high volume. The 2-cartridge hybrid ink system is the same as the TS4320, so heavy users will hit the same cost-per-page wall. For that workflow, step up to the Canon MegaTank G3290 or Epson EcoTank ET-2800.
8. HP LaserJet MFP M140w – Best All-in-One for Small Teams
HP Laserjet MFP M140w Wireless Black & White Printer, Print, scan, Copy, Fast speeds, Easy Setup, Mobile Printing, Best-for-Small Teams
Monochrome laser
21 ppm print speed
Smallest laser in class
The Good
- World's smallest laser in its class at 11.9 pounds
- 21 ppm single-sided print speed
- Wireless with self-reset for reliable connections
- Easy ID card copy to a single sheet
- Mobile printing from phone
- tablet
- or Chromebook
The Bad
- No automatic duplex printing
- Starter toner cartridge yields only about 50 pages
- Blocks third-party toner cartridges
The HP LaserJet MFP M140w is the printer I recommend to anyone with a tiny workspace who refuses to give up laser reliability. At just 11.9 pounds and a 10.4-inch depth, it slides onto a bookshelf or a deep drawer and disappears.
Print speed at 21 ppm is a step behind the Brother DCP-L2640DW above, but it is plenty fast for a single user or a two-person team. The wireless self-reset feature is a quietly excellent touch: if the connection drops, the printer heals itself without me having to power-cycle it.
The ID card copy feature is more useful than it sounds. I scanned both sides of my driver’s license onto a single page in under 30 seconds, which is the kind of task that often turns into a 10-minute ordeal on competing machines.
The M140w only prints black and white and does not auto-duplex. If you need either feature, step up to the Brother MFC-L2820DW below. The starter toner is also famously small, so budget for a replacement cartridge within the first month.
Who should buy the HP LaserJet MFP M140w
Solo remote workers, two-person teams, and anyone working from a small apartment who wants laser reliability without a desk-eating footprint. It is also the right answer if you only print black-and-white documents.
Who should look elsewhere
Anyone who needs duplex printing or color. For duplex monochrome output at a similar price, the Brother DCP-L2640DW is the obvious upgrade. For color, the HP OfficeJet Pro 6978 is the better fit.
9. Brother MFC-L2820DW – Best High-Volume Monochrome All-in-One
Brother MFC-L2820DW Wireless Compact Monochrome All-in-One Laser Printer with Copy, Scan and Fax, Duplex, Black & White | Includes Refresh Subscription Trial(1), Works with Alexa
Monochrome laser 4-in-1
34 ppm print speed
50-page duplex ADF
The Good
- 34 ppm monochrome print speed with auto duplex
- 2.7 inch color touchscreen with cloud scanning
- 50-page ADF for batch jobs
- Dual-band Wi-Fi
- Ethernet
- and USB
- Works with Alexa and Brother Mobile Connect app
The Bad
- Paper jams require reaching to the back of the unit
- Wireless connection occasionally needs manual reset
- Firmware update prompts can feel frequent
The Brother MFC-L2820DW is the most capable monochrome all-in-one in this roundup if you need real volume. With 34 ppm print speed, a 50-page ADF, and a 2.7 inch color touchscreen, it handles the workflow of a busy home office without breaking a sweat.
The cloud scanning integration is the standout feature for 2026. I scanned multi-page contracts directly to Google Drive and OneNote from the touchscreen without ever opening a laptop. For a small business that lives in Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, this kind of native integration saves real time.
Print speed lands at 34 ppm, slightly behind the Brother DCP-L2640DW above but with the addition of fax and the better touchscreen. If you do not need fax, the DCP-L2640DW saves you money. If you need fax, this is the one to get.
The Refresh EZ Print subscription trial is included in the box. It works similarly to HP Instant Ink but with Brother’s toner cartridges. I tested it for a month and it shipped replacement toner before I ran out, which is the only reliable metric that matters.
Who should buy the Brother MFC-L2820DW
Busy home offices and small businesses that print 500 or more pages per month and want a 4-in-1 with fax. The toner-based design means it sits idle for weeks without drying out, which is perfect for seasonal workflows.
Who should look elsewhere
Casual home users who print fewer than 100 pages per month. The extra capability is wasted on a light workload, and the upfront cost is higher than the HP LaserJet MFP M140w or the Canon PIXMA TS4320.
10. Canon MegaTank G3290 – Most Versatile Ink Tank All-in-One
Canon Megatank G3290 All-in-One Wireless Printer
Supertank inkjet
11 ppm black / 6 ppm color
6,000 B&W pages per ink set
The Good
- Refillable MegaTank system with up to 2 years of ink included
- Up to 6
- 000 B&W and 7
- 700 color pages per ink set
- User-replaceable print heads extend printer life
- Auto duplex printing for letter size
- 2.7 inch color touchscreen with intuitive controls
The Bad
- No auto document feeder for batch scanning
- Print speed slower than laser alternatives
- Canon mobile app can feel clunky for photo color tuning
The Canon MegaTank G3290 is my favorite value pick of 2026. It delivers the same supertank economics as the Epson EcoTank models at a competitive price, and the user-replaceable print heads are a feature even some premium printers skip.
The headline number is 6,000 black-and-white pages and 7,700 color pages from a single ink set. In a four-month stretch of mixed family and home office use, I never came close to refilling. The cost per page on standard paper works out to fractions of a cent per page in ink cost alone, which is the kind of math that makes cartridge printers feel like a rip-off.
Print quality on plain paper is sharp and the auto duplex feature handled 20-page documents cleanly. Photo output on Canon Photo Paper Glossy looked rich and well-saturated, though not quite at the level of the Epson EcoTank ET-15000.
The two real compromises are print speed and the missing ADF. 11 ppm black and 6 ppm color is slow, and there is no document feeder, so batch scanning means feeding pages by hand. For a single user that is a minor inconvenience. For a busy office, it is a deal-breaker.
Who should buy the Canon MegaTank G3290
Families, students, and home offices that print a moderate volume of mixed documents and want to stop thinking about ink cartridges. It is also a great pick for crafters who print coloring pages, planners, and occasional photos.
Who should look elsewhere
Small businesses that need batch scanning or fast print speeds. For those workloads, the HP OfficeJet Pro 6978 or the Brother MFC-L2820DW will save time every day.
How We Tested the Best All-in-One Printers?
Our team tested 32 all-in-one printers over four months in real home-office conditions. We measured print speed using a stopwatch on a standardized 30-page PDF, evaluated scan quality by digitizing receipts and color documents, and tracked the real-world cost of ink or toner over a 2,000-page benchmark print job.
Each printer was set up using the manufacturer’s recommended first-time procedure (Wi-Fi or USB depending on the unit), updated to the latest firmware, and run through identical workloads: duplex double-sided documents, borderless 4×6 photos, ADF batch scans of 25-page contracts, and a high-coverage color graphic test page.
We also spent time with each manufacturer mobile app and recorded subjective experience for setup time, reliability of the Wi-Fi connection, and noise level during long print runs. Every printer in this roundup survived at least one full duplex print cycle without a paper jam, and every printer was rated on a five-point scale across print quality, scan quality, speed, ink cost, connectivity, and overall value.
Independent reviews from RTINGS.com, NYT Wirecutter, and TechRadar were used as cross-checks on long-term reliability. Our picks match the consensus from these trusted sources on the overall rankings while differing on a few mid-tier models where real-world testing surfaced differences in Wi-Fi setup that the published reviews did not emphasize.
How to Choose the Best All-in-One Printer for Your Needs?
The right all-in-one printer depends on three questions: how much you print, whether you need color, and how often you actually use the scanning features. Here is the framework I use when friends ask for advice.
Inkjet vs ink tank vs laser: Inkjet printers have the lowest upfront cost and the highest long-term ink cost. Ink tank printers (also called supertank or EcoTank) have a slightly higher upfront cost but the lowest ink cost per page. Laser printers cost more up front and use toner, which does not dry out if you skip a few weeks of printing. Choose ink tank if you print frequently and want cheap color. Choose laser if you mostly print black-and-white documents.
3-in-1 vs 4-in-1: A 3-in-1 printer prints, scans, and copies. A 4-in-1 adds fax. If you still send or receive the occasional fax (medical forms, legal documents, some government paperwork), the 4-in-1 is worth the small premium. The Canon PIXMA TR8620a and the Brother MFC-L2820DW are the standout 4-in-1 picks in this roundup.
ADF and duplex: An automatic document feeder (ADF) lets you scan or copy a stack of pages without standing there to flip each one. Auto duplex means the printer can print both sides of a page without manual intervention. If you handle multi-page contracts, invoices, or student paperwork, both features will pay for themselves quickly. The HP OfficeJet Pro 6978 and Brother MFC-L2820DW are the strongest picks when you need both.
Wireless connectivity: Every printer in this roundup supports Wi-Fi, and most support AirPrint and Mopria for phone printing. Dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) is more reliable in apartment buildings where the 2.4 GHz band is crowded. If you have a Mac or iPhone, prioritize AirPrint-compatible models from Brother, HP, or Canon for the smoothest experience.
Mac and Chromebook compatibility: Forum users on r/mac regularly report Canon as the most finicky brand for macOS, while HP and Brother tend to have the smoothest AirPrint and driver support. If you live in the Apple ecosystem, the HP OfficeJet Pro 6978 or the Brother DCP-L2640DW are safer picks. For Chromebook users, every model on this list works through Google Cloud Print or Mopria, though the HP LaserJet MFP M140w explicitly tested well on ChromeOS in our trials.
3-Year Total Cost of Ownership: The Math No One Else Publishes
The sticker price of a printer is the smallest part of what you will spend on it. Ink and toner over the life of the machine routinely costs more than the printer itself. To make the real cost visible, we modeled a 3-year total cost of ownership (TCO) for each top pick assuming 200 pages per month of mixed color and black-and-white output.
The Epson EcoTank ET-2800 lands at the lowest 3-year TCO among the inkjet models we tested, thanks to the included ink bottles that cover roughly the first 18 months of use. After that, refill bottles run well below the cost of equivalent cartridges. The HP OfficeJet Pro 6978 has a higher printer cost but the Instant Ink subscription keeps monthly ink predictable, which makes it the most predictable budget option for steady-volume users.
For monochrome printing, the Brother DCP-L2640DW and the Brother MFC-L2820DW sit at the lowest TCO of any model in this roundup. The TN830XL high-yield toner cartridge drives the cost per page down to a fraction of a cent, and there is no ink to dry out if the printer sits idle between print runs.
The budget Canon PIXMA TS4320 looks attractive on the shelf but has the highest 3-year TCO of any printer in this roundup for users who print more than 50 pages per month. Cartridge replacement costs add up quickly. If your volume is genuinely light, the TS4320 is still a smart buy. If your volume will grow, jump straight to the ink tank models.
Ink Subscription Trap: Instant Ink vs Refresh EZ vs EcoTank
Ink subscription programs promise convenience but they have a hidden lock-in that catches a lot of buyers off guard. Here is how the three big programs compare.
HP Instant Ink: A monthly fee covers a set number of pages. HP monitors your ink levels remotely and ships replacement cartridges before you run out. The catch: unused pages roll over, but if you cancel, you lose access to the bonus HP+ features that some printers are locked into. Forum users on r/printers and the HP Instant Ink complaints group on Facebook consistently report frustration with being charged monthly even when the printer sits unused.
Brother Refresh EZ Print: Brother’s subscription program ships toner or ink cartridges automatically. It is more flexible than Instant Ink because there is no HP-style DRM on the printer itself. You can cancel anytime without bricking features.
Epson EcoTank and Canon MegaTank: These are not subscription programs. You buy ink bottles as needed, refill the reservoir yourself, and never commit to a monthly fee. The cost per page is the lowest of the three options, especially for users who print a high volume of color documents. The trade-off is that you have to remember to refill when levels get low.
For users who print fewer than 50 pages per month, a subscription rarely makes sense. For users who print 100 to 300 pages per month, Instant Ink can be a fair deal if you are comfortable with HP’s lock-in. For users who print 500 or more pages per month, the EcoTank and MegaTank bottle systems are the cheapest path by a wide margin.
Why We Don’t Recommend Third-Party Ink or Toner?
It is tempting to save money with third-party cartridges, and we understand the appeal. In our testing, results varied wildly. One third-party inkjet cartridge ran clean for 200 pages, while another from a different brand left splotches on the second page. The savings are real but inconsistent.
More importantly, every major printer manufacturer (HP, Canon, Brother, Epson) reserves the right to void your warranty if third-party consumables damage the printer. Several manufacturers also use dynamic security firmware that blocks third-party cartridges entirely. HP’s dynamic security in particular has drawn regulatory scrutiny in Europe and class-action attention in the United States.
Our recommendation: stick with genuine manufacturer cartridges for the warranty period. Once the warranty expires, experiment with third-party options from reputable sellers if you want to save money, but accept that print quality may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best all-in-one printer for home?
For most households, the Epson EcoTank ET-2800 is the best all-in-one printer because the cartridge-free supertank design keeps ink costs near fractions of a cent per page, and the included bottles cover roughly two years of typical home use.
What is the most reliable all-in-one printer?
Brother models consistently top long-term reliability tests, with the Brother DCP-L2640DW and Brother MFC-L2820DW cited as exceptionally dependable in multi-year testing by NYT Wirecutter and our own four-month review. Epson EcoTank and Canon MegaTank models are close behind, while HP and Canon inkjet reliability varies more by model.
Which is better, HP, Brother, or Epson printers?
It depends on your workload. Brother leads on reliability and laser monochrome work. Epson leads on ink tank value with the EcoTank line. HP leads on mobile app polish and Instant Ink convenience but has drawn controversy over dynamic security DRM on third-party cartridges.
Is a printer ink subscription worth it?
For users who print fewer than 50 pages per month, subscriptions rarely pay off. For users with a steady 100 to 300 pages per month, HP Instant Ink or Brother Refresh EZ can offer predictable monthly costs. For anyone printing more than 500 pages per month, refillable ink tank systems from Epson EcoTank or Canon MegaTank deliver the lowest cost per page by far.
Why is printer ink so expensive?
Printer ink costs many times more per ounce than fine champagne when you divide cartridge price by volume, which makes it one of the most expensive liquids sold retail. Manufacturers use the low upfront printer price as a loss leader and recover profit on consumables. Refillable ink tank printers and remanufactured cartridges are the two main ways to escape that pricing model.
Final Verdict: Which All-in-One Printer Should You Buy?
After four months of testing 32 models, our team has a clear shortlist for the best all-in-one printers in 2026. The Epson EcoTank ET-2800 wins the editor’s choice slot because it delivers the lowest ink cost per page, a generous two-year ink supply in the box, and a setup experience that does not require an IT degree. For home offices that need fax and auto duplex, the Canon PIXMA TR8620a is the better pick. For small businesses with serious volume, the HP OfficeJet Pro 6978 has the speed and mobile app polish to handle the workload.
If you want help choosing between specific models, our sublimation printer guide covers photo-quality options, and our receipt printer guide covers point-of-sale setups. For specialty printing like edible images on cakes, the edible printer roundup is worth a read.
Whatever model you choose from this list, skip the third-party cartridges for the warranty period, keep the firmware updated, and run a test page every couple of weeks if you own an inkjet. That small habit will extend the life of the print heads and keep your best all-in-one printer running smoothly for years to come.