Does your printer always run out at the most inconvenient moments because you forget to buy new ink? Then an ink subscription might be something for you. With such a subscription, you receive new ink at home before you run out. Do you want to know whether an ink subscription is right for you and which provider you should choose? Then read this article.
You can take out a print subscription with the manufacturer of your printer. You choose a package that matches how much you print each month. The printer keeps track of when the ink is almost empty, and you receive new ink at home before the cartridge runs out. For this service, you usually pay a fixed amount per month. If you no longer need the subscription, you can easily cancel it.
Most major ink providers have their own ink subscription. Whether you choose HP Instant Ink, Brother EcoPro, Canon Pixma Print Plan or the Epson ReadyPrint subscription, there is always a plan that suits your needs. Most subscriptions are very flexible. Want to know more? Below we take a closer look at each subscription. This way you can find out which ink subscription is best for your inkjet printer or all-in-one printer.
Owners of an HP printer may have known about the existence of an ink subscription for the longest time. HP was one of the first brands to come onto the market with this type of ink solution. Their subscription is called HP Instant Ink and for this you pay a fixed amount per month, depending on the number of pages you expect to print. You may carry over any unused pages to the next month. There is a limit to this, however. When you reach a maximum of 3 times your monthly number of pages, this rule no longer applies. HP Instant Ink is available for both ink and toners. The subscription is therefore also suitable for a laser printer.
With EcoPro, Brother has introduced a convenient ink subscription. For a small monthly fee, you always have enough ink for your Brother printer. Just like with HP Instant Ink, you pay for the number of pages you expect to print, and you can carry over unused pages to the next month. In addition, Brother helps the environment: you can have used Brother cartridges recycled free of charge so that the CO2 emissions from your printer and the delivery of cartridges are compensated.
Canon has a special subscription for its Pixma printers, called the Canon Pixma Print Plan. For a fixed amount per month, you receive ink based on how many pages you print. When the ink in your Canon printer is almost empty, Canon automatically sends you new cartridges. You can carry over unused pages for one month, giving you some leeway in your print volume. Extra pages outside your bundle cost extra per page. You can easily manage your subscription via your Canon account, so you always have insight into your print usage and can adjust your plan if necessary.
Epson also has an ink subscription, called ReadyPrint. This subscription works on the basis of the number of pages you print. As soon as your Epson printer detects that the ink is almost empty, you automatically receive new ink at home. Epson offers 3 different plans: ReadyPrint EcoTank, ReadyPrint Flex and ReadyPrint Go. Each plan is designed for different printing needs. With ReadyPrint you can carry over unused pages for 2 months. With the ReadyPrint Go plan you are extra flexible, because you do not need a monthly contract.
An ink subscription has many advantages for people who print frequently and have a consistent ink usage:
| HP Instant Ink | Brother EcoPro | Canon Pixma Print Plan | Epson ReadyPrint | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Set price per month | Set price per month | Set price per month | Set price per month |
| Unused pages | Take with you up to 3x monthly limit | Carry up to 600 pages | Can be carried over for one month | Can be carried over for 2 months |
| Automatic delivery | check true | check true | check true | check true |
| Changeable subscription | check true | Yes, monthly | check true | check true |
If you are considering taking out an ink subscription, it’s useful to first look at how much you print per month on average. Based on this, you can choose the most suitable subscription. All subscriptions are flexible, so you can adjust your plan if you start printing more or less. If sustainability is important to you, look at environmentally friendly subscription options such as those from Brother. Compare the costs and benefits and choose the subscription that suits you best.
