10 Best Printers Under $50 – Reviews and Buying Guide 2026

What's the best printer under $50 in 2026 — one that actually delivers crisp text, reliable wireless, and won't bleed ink all over documents the moment something important needs printing? We've tested dozens of budget inkjets, and our top pick is the HP DeskJet 2755e — a wireless all-in-one that punches well above its price tag for everyday home printing.

Finding a capable printer for under $50 is harder than it sounds. Ink costs, wireless reliability, and print quality vary wildly across this price range. Our team spent weeks comparing print speeds, mobile connectivity, cartridge costs, and real-world output quality to narrow down which models genuinely earn their place on a home desk. Whether home users need to print school forms, recipes, travel documents, or the occasional photo, this list covers the best options available right now in 2026.

Our shortlist focuses on models from HP, Canon, and Epson — the three brands that consistently dominate this budget tier. We evaluated connectivity options, paper handling, print resolution, and long-term ink costs. We also cross-referenced buyer feedback from thousands of verified purchasers to catch real-world issues that lab testing misses. All seven printers on this list are available through our printers and scanners category, and every pick has earned its ranking on merit. Here's what we found.

Top Rated Picks of 2026

• #
  Preview
  Product
  Rating
• Bestseller No. 1
  
  HP DeskJet 2755e Wireless Color Inkjet-Printer, Print, scan, Copy, Easy Setup, Mobile Printing, Best-for Home, 6 Month Instant Ink Trial Included, White (Packaging May Vary)
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• Bestseller No. 2
  
  Canon Pixma MG2522 All-in-One Inkjet Printer, Scanner & Copier
  Rating:

  
  
• Bestseller No. 3
  
  Canon PIXMA TS3720 Wireless All-in-One Printer for Basic Home Printing, White
  Rating:

  
  
• Bestseller No. 4
  
  Canon PIXMA MG3620 Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer with Mobile and Tablet Printing, White
  Rating:

  
  
• Bestseller No. 5
  
  HP DeskJet 4255e Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer, Scanner, Copier, Best-for-home, 3 month Instant Ink trial included. This printer is only 2.4 ghz capable. AI-enabled (588S6A)
  Rating:

  
  
• Bestseller No. 6
  
  Canon PIXMA TR4720 All-in-One Wireless Printer, Home Use with Auto Document Feeder, Mobile Printing and Built-in Fax, Black
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• Bestseller No. 7
  
  Epson Expression Home XP-4200 Wireless Color All-in-One Printer with Scan Copy, Automatic 2-Sided Printing, Borderless Photos and 2.4" Colorfull Display - Black
  Rating:

  
  

In-Depth Reviews

1. HP DeskJet 2755e Wireless Color Inkjet Printer — Best Overall

The HP DeskJet 2755e is our top pick in the under-$50 category for 2026, and it earns that position on consistent performance rather than marketing hype. It handles print, scan, and copy with 1200 DPI resolution — more than enough for documents, school forms, recipes, and travel paperwork. The 60-sheet paper input capacity is modest but practical for light home use, and the printer handles labels, envelopes, cards, photo paper, and plain paper without fuss.

Wireless connectivity is where this model genuinely stands out. The dual-band Wi-Fi with self-reset capability keeps the connection stable even when the router reboots or the signal wavers — something we've seen budget printers fail at repeatedly. Mobile printing works seamlessly from iOS and Android, and the 64MB RAM keeps jobs moving at a reasonable clip without freezing mid-print. HP also bundles a 6-month Instant Ink trial, which significantly reduces ink costs during the first half year of ownership.

Setup is guided and quick — most home users have the printer running within ten minutes. The USB connectivity option is a useful fallback for anyone working in a space with unreliable Wi-Fi. Security features and automatic firmware updates are handled automatically, which matters for anyone using the printer on a shared home network. For straightforward everyday printing, no sub-$50 model we tested came close to this level of reliability.

Pros:

• 1200 DPI resolution produces clean, sharp documents
• Dual-band Wi-Fi with self-reset for stable wireless connections
• 6-month Instant Ink trial reduces upfront ink expenses
• 64MB RAM handles jobs smoothly without lag
• Supports multiple media types including photo paper and envelopes

Cons:

• 60-sheet paper tray fills quickly under moderate use
• No automatic document feeder for multi-page scanning

2. Canon PIXMA MG2522 All-in-One Inkjet Printer — Best for Simplicity

The Canon PIXMA MG2522 is the definition of a no-frills home printer. It connects via USB only — no wireless — which makes setup virtually foolproof and eliminates network-related printing headaches entirely. For home users who print from a single desktop or laptop and have no need for mobile printing, this is a perfectly capable machine. Print, scan, and copy functions are all present and reliable.

Canon's ink system on the MG2522 is straightforward, and support for optional XL ink cartridges is a genuine advantage. XL cartridges hold significantly more ink per dollar, which is critical when calculating long-term running costs on a budget printer. Our team has consistently recommended this approach for anyone doing moderate print volumes — fewer cartridge swaps and lower per-page costs. Anyone researching long-term ink economics should also check our guide to the best printers with long-lasting ink cartridges for deeper comparisons across price ranges.

Print quality is solid for documents and basic graphics. Photo output is acceptable but not the reason to buy this model. The MG2522 is best suited to anyone who wants a dependable, inexpensive printer that just works — plug it in, install the drivers, and start printing within minutes. It's one of the most reliable entry-level inkjets Canon has produced.

Pros:

• Extremely simple USB-based setup with no driver conflicts
• Compatible with XL ink cartridges for lower per-page cost
• Dependable Canon print/scan/copy performance
• Very compact footprint for small desks

Cons:

• No wireless connectivity — USB only
• Not suitable for mobile printing from smartphones or tablets

3. Canon PIXMA TS3720 Wireless All-in-One Printer — Best for Fast Setup

The Canon PIXMA TS3720 is Canon's answer to home users who want wireless convenience without complexity. Setup is genuinely fast — most users report being up and printing in under five minutes right out of the box. The streamlined out-of-box experience is one of the smoothest we've encountered at this price point. Print, copy, and scan are all included, covering the core needs of basic home printing.

Print speeds are competitive: 7.7 images per minute in black and 4 images per minute in color. For occasional home users printing letters, forms, and school documents, these speeds are more than adequate. Single-sided printing only is a limitation worth noting — anyone printing double-sided documents regularly will feel this constraint. The TS3720 is best positioned for light-duty tasks rather than any kind of volume printing.

Wireless setup connects quickly to home networks, and the printer supports mobile printing from iOS and Android devices. Canon's PIXMA Print app makes wireless job submission from smartphones straightforward. For homeschool families printing worksheets, activity sheets, and reference pages in 2026, the TS3720 is a capable choice — and our guide to the best printers for homeschool families covers more options in this same price tier.

Pros:

• Fastest out-of-box setup on our list — under five minutes
• 7.7 ppm black print speed is solid for light home use
• Wireless and mobile printing fully supported
• Compact and lightweight design

Cons:

• Single-sided printing only — no duplex
• Color print speed (4 ppm) feels slow for larger jobs

4. Canon PIXMA MG3620 Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer — Best for Mobile Printing

The Canon PIXMA MG3620 is the mobile printing champion of this list. It supports AirPrint, Google Cloud Print, NFC, Mopria, and the Canon Print app — covering every major mobile printing protocol on the market. Anyone printing from an iPhone, iPad, Android phone, or tablet finds this printer ready without additional configuration. The range of connectivity options is exceptional for a printer in this price range, and NFC tap-to-print is a standout convenience feature we don't see at this price often.

Paper compatibility is broad: plain paper, Canon High Resolution Paper, Photo Paper Pro Platinum, Photo Paper Plus Glossy II, Photo Paper Glossy, Photo Paper Plus Semi-Gloss, Matte Photo Paper, and US #10 envelopes all load without issues. This versatility makes the MG3620 a strong pick for anyone printing photos alongside everyday documents. Photo output quality on Canon's glossy media is noticeably better than similarly priced competitors.

OS compatibility is comprehensive — Windows XP through Windows 10 plus macOS X v10.7.5 through 10.10 — though macOS users on current systems should verify compatibility before purchasing. Wireless setup is quick and reliable. The MG3620 is one of the most well-rounded printers on this list and represents exceptional value for homes where multiple devices need printing access.

Pros:

• Widest mobile printing protocol support on the list (AirPrint, NFC, Mopria, Google Cloud Print)
• Excellent paper type compatibility including premium photo papers
• Strong photo print quality on Canon media
• Quick wireless setup

Cons:

• macOS compatibility limited to older OS versions — verify before buying
• No automatic document feeder

5. HP DeskJet 4255e Wireless All-in-One Color Inkjet Printer — Best AI-Assisted Printing

HP's DeskJet 4255e brings one feature to the under-$50 printer market that no other model on this list offers: AI-assisted print formatting. HP's AI engine analyzes web pages and email content before printing, removing clutter, eliminating blank pages, and adjusting layouts so the output matches what the user actually intended to print. In practice, this means fewer wasted pages and cleaner prints when pulling content directly from browsers. For anyone who regularly prints web articles, financial statements, or formatted emails, this is a genuinely useful capability.

Print speeds reach 8.5 ppm in black and 5.5 ppm in color, making it the fastest printer on this list for black-and-white output. The 60-sheet input tray and auto document feeder (ADF) round out a feature set that justifies its position near the top of our rankings. Copy, scan, and print functions are all present and perform well. The 3-month HP Instant Ink trial reduces ink costs during initial ownership.

One important caveat: this printer operates on 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi only. Homes with 5 GHz-only routers will need to verify compatibility or enable a 2.4 GHz band before setup. It's a limitation we flag clearly because it catches buyers off guard. Beyond that, the DeskJet 4255e is one of the most capable sub-$50 printers available in 2026 and earns a spot in the top half of our list.

Pros:

• HP AI removes clutter from web pages and emails before printing
• Fastest black print speed on the list at 8.5 ppm
• Auto document feeder for multi-page scanning and copying
• 3-month Instant Ink trial included

Cons:

• 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi only — no 5 GHz support
• Color print speed (5.5 ppm) is moderate

6. Canon PIXMA TR4720 All-in-One Wireless Printer — Best with Fax

The Canon PIXMA TR4720 is the only printer on this list with built-in fax capability, which makes it the clear recommendation for home offices that still deal with fax-dependent industries — healthcare, legal, real estate, and government forms. Getting a wireless 4-in-1 (print, copy, scan, fax) for under $50 is genuinely rare, and Canon delivers all four functions reliably on the TR4720.

Print speeds clock at 8.8 ipm in black and 4.4 ipm in color. The auto document feeder supports multi-page copy and scan jobs without requiring the user to feed pages manually — a meaningful convenience upgrade over most models in this price range. Power consumption is efficient at 7W active and a very low 0.8W in standby, which adds up to real savings for printers left powered on throughout the workday.

Ink cartridge installation and replacement is designed to be intuitive — Canon's cartridge access mechanism on the TR4720 is notably easier to navigate than budget printers from competing brands. Mobile printing is fully supported over wireless. This is the most fully featured 4-in-1 available at this price, and for any home office where faxing remains a requirement, it's the only logical choice on this list.

Pros:

• Only sub-$50 printer with built-in fax capability
• Auto document feeder for efficient multi-page jobs
• 8.8 ipm black print speed — fast for this price range
• Very low standby power consumption (0.8W)
• Easy ink cartridge access and replacement

Cons:

• Color print speed (4.4 ipm) is on the slower side
• Design prioritizes functionality over aesthetics

7. Epson Expression Home XP-4200 Wireless Color All-in-One Printer — Best for Photo Output

The Epson Expression Home XP-4200 is the photo quality leader of this roundup. Epson's imaging technology produces vibrant borderless photos alongside crisp documents, and the XP-4200 is the only printer on this list to offer automatic two-sided (duplex) printing — a feature that alone saves significant paper costs for heavy home users. The 2.4-inch color display is a genuine usability upgrade, making navigation and settings adjustments straightforward without needing a connected device.

Connectivity is comprehensive. The XP-4200 supports wireless printing from Android and iOS devices via the Epson Smart Panel app, Mopria Print Service, and Mopria Scan. Installation through the Smart Panel app is guided and intuitive. Borderless photo printing on glossy media produces results that genuinely rival printers in the $100+ range. For home users who print family photos, creative projects, or sticker sheets regularly, this model delivers the best image output of any sub-$50 printer we tested. Cricut crafters will find it relevant alongside our best printers for Cricut guide.

The automatic duplex printing is the differentiator here. No other printer at this price includes it as standard, and for anyone printing multi-page documents regularly, it cuts paper consumption in half. The XP-4200 is the most feature-complete sub-$50 printer available in 2026, and the only real trade-off is that Epson's ink replacement costs can run slightly higher than HP's subscription-based alternatives.

Pros:

• Automatic two-sided printing — unique at this price point
• Best photo output quality on this list, including borderless printing
• 2.4-inch color display for intuitive navigation
• Epson Smart Panel app for guided wireless setup and mobile printing
• Supports Mopria Print and Mopria Scan

Cons:

• Ink replacement costs are higher without a subscription plan
• Slightly larger footprint than the other models on this list

What to Look For When Buying Printers Under $50

Total Cost of Ownership — Not Just the Sticker Price

The printer's purchase price is only part of the equation. Ink cartridge costs, page yield, and subscription programs determine the real long-term expense. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, energy efficiency is also a hidden cost worth comparing — standby power consumption across models varies significantly. Our team always calculates cost-per-page before making a final recommendation. XL cartridges, where available, reduce per-page costs substantially. HP's Instant Ink and Epson's subscription programs offer predictable ink costs for moderate-volume home users.

• Calculate cost-per-page using cartridge price divided by rated page yield
• XL cartridges deliver far better value than standard-capacity versions
• Ink subscription programs (HP Instant Ink, Epson ReadyPrint) work well for consistent monthly print volumes
• Standby power draw adds up — look for under 1W in standby for energy efficiency

Wireless Connectivity and Mobile Printing

In 2026, wireless printing is the baseline expectation for any home printer. All-USB models like the Canon MG2522 serve single-computer setups well, but homes with multiple devices need wireless. Dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz support) provides the most flexibility, though most budget models only support 2.4 GHz — worth confirming before buying. NFC tap-to-print, AirPrint, and Mopria are the three mobile standards worth prioritizing for seamless iOS and Android compatibility.

• Confirm Wi-Fi band compatibility with home router before purchasing
• AirPrint is essential for iOS households; Mopria covers Android
• NFC support adds instant tap-to-print convenience
• USB remains the most reliable connection type for single-computer setups

Print Resolution and Output Quality

For standard home documents — letters, forms, school assignments — 600 DPI is adequate and 1200 DPI is excellent. Photo printing requires higher resolution and compatible photo paper. All inkjet printers on this list produce acceptable photo output, but the Epson XP-4200 leads noticeably for color richness and borderless print support. Anyone regularly printing cardstock, stickers, or specialty media should also check our best printers for cardstock guide for models tested on heavier stock.

• 1200 DPI is the standard for sharp text documents at this price tier
• Borderless photo printing requires specific media compatibility — confirm before buying
• Inkjet printers outperform laser at this price for color photo output

Paper Handling and Additional Features

Paper tray capacity, automatic document feeders (ADF), and duplex printing separate entry-level models from genuinely practical home printers. A 60-sheet tray is the norm at this price. An ADF allows multi-page scanning and copying without manual page feeding — the Canon TR4720 and HP DeskJet 4255e both include this feature at no extra cost. Automatic duplex printing is currently exclusive to the Epson XP-4200 in this price tier and represents significant paper savings over time.

• ADF enables hands-free multi-page scanning and copying
• Duplex printing cuts paper costs roughly in half for double-sided documents
• Fax capability matters for home offices in healthcare, legal, and real estate sectors
• 60-sheet input tray is the standard — larger trays appear above the $50 threshold

What People Ask

Key Takeaways

• The HP DeskJet 2755e is our best overall pick — dual-band Wi-Fi, 1200 DPI resolution, and a 6-month Instant Ink trial make it the most complete sub-$50 printer for everyday home use in 2026.
• The Epson Expression Home XP-4200 delivers the best photo output and the only automatic duplex printing at this price, making it the top choice for home users who print photos or high volumes of double-sided documents.
• The Canon PIXMA TR4720 is the definitive home office pick — built-in fax, auto document feeder, and an efficient 7W power draw cover professional needs that no other sub-$50 model matches.
• Ink costs often exceed the printer's purchase price within 12 months, so calculating cost-per-page and evaluating subscription programs is just as important as comparing hardware specs before buying.