Are you looking for the most convenient printer to use, at the most affordable prices? Well then, there's no need to look much further; printers have now become a fairly inexpensive purchase, but the sheer number of companies in the market makes finding the best one a bit difficult.
This article will help you find the best printers under $50 that best fits in with your needs and requirements. The printers in this article have been chosen meticulously, keeping in mind the diversified needs of the many.
In this article, you will find a buying guide that should help you out when it comes to choosing one that'll provide the most value to you.
10 Best Printers Under $50
Deciding on which printer to buy in this market can be a tough and overwhelming decision. Choosing a printer from the key players themselves has become a difficult task due to the sheer magnitude of their product line.
To make your life easy, we've made a diverse compilation of printers to buy; these are some of the top reviewed products you will find.
1. HP ENVY 5055 Wireless All-in-One Photo Printer
HP is one of the biggest names in the printer industry, known for being the best for home printer solutions. The machines they produce are not only reliable but also provide quick and accurate prints every time.
These printers are also widely known for producing some of the most color-accurate prints, at the sharpest quality, yet the most affordable price.
With the Envy 5055 Inkjet printer, HP has maintained functionality as a top priority; the printer is a one-stop printing solution for homes. The 5055 can copy, scan, and print, making the 5055 an excellent addition for those of you working from home.
But that's not all; it also provides an immense amount of support with the kid's projects.
Abilities like wireless printing and printing enabled through HP's smartphone application allow those connected to print while not having to be in the same room.
Additionally, the application allows you to set-up the printer without having to go through complicated technical hassles. Moreover, HP also offers a 24/7 customer service hotline for any other issues.
The printer also includes a 2.2-inch mono-color touch screen; this adds improved and quicker controls. With its sleek design and minimalistic looks, the printer easily fits in with most rooms decors. But what makes this printer really stands out is its dual-sided and borderless printing set-up for quicker and detailed prints.
2. Canon TS5120 Wireless All-In-One Printer with Scanner and Copier
The Canon TS5120 really stands-out in these printers under $50 review s; this highly functional printer, with its all-in-one abilities, is a great choice for your home. Be it the kid's school project or your work; this printer will have you covered nonetheless.
Moreover, the 40 pages per minute (b&w) print rate is another bonus that ties this printer down to being a great choice. Simplicity is one of the key aspects of this printer; its simple to use control pad with the 2.5-inch screen allows easy and quick copy and printing.
There's also the added benefit of the clickable buttons; this helps avoid touch-screen lag makes things more convenient and accurate. However, the buttons do take a while to get used to, which can be a hassle.
But the buttons aren't the only way you can control this printer; the printer also comes equipped with other wireless features. Features like Wifi, Bluetooth, and cloud connectivity, make the printer easy to access from almost any device.
Thus, you can use your android or ios smartphone/tablets as well to get mind-blowing high-quality prints.
Canon is extremely proud of the color printing options they have on offer; once paired with your Pixma cloud, you can directly print out some stunning pictures.
Lastly, the printer, with its extremely minimalistic design, makes a great pair for any home or office. The relatively compact size of the printer adds in as a bonus, not taking up your entire desk space.
3. Canon PIXMA TR4520 Wireless All in One Printer
Getting the best printers for under $50 might have seemed like a joke just a few years back, but with improving technology, this has become quite the reality. And this reality is being followed by the PIXMA TR4520.
While the printer comes at a bargain, it's the best investment in office equipment you can make, something that'll last you for years to come.
Quick printing is one of the necessities for office work; it reduces slack time and ensures the office is running as efficiently as possible. This situation is where the TR 4520 comes in; with its immensely high printing rates, you can make sure everything's going smoothly.
The overhead copy tray is a great addition allowing stacks of originals to be copied in minutes.
For the copy, you don't have to align each page to the scanner; the printer does all that itself. But that's not all; to make sure everybody has useability of the printer, you have an array of wireless settings that can be utilized. Thus, making the office environment much clearer by keeping the office away from a wiring clutter
These wireless services extend from Wifi, Bluetooth, cloud, to Alexa and other methods of connecting. Thus, you don't need to rely on only your computers while printing; the task can also be carried out by your phone/tablet.
The additional full dot matrix LCD, with the buttons, also gives you on-spot controls, omitting the need for computers for using some features.
4. HP OfficeJet 5255 Wireless All-in-One Printer
In our printers under $50 review s, office printers play a significant segment, which is why we're presenting another top performer in that category. The HP Officejet 5255 is a printer that's some of the highest benchmarks in this market for office printers. Starting from the machines looks, durable and reliable build, to the functionality, this has it all.
Unlike most other printers you've seen until now, this all-in-one machine provides not 3 but 4 crucial functions. Apart from the regular printing, copying, and scanning, this printer also includes a faxing function.
Thus, making this the go-to printer for the needs of larger offices looking for quicker and more efficient methods of sending out files to other departments.
The most brilliant aspect of this printer, apart from the stunning looks, is the 35-page auto document feeder. This feeder makes one of the most gruesome chores of making a copy into a method that requires only a few pushes of some buttons.
Added to that, the double-sided printing paired with this should allow you to save out on pages and be environmental.
Connectivity options for this printer are off the top as well. The dual-band wifi system means that wifi connectivity remains the utmost best, giving you the fastest printing speeds.
Other methods, such as Bluetooth, Cloud, and wired connections, are also available; these ensure convenience to the max, with mobile printing capabilities as well.
5. Canon Pixma MG3620 Wireless All-In-One Color Inkjet Printer
Home printers are a critical fixture to have, especially in times like this, with the pandemic going on. Be it for the kid's projects, your pictures, or just for office and business use, a printer is a piece of equipment that should be present in every house.
And for this category, the Canon Pixma MG3620 falls as one of the best printers under $50.
A good home printer needs to be easy and speedy to use, something that can be controlled by everyone at home through most devices.
Thus, the Canon MG3620 fits perfectly into this category; its wireless printing abilities enables the device to be connected to most android and ios devices. Other mediums for connection like, NFC, Cloud Print are also available.
Additionally, it's also super simple when setting up the printer, all you need is the Canon app installed onto your device, and you should be good to go.
The inkjet printer has quite a few other features up its sleeve; the printer supports a wide range of paper stock. Meaning, you can use this device for a multitude of print formats, great for business use.
Another feature included in this printer is its doubles sided printing abilities, thus cutting down on the number of pages used. Thus the printer fairs well for the environment, and also makes the printing task less tiresome and quicker.
The machine may not include an LCD screen; however, it does come with tactile buttons for quick controls.
6. HP DeskJet 3639 Wireless All-in-One Printer
The DeskJet Series from HP is one of their highest selling items for home printing solutions. These printers are some of the most reliable and accurate machines HP has made, and the DeskJet 3639 lives up to those expectations. Thus, earning this inkjet printer a spot on our top 10 list of printers under $50 review s.
Apart from being extremely affordable, the printer actually has quite a lot in store, starting from the printer being an all-in-one system. This system means the printer can print, copy, and scan, perfect for providing complete home utility.
Additionally, the printer supports a wide variety of paper types and quality of prints meeting all your needs.
Not only is the printer covers most paper types, but it also covers a large number of connectivity issues most wired printers have. The wireless abilities of the printer should allow you to connect to your PC's, laptops, as well as your phones and tablets directly. Thus, enabling easy printing and making sure everyone at home can print from any room.
The color prints from HP are some of the most staggering prints you'll find coming from any printer. Its borderless printing options enable you to print out pictures and flyers seamlessly, thus a great pick for school projects.
Furthermore, the compact size of the machine, its tactile buttons, and minimalistic look overall make the printer worth its investment.
7. Epson Expression Home XP-4100 Wireless Color Printer with Scanner and Copier
We've talked about reliability before; however, none compare to that of Japanese technology brought in with an Epson printer. The Japanese have been a leading name in the department of trust and quality, a culture that seems to shine in with Epson.Thus, in the category of reliability, we consider Epson XP-4100 to be the best printers under $50.
The XP-4100 is not only a printer that you can trust; it's also one that comes with a pool of features and a great build. Keeping up with technology, Epson has tried to keep up to date; thus, you'll find that the printer comes with wireless connectivity as well.
Furthermore, the wireless and the wifi-direct are both brilliant ways for you to connect most of your device to the printer.
But wireless connectivity is not all; the printer also includes a voice activation system. So, you no longer have to rely on Alexa or Google Home for your voice-activated printing needs; the printer will fulfill these on its own.
You're also getting a 2.4" color LCD screen for quicker control, which, paired with the control buttons, gives you easier control.
The compact size of the machine further makes the perfect addition to any home office, snuggly fitting onto your desk.
Other perks from this machine include its auto dual-sided printing system; this makes printing using the XP-4100 much quicker and environmentally friendly. Thus, for the price you're paying, this overall is a beautiful machine.
8. HP DeskJet 3755 Compact All-in-One Wireless Printer
The DeskJet 3755 is an upgrade to HPs DeskJet 3639 that we've reviewed previously in this article. Most features included in the DeskJet 3755 are similar to the previous version, including the essential all-in-one build of the machine.
However, in this build, HP stepped up their innovation to build a product that could handle the heavy usage.
One of the key differences you'll notice with this printer, compared to the last one, is the change in color. Moving out from the black accent that HP followed to a sleek white with a seagrass accent really gives a fresh look to the printer and your home décor.
Apart from the aesthetic appeal of the printer, you also have its revamped design that sets this printer apart.
The key change to the design seems to be with the scanner, converted from a tray system to an easy paper flow system. Once the original copy is placed onto HP's rugged 60-page input tray, it is automatically pulled through the scanner.
Once scanned, the perfect copy of the original is printed within seconds, which you'll find on the 25-sheet output tray.
Thus, making the copy and scan process on this updated printer much faster than any other DeskJet you might have seen before. Another quick aspect of the printer is its fast speed wireless and direct wifi connectivity.
These forms of connection make your life easier and will allow you to operate the machine remotely, for comfortable and efficient work.
9. Canon TS202 Inkjet Photo Printer
If you're on the lookout for the sleekest looking photo printer on the market, then the Canon TS202 is one of the best printers under 50.
What makes this printer stand out from most other printers you've read about in the article is its Hybrid Ink Technology, allowing the printer to give out some stunningly detailed images and documents.
For those looking for an office printer, this one might not be the one for you. The TS202 is more of a home printer; its high-intensity color usage tech makes the printer great for printing out pictures. These wouldn't be a good fit for the office as it might seem a bit more expensive, but for home use, the printer is completely affordable.
What really would attract anyone about this printer is its an immensely minimalistic yet beautiful design. The black, sleek, and compact printer is the perfect looking machine to fit into your home office.
Apart from the aesthetics, the TS202 is also brilliant for your regular printing requirements, which can be met easily at the printers' quick-paced printing.
Unlike the other printers, this isn't a printer that comes with wireless connectivity or an all-in-one feature system. Instead, this printer defines itself by accomplishing only its key task, but it does that task splendidly, unlike most others.
All in all, being the cheapest of the bunch, this printer can also be considered a true money's worth product.
10. Brother HL-L2320D Mono Laser Printer
If your needs from a printer are limited to just printing out documents in Black & White in large quantities, then an inkjet printer won't do you much good. In this case, you can actually move ahead and go for a laser printer.
These printers may seem more expensive than inkjet printers; however, their value is paid off over the years with the money you save on ink.
The Brother's HL-L2320D, in this case, is the best printer for $50, as this is one of the most effective laser printers you can get in this range.
Even though the Brother falls under the lower end range for laser printers, the machine can do an exceptional amount of quality work. The electrophotographic laser system takes up the load here, providing high-speed print.
These speeds can go all the way up to printing around 30 pages every minute in B&W, great for office looking for printing out large documents. Each print is also done meticulously, making sure the print comes out exactly as it is supposed to.
Such high-speed printing, paired with the accuracy of laser printing, can help lower your printing costs in the long-run.
Other features on this printer include an automatic double-sided printing system; this should let you make out quicker prints and be environmentally friendlier.
The system should also allow you to print without having to fix the alignment of the paper, making the tedious job of printing much simpler as well.
What to Look for Before You Buy?
Before finalizing your purchase, make sure the printer you're purchasing fits in perfectly with your printing needs. To make sure you're getting the right device for yourself, we've built this buying guide. This guide includes all necessary aspects you need to keep in mind to get your money's worth.
Printing Needs
The best printers under 50 dollars are somewhat limited to what they can perform; however, most of them can complete the same task. However, the difference is how effectively they can perform these tasks and how accurately they can complete them.
These factors will allow you to determine the quality of the printer and the type of task you can get out of it.
Home Printers
These are printers that have great color printing advantages and use deep color works to get the sharpest images are great for printing out photographs. However, these printers won't do you much good in an office setting due to high ink usage making things expensive.
Additionally, the added emphasis on color makes the printers slower and takes much more time to print out a document, making them inefficient of office use. However, these aspects would come to perfect use at home. They come in handy when you need to print out photographs while completing school projects.
Office Printers
In the case of office use, the printers in use need to be ready for heavy use. For these printers, try and look for a machine that comes with a high ppm (prints per minute) rate for both black and white and color printing. The faster the rate, the more efficient the printer will be.
You can also check out for double-sided printing options (also known as duplex printing. This feature should allow you to print on two pages automatically, cutting down on printing paper needs, and also making the process much more efficient.
Also, look out for all-in-one printers with easy copying and scanning to cover your office's printing, copying, and scanning needs.
Ink Usage
Even though you're getting these printers for an affordable price, the one cost you'll have to keep bearing is the cost of switching out ink cartridges. This incurred cost on ink is one that may end up costing you more than the printer itself in the long-run.
To make sure you don't end up with a printer with ink cartridges that end up costing you a fortune, do your homework. Try finding out the cost of ink cartridges before purchasing the printer itself. Another factor you can consider is the amount of ink the printer uses.
Make sure the printer you're getting is a newer model, with features that allow ink to be used more economically. The more economically your printer utilizes your ink, the greater number of prints you'll be able to make.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How often should an inkjet printer be used to avoid ink drying up?
To avoid switching out your ink cartridges due to dried-up ink, make sure to run your printer every 2-3 weeks. Frequent usage will not only keep the ink from drying but will also make sure the gears of the printer run smoothly and aren't clogged up by dust.
2. Should I get an inkjet or laser printer for home use?
If you're only looking to use your printer at home, then the inkjet printers will be more useful than the Laser ones. These printers are not limited to just b&w; they can also print out in color as well.
Laser printers that do have color options might turn out to be much more expensive and might seem like a hassle if you use your printer irregularly
3. Why are the branded inks so expensive?
Inks can be extremely expensive and can cost you more than the printer itself over the years of usage. The reason behind the ink being this expensive is the technology that goes behind them; OEM inks are tested and trialed to ensure unhindered quality in every cartridge.
4. How long do I have before my printer ink expires?
Most printer inks have a run life of around 1-2 years before it expires. However, these values are only for ink that is being used at regular intervals. If these inks are left unused, they'll lose their properties much more quickly.
5. Which printer is cheaper to run laser or inkjet?
If you're only looking for short-run costs, then the inkjet printer is a much more affordable option due to the cheaper printers and cartridges.
However, this affordability lasts only for the short-run; in the long-run, laser printers prove to be much more effective. With the higher number of prints that can be made using them, the printer becomes more effective in the long-run.
Final WordsWith the ever-improving technology, electrical components seem to be getting more compact and more efficient as they move ahead. But that's not all, the most effective electronics are also becoming much cheaper, especially for printers. So if you're looking for the best printers under $50, you can expect some exceptional equipment.
