Quick answer- The Brother DCP-L2640DW is the pick for occasional black-and-white printing, since laser toner does not dry out.
- For frequent color printing, reviewers favor ink tank models such as the Epson EcoTank ET-4950 and Brother MFC-T780DW, with the Canon Pixma G3270 as the lower-cost option.
- The Brother MFC-J4355DW is a cartridge middle ground, and subscription and firmware terms deserve a read before you sign up.
Choosing a printer for home use comes down to how often you print and what you print. This guide compares inkjet, laser and ink tank models using reviews from Wirecutter, RTINGS, PCMag, TechRadar and Consumer Reports, all read on October 22, 2026. It also covers cost per page, subscription ink programs, firmware lock complaints and wireless setup. Prices change often, so treat any figure as a snapshot from the named review.
1. How to choose a printer for home use
Start with how often you print. Wirecutter's guide, updated October 1, 2026, says a black-and-white laser all-in-one is the right call for most people, and notes that a laser will not clog if it sits idle for weeks or months. TechRadar's ink tank guide agrees, saying people who print only every few months are probably better off with a laser or a cartridge inkjet.
Reviewers describe the three printer types this way.
- Laser: TechRadar says toner is cheap because cartridges yield many pages, and lasers excel at documents, though they are typically weaker at color images and will not print on photo paper.
- Cartridge inkjet: TechRadar describes these as cheap to buy but costly to feed, since a new set of cartridges can cost more than the printer.
- Ink tank: TechRadar says these cost more up front but use cheap bottled ink, so they suit people who print a lot.
Then look at cost per page, not just the sticker price. PCMag cautions that total cost of ownership is what matters, because a cheaper printer with pricier ink can end up costing more. Wirecutter measured about 8.2 cents per color page for its cartridge inkjet pick, while PCMag's figures for two tank printers below are about a cent or less.
Check ink subscriptions and firmware behavior before you buy. A December 2020 Consumer Reports article reported that HP Instant Ink cartridges stop working when the billing cycle ends after you cancel, and that HP firmware updates called dynamic security can block third-party cartridges. Ars Technica reported on March 12, 2026 that a trade group of cartridge remanufacturers criticized HP firmware released January 29, 2026, and noted that the group may be biased because its members profit from aftermarket cartridges.
Finally, consider wireless setup. TechRadar found the Epson EcoTank ET-4950 connected readily to a 5GHz network, while Wirecutter timed about 20 minutes of setup for the Brother MFC-J4355DW compared with 10 to 15 minutes for other printers it tested.
At a glance
| Pick | Best for | Key spec | Reviewed by |
|---|
| Brother DCP-L2640DW | Occasional mono printing | Laser, 3.1 cents per page (Wirecutter) | Wirecutter, Consumer Reports |
| Brother MFC-J4355DW | Light color and fax use | Cartridge inkjet, 8.2 cents per color page | Wirecutter, RTINGS |
| Epson EcoTank ET-4950 | Busy homes needing fax | Tank, 1.1 cents per color page (PCMag) | PCMag, TechRadar |
| Brother MFC-T780DW | Lowest running cost | Tank, about 3 years of ink included | Wirecutter, TechRadar |
| Canon Pixma G3270 | Budget tank printing | Tank, 0.8 cent per color page (PCMag) | PCMag, TechRadar |
| Epson EcoTank ET-3950 | ET-4950 without fax | Tank, duplex scanning feeder | PCMag, RTINGS |
My take (20 years in IT): Decide by how often you print before you look at models. If a printer sits idle for weeks, the reviewers' point about laser toner not drying out is the part that saves you the most hassle.
2. Top picks for home use, part 1: laser and cartridge inkjet
Brother DCP-L2640DW: Best for occasional printing
Best for: Households that print black-and-white documents now and then and want a printer that is ready when needed.
What reviewers say: Wirecutter (updated October 1, 2026) names it the best printer for home use, calling it reliable and cheap to run, and lists a cost of 3.1 cents per page. It clocked about 26.1 pages per minute on single-sided PDFs against Brother's claim of 36, and found small graphics hard to read. Consumer Reports' product page (undated, read October 22, 2026) rated text quality as excellent, estimated 5.4 cents per text page using a $61 toner cartridge that yielded about 1,133 pages, and said mono graphics show some obvious defects. The two cost-per-page figures differ, so treat the real cost as a range rather than a single number.
- Pros: No clogging from idle time per Wirecutter, automatic two-sided printing, a 250-sheet tray and a document feeder per Consumer Reports, and a purchase price Consumer Reports described as low at about $210.
- Cons: No color and no fax, a basic two-line screen, and a one-year warranty per Wirecutter.
See Brother DCP-L2640DW on Amazon →
Brother MFC-J4355DW: Best color inkjet for light use
Best for: People who want color, a document feeder and fax in a compact all-in-one without paying for a tank model.
What reviewers say: Wirecutter (October 1, 2026) calls it the best basic all-in-one, listing it at a little over $200 at its writing, with sharp text and good glossy photos. It estimates roughly 1.5 to 1.7 cents per black page and 8.2 cents per color page with the highest-yield cartridges, about $250 per set. RTINGS (reviewed May 6, 2026, writing modified October 6, 2026) found it a great fit for home use with high page yields for a cartridge model, sharp documents and excellent scans, but noticed color inaccuracies in photos. In its October 15, 2026 home list, RTINGS moved it to a notable mention behind the Epson EcoTank ET-2410, saying its cartridges yield fewer pages.
Wirecutter also describes Brother's Refresh EZ Print subscription at $2.50 to $30 per month, which charges a flat rate per page and adds a year of warranty. It says black pages cost more under the plan than buying ink as needed, so you need to print a lot of color for it to pay off on cost alone.
- Pros: Inexpensive for an all-in-one, sharp text, and a document feeder.
- Cons: A clunky button interface, a longer setup, a whistling noise while printing per Wirecutter, and possible clogs if unused per RTINGS.
See Brother MFC-J4355DW on Amazon →
3. Top picks for home use, part 2: ink tank printers
Epson EcoTank ET-4950: Best ink tank all-in-one for busy homes
Best for: Frequent printers who also need double-sided scanning and fax.
What reviewers say: TechRadar (review dated January 23, 2026) recommends it highly, citing about three years of included ink by Epson's estimate, automatic two-sided printing and scanning, and a quick connection to a 5GHz network. It also notes nothing stops you from using third-party ink. PCMag (August 28, 2025) put the list price at $499.99, estimated 0.29 cent per mono page and 1.1 cents per color page, and said the ET-3950 is the better value at $80 less if you do not need fax. The outlets disagree on photos: TechRadar said test photos on premium glossy paper really popped, while PCMag found photos at the low-to-typical end of drugstore quality.
- Pros: Low running cost, a 30-sheet document feeder that scans both sides, and easy ink filling per TechRadar.
- Cons: One paper tray and a small 2.4-inch screen per both outlets, and no Bluetooth or USB host port per TechRadar.
See Epson EcoTank ET-4950 on Amazon →
Brother MFC-T780DW: Best for the lowest running cost
Best for: People who want very cheap prints and the option to print on cardstock.
What reviewers say: Wirecutter (October 1, 2026) lists it at $380 at its writing and says Brother estimates the included ink lasts about three years, with replacement sets around $50. It found text clear but noted clipped letter tails at 12 points and the slowest tank speeds it tested, with color averaging about one page per minute. TechRadar (review read October 22, 2026, undated) praised detailed print quality and cardstock handling up to 300gsm, though it noted smaller tanks, bottles that do not reseal and a grayer black. The two sources differ on speed, since TechRadar called the quoted 16 pages per minute quite fast for an inkjet while Wirecutter's own timing was slow.
- Pros: Very low per-page cost per Wirecutter and TechRadar, a document feeder, and a three-year warranty per Wirecutter.
- Cons: A high purchase price, no touchscreen, and slow color printing per Wirecutter.
See Brother MFC-T780DW on Amazon →
Canon Pixma G3270: Best low-cost ink tank
Best for: Light to moderate home printing on a tighter budget.
What reviewers say: PCMag (review undated, read October 22, 2026; roundup note dated August 19, 2026) listed it at $229.99, with 0.3 cent per mono page and 0.8 cent per color page, and enough included ink for nearly 6,000 mono or 7,700 color pages. TechRadar's ink tank guide (read October 22, 2026) found bright, consistent color but called it unexceptional and noted a lack of automatic two-sided printing. Both flagged the 100-sheet paper capacity, and PCMag added that it has no document feeder and prints slowly.
- Pros: Low running cost, Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Direct mobile printing, and a compact body per PCMag.
- Cons: Manual duplexing only, a flatbed-only scanner, and slow speed.
See Canon Pixma G3270 on Amazon →
Narrowing it down? Prices and availability change often, so check the current listing.
4. Budget picks, alternatives and who should skip
Epson EcoTank ET-3950: Best alternative if you skip fax
Best for: Document-heavy homes that want the ET-4950's features without fax.
What reviewers say: PCMag calls it its top pick for micro and home offices (roundup updated August 19, 2026) and, in its ET-4950 review, says it offers the same capabilities except fax at a lower price. RTINGS (October 15, 2026) names it the best upper mid-range home printer, praising sharp documents and a duplex-scanning feeder, and warns that like any inkjet it can clog if left unused for long periods.
- Pros: Low running cost, automatic duplex printing and scanning, and Wi-Fi, USB and Ethernet.
- Cons: Clogging risk for infrequent users and a single paper tray per PCMag.
See Epson EcoTank ET-3950 on Amazon →
On price alone, be careful. PCMag calculated that a cartridge-based Epson WorkForce Pro WF-4830 cost an extra $39 per 1,000 mono pages and $127 per 1,000 color pages compared with the ET-4950, so a low purchase price pays off mainly if you print little.
Who should skip buying: If you print a handful of pages a year, TechRadar suggests an ink tank is probably not for you because ink can dry out and clog nozzles. If you rarely fax, Wirecutter suggests an online fax service instead of paying for a built-in fax. If you plan to use third-party ink, Consumer Reports suggests HP dynamic security models are a risk.
5. Setup, ownership and privacy tips
Install the maker's app before you add the printer to Wi-Fi. TechRadar recommended Epson's Smart Panel app first for the ET-4950 and Brother's Connect app for the MFC-T780DW, and it found the T780DW's lack of Bluetooth made setup slower than HP's Bluetooth-enabled model. TechRadar and PCMag both suggest running the alignment or test pages.
Keep inkjets and tank printers in regular use. TechRadar's guide recommends printing at least one color page a week and leaving the printer powered on so automatic cleaning can run. It also says many entry-level tank printers have a built-in waste ink pad that can be costly to repair, so check the spec sheet for a user-replaceable maintenance box.
Read subscription terms before enrolling. Consumer Reports said Instant Ink members must keep the printer connected to the internet and keep a card on file, and an HP Support Community reply from February 2026 told a user who canceled that the subscription cartridges are disabled by design and must be replaced with standard retail cartridges. Wirecutter notes Brother's plan is a flat per-page fee, so compare it with buying ink as needed.
Be thoughtful about firmware. Consumer Reports said HP's dynamic security updates are automatic, so many users only notice when a third-party cartridge stops working.
Ready to compare options? Prices and availability change often, so check the current listing.
My take (20 years in IT): Before you buy, read the subscription and firmware terms as carefully as the spec sheet. Cost per page matters more than the sticker price, so do the math for your own monthly page count.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a laser, inkjet or ink tank printer best for home use?
Wirecutter (updated October 1, 2026) recommends a black-and-white laser for most people, mainly because it will not clog when idle. TechRadar says ink tank printers suit frequent printing because the bottled ink is cheap, but they are a poor fit if you print only every few months.
Are printer ink subscriptions worth it?
Wirecutter says Brother's Refresh EZ Print plan charges a flat per-page rate that makes black pages costlier than buying ink as needed, so it pays off mainly for heavy color printing. Consumer Reports reported that HP Instant Ink cartridges stop working after you cancel.
Can a firmware update stop my printer from using third-party ink?
Consumer Reports described HP's dynamic security firmware as capable of rejecting third-party cartridges, and Ars Technica reported in March 2026 on a trade group's complaints about HP firmware released in January 2026. TechRadar noted nothing stops buyers from using third-party ink in the Epson EcoTank ET-4950.
How reliable is wireless printing on these models?
Reviewers reported smooth wireless setups: TechRadar found the Epson EcoTank ET-4950 connected readily to 5GHz Wi-Fi, and Consumer Reports called Wi-Fi setup on the Brother DCP-L2640DW relatively easy. Wirecutter noted the Brother MFC-J4355DW took about 20 minutes to set up, longer than other printers it tested.
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Last updated: October 22, 2026.
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