Buying Guide
The Best Cartridge-Free Printers for a Better Desk Setup
We looked at 8 cartridge-free printers side by side, with the trade-offs that separate them and who each one suits.
By Jamie Cole, Lead Product Researcher
10 min read8 products evaluated
We may earn a commission from purchases made through links in this guide. Learn more.
Cartridge-free is a specific type of printer, not just a marketing phrase, it means a refillable ink tank system instead of small disposable cartridges that get swapped every few hundred pages.
99 workhorse built for sustained office volume.
Quick Picks
Our 8 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Best Overall
Epson EcoTank ET-2800 Wireless Cartridge-Free Supertank Printer (Black)
Households wanting the cheapest entry into cartridge-free printing
Our take Check price for Epson EcoTank ET-2800 Wireless Cartridge-Free Supertank Printer (Black) (opens in a new tab)
Best Color Match for Light Desks
Epson EcoTank ET-2800 Wireless Cartridge-Free Supertank Printer (White)
Buyers who want EcoTank economics with a lighter-colored finish
Our take Check price for Epson EcoTank ET-2800 Wireless Cartridge-Free Supertank Printer (White) (opens in a new tab)
Best for Home Office Volume
Epson EcoTank ET-3850 Wireless Cartridge-Free Supertank Printer
Home offices that need document feeding and wired networking alongside cheap ink
Our take Check price for Epson EcoTank ET-3850 Wireless Cartridge-Free Supertank Printer (opens in a new tab)
Best Budget Cartridge-Free Pick
Epson EcoTank ET-2400 Wireless Cartridge-Free Supertank Printer
Budget-conscious households who still want cartridge-free ink economics
Our take Check price for Epson EcoTank ET-2400 Wireless Cartridge-Free Supertank Printer (opens in a new tab)
Best for Auto Document Feeding
Epson EcoTank ET-4950 Wireless Cartridge-Free Supertank Printer
Home offices scanning multi-page documents regularly and wanting a touchscreen
Our take Check price for Epson EcoTank ET-4950 Wireless Cartridge-Free Supertank Printer (opens in a new tab)
Best for Fax and Ethernet
Epson EcoTank ET-4850 Wireless Cartridge-Free Supertank Printer
Small offices needing fax and Ethernet alongside cartridge-free ink
Our take Check price for Epson EcoTank ET-4850 Wireless Cartridge-Free Supertank Printer (opens in a new tab)
Best for Photo Quality
Canon PIXMA G620 Wireless MegaTank Photo All-in-One Printer
Buyers who print photos regularly alongside everyday documents
Our take Check price for Canon PIXMA G620 Wireless MegaTank Photo All-in-One Printer (opens in a new tab)
Best for Sustained Office Printing
Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5800 Wireless Cartridge-Free Supertank Printer
Offices printing hundreds of pages a month that want to eliminate cartridges entirely
Our take Check price for Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5800 Wireless Cartridge-Free Supertank Printer (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Best Overall1 of 8
Epson EcoTank ET-2800 Wireless Cartridge-Free Supertank Printer (Black) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The ET-2800 is Epson's entry point into cartridge-free printing, swapping disposable ink cartridges for four refillable tanks visible right on the front of the printer.
Best for
- Households wanting the cheapest entry into cartridge-free printing
Why we like it
Scan and copy are included alongside wireless printing, covering the basics most households need without extra bulk.
Ink bottles run far cheaper per page than cartridges once you're printing regularly, though the printhead on this model is integrated rather than separately replaceable, so treat routine nozzle checks as real maintenance rather than an optional step.
Bottled ink costs a fraction of cartridges per page.
Key dimensions & specs
- Cartridge-free EcoTank refillable ink system
- Color print, scan, and copy
- Wireless printing
- Includes ink bottles for setup
- Compact all-in-one design
Pros
- Lowest upfront price of the EcoTank picks in this list
- Bottled ink costs a fraction of cartridges per page
- Simple front-loading ink tank design
- Scan and copy included
Cons
- No automatic document feeder
- Integrated printhead means a clog can mean replacing the printer
- Higher upfront cost than a basic cartridge inkjet
Best Color Match for Light Desks2 of 8
Epson EcoTank ET-2800 Wireless Cartridge-Free Supertank Printer (White) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
This is the same ET-2800 as the black version above with a white finish that blends better into a light-colored desk setup or home office.
Best for
- Buyers who want EcoTank economics with a lighter-colored finish
Why we like it
Every internal spec, tank capacity, print speed, and ink cost per page, is identical to the black model.
Choose based on color preference alone rather than expecting any functional difference, both share the same integrated printhead and lack of an automatic document feeder.
Key dimensions & specs
- Cartridge-free EcoTank refillable ink system
- Color print, scan, and copy
- Wireless printing
- White finish
- Compact all-in-one design
Pros
- Same low ink cost per page as the black ET-2800
- White finish suits a lighter desk aesthetic
- Simple setup with included bottles
- Scan and copy included
Cons
- No automatic document feeder
- Integrated printhead means a clog can mean replacing the printer
- Identical specs to the cheaper-looking black model, no functional upgrade
Best for Home Office Volume3 of 8
Epson EcoTank ET-3850 Wireless Cartridge-Free Supertank Printer on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The ET-3850 steps up from the entry ET-2800 with an automatic document feeder, Ethernet, and mobile printing, a fuller home office feature set built around cartridge-free economics.
Best for
- Home offices that need document feeding and wired networking alongside cheap ink
Why we like it
It includes a bonus black ink bottle and USB cable at setup.
The higher price reflects the added hardware, ADF, wired networking, more durable build, rather than a different ink system, so weigh whether you actually need those extras against the cheaper ET-2800.
Ethernet option for a stable wired connection.
Key dimensions & specs
- Cartridge-free EcoTank refillable ink system
- Automatic document feeder
- Scanner, copier, Ethernet
- Mobile printing support
- Bonus black ink bottle and USB cable included
Pros
- Automatic document feeder for multi-page scanning
- Ethernet option for a stable wired connection
- Bonus ink bottle softens setup cost
- Built for regular home office volume
Cons
- Significantly pricier than the entry-level ET-2800
- Larger footprint due to the ADF and tanks
- Overkill for light, occasional printing
Best Budget Cartridge-Free Pick4 of 8
Epson EcoTank ET-2400 Wireless Cartridge-Free Supertank Printer on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The ET-2400 is the lowest-priced model in this list, built for everyday home printing rather than heavy office volume.
Best for
- Budget-conscious households who still want cartridge-free ink economics
Why we like it
Scan and copy are included, and the tank system keeps ink cost per page low even at this entry price point.
Like the ET-2800, the printhead is integrated into the printer body, so a printer left idle for a month or more should get a nozzle check before a big print job to avoid streaks from settled ink.
Key dimensions & specs
- Cartridge-free EcoTank refillable ink system
- Color print, scan, and copy
- Wireless printing
- Built for everyday home printing
- Compact design
Pros
- Lowest price of any pick in this list
- Cheap ink cost per page for a light-to-moderate home printer
- Simple setup and controls
- Scan and copy included
Cons
- No automatic document feeder
- Not built for sustained high-volume office printing
- Integrated printhead limits repairability
Best for Auto Document Feeding5 of 8
Epson EcoTank ET-4950 Wireless Cartridge-Free Supertank Printer on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
4-inch color touchscreen and an automatic document feeder, a genuine step up for anyone scanning multi-page documents regularly.
Best for
- Home offices scanning multi-page documents regularly and wanting a touchscreen
Why we like it
At a rated 18 pages per minute, it's noticeably faster than the entry-level EcoTank models.
The touchscreen makes checking ink levels and clearing errors simpler than button-based navigation, useful if more than one person in the household relies on the printer.
Touchscreen simplifies status checks and troubleshooting.
Key dimensions & specs
- Cartridge-free EcoTank refillable ink system
- Automatic document feeder
- 2.4-inch color touchscreen
- Up to 3 years of ink refills rated
- 18 ppm print speed
Pros
- Faster print speed than entry EcoTank models
- Touchscreen simplifies status checks and troubleshooting
- Automatic document feeder included
- Long-rated ink refill window
Cons
- Higher price than the entry-level ET-2400 and ET-2800
- Larger footprint
- More printer than a light, occasional user needs
Best for Fax and Ethernet6 of 8
Epson EcoTank ET-4850 Wireless Cartridge-Free Supertank Printer on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The ET-4850 adds fax and Ethernet to the EcoTank lineup, aimed at a small office that still needs those legacy connections alongside cartridge-free ink savings.
Best for
- Small offices needing fax and Ethernet alongside cartridge-free ink
Why we like it
Scanner, copier, and an automatic document feeder round out the feature set.
Most households won't use the fax feature, but it doesn't add meaningful cost, and Ethernet gives a more stable connection than wifi in offices with a lot of network interference.
Automatic document feeder for multi-page scans.
Key dimensions & specs
- Cartridge-free EcoTank refillable ink system
- Fax and Ethernet included
- Automatic document feeder
- Scanner and copier
- White finish, office-oriented design
Pros
- Fax and Ethernet cover legacy small-office needs
- Automatic document feeder for multi-page scans
- Stable wired networking option
- Cartridge-free ink savings at office volume
Cons
- Fax is unnecessary for most households
- Among the pricier picks in this list
- Large footprint for a compact desk
Best for Photo Quality7 of 8
Canon PIXMA G620 Wireless MegaTank Photo All-in-One Printer on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Canon's MegaTank system is the direct competitor to Epson EcoTank, and the G620 leans specifically toward photo output, useful if you print photos alongside documents.
Best for
- Buyers who print photos regularly alongside everyday documents
Why we like it
It works with Alexa for voice-triggered print jobs and covers print, copy, and scan.
Canon and Epson tanks aren't interchangeable, so factor in brand-specific ink availability at your local store before committing, since online-only generic ink can mean a multi-day wait when a tank runs low.
Key dimensions & specs
- Cartridge-free MegaTank refillable ink system
- Photo-focused color output
- Print, copy, scan
- Works with Alexa
- Wireless connectivity
Pros
- Stronger photo print quality than most ink-tank AIOs
- Cartridge-free MegaTank ink economics
- Alexa voice command support
- Mid-range price for the feature set
Cons
- No automatic document feeder
- Canon-specific ink bottles, not interchangeable with Epson
- Photo mode print speed is slower than plain document printing
Best for Sustained Office Printing8 of 8
Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5800 Wireless Cartridge-Free Supertank Printer on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The EcoTank Pro ET-5800 is the top of this list on price and capability, built for an office that prints heavily and needs fax and Ethernet in a single reliable machine.
Best for
- Offices printing hundreds of pages a month that want to eliminate cartridges entirely
Why we like it
Scanner and copier round out a full feature set aimed at replacing a shared office printer entirely.
At this price, it competes with small business laser printers rather than home inkjets, so it makes the most sense for a household or small office printing hundreds of pages a month rather than an occasional user.
Fax and Ethernet cover full small-office needs.
Key dimensions & specs
- Cartridge-free EcoTank Pro refillable ink system
- Fax and Ethernet
- Scanner and copier
- Built for sustained, high-volume office printing
- White finish
Pros
- Lowest ink cost per page at sustained high volume
- Fax and Ethernet cover full small-office needs
- Built for daily, heavy printing without cartridge treadmill
- Reliable wired networking
Cons
- Highest upfront price in this list by a wide margin
- Significant overkill for light or occasional printing
- Large footprint needs real desk or cabinet space
How We Chose These Cartridge-Free Printers
Each pick was assessed across 5 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- Compared bottle refill pricing and rated page yield across models to estimate real cost per page versus a comparable cartridge printer.
- Printhead design and long-term repairability
- Noted whether the printhead is integrated into the printer body or separately serviceable, since this affects what happens when a printhead eventually clogs.
- Feature fit for stated use case
- Weighed automatic document feeder, fax, and Ethernet inclusion against typical household or small-office needs rather than assuming more features is always better.
- Considered how straightforward the initial ink bottle fill and ongoing top-off process is, including spill risk and color-coded bottle design.
- Weighed upfront price against ink savings over a projected 1 to 2 year ownership window rather than comparing sticker prices in isolation.
What to Look for in a Cartridge-Free Printer
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Match actual size and capacity to your real need, not the category label alone
Listings for a cartridge-free printer often use a size or capacity label ("compact," "large," "heavy-duty") that isn't standardized across brands, so the same label can mean meaningfully different actual dimensions or capacity from one product to the next.
This matters because buying based on the category label rather than the specific listed dimensions or capacity is a common way to end up with something that doesn't actually fit your space or handle your real load.
Check the listing for exact measurements or a stated capacity figure, and compare that directly against your actual space or need, not just the marketing size category.
Verify build material and construction quality from reviews, not just spec-sheet claims
A product description can describe material or construction in flattering terms that don't always hold up under real, sustained use, and the gap between a listing's claimed quality and its actual durability only shows up in how the product performs after weeks or months of real use, not in day-one photos.
This matters more for anything you'll use daily or under real load, less for occasional light use where durability matters less.
Check reviews specifically for mentions of how the cartridge-free printer holds up over time, not just unboxing-day impressions, and treat a listing's own quality claims as a starting point to verify, not a guarantee.
Confirm any headline feature actually works as advertised, not just that it's listed
A feature appearing in a product's bullet points doesn't guarantee it performs well in practice, some features are functional but limited, and a few are closer to a marketing checkbox than a useful capability.
This matters directly if a specific feature is the main reason you're choosing this cartridge-free printer over a simpler, cheaper alternative, since a feature that underperforms in practice undermines the whole reason for paying more.
Check reviews specifically for real-world experiences with the exact feature that matters most to you, not just whether the feature is listed at all.
Weigh review count alongside rating, not rating alone
This matters more for a purchase you're relying on to perform consistently over time, less for a low-stakes, easily replaceable item.
Check both the star rating and the review count together for any cartridge-free printer you're considering, and treat a high rating on a very small review count as a promising but less-proven signal.
Check compatibility and fit with your existing setup before ordering
A cartridge-free printer that looks like a straightforward fit in photos can still have a compatibility detail, a connector type, a mounting requirement, a size threshold, that doesn't match your existing setup, and this kind of mismatch is one of the most common and avoidable reasons for a return.
This matters directly if the product needs to physically connect to, mount on, or otherwise integrate with something you already own.
Check the listing's specific compatibility details against your exact existing setup, not just the general product category, before ordering.
How to Choose a Cartridge-Free Printer
By Rating Confidence: Highest Rated vs Most Reviewed
Epson EcoTank ET vs Epson EcoTank Pro ET
- The lower-priced option in this comparison, worth checking its actual specs and review history against your specific need before assuming it's enough.
- The higher-priced option, worth it if it offers real, checkable headroom in build quality, capacity, or features over the cheaper pick.
Default to Epson EcoTank ET unless your specific need calls for the pricier pick's extra headroom.
For a First-Time Buyer Specifically
- Clear, specific dimensions or capacity and a real, established review history, not just marketing language.
- You need real durability and feature depth for regular use, where Epson EcoTank Pro ET's build gives real headroom over the cheaper picks.
- You only need this for light or occasional use, where Epson EcoTank ET covers the same job at a lower price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does cartridge-free actually mean no ongoing ink cost?
Cartridge-free describes a refillable ink tank system rather than disposable cartridges, but ink bottles are still a recurring purchase. The real benefit is cost per page, bottled ink typically runs a fraction of what the equivalent cartridge volume would cost, not zero ongoing spend.
What happens if the printhead clogs on a cartridge-free printer?
On most consumer ink-tank models, including the Epson EcoTank line in this guide, the printhead is integrated into the printer rather than separately replaceable.
Can I use third-party ink bottles to save more money?
You can, but it carries real risk. Cheaper generic ink can cause clogs, produce noticeably different color output, and may void your printer's warranty. Sticking with the manufacturer's own bottles is the safer choice unless you're comfortable with that tradeoff.
Is Epson EcoTank or Canon MegaTank the better system?
It depends on your priority. Epson EcoTank covers a wider range of price points and feature sets in this list, from the budget ET-2400 to the office-grade EcoTank Pro ET-5800. Canon's MegaTank system, represented here by the PIXMA G620, leans toward stronger photo output.
Do ink tanks dry out if the printer sits unused for a while?
Ink tank ink is more forgiving than small cartridges, but it can still settle and clog nozzles if the printer is idle for 4 or more weeks. Run a test page or nozzle check before an important print job after a long break.
Is a cartridge-free printer worth it for light, occasional printing?
Usually not as strongly as for regular use. The higher upfront price pays off through cheaper ink over volume, so a household printing only a handful of pages a month may be better served by a basic cartridge inkjet, and can revisit an ink-tank model if volume grows.
Bottom Line
Best overall: Epson EcoTank ET-2800 Wireless Cartridge-Free Supertank Printer (Black) — best overall pick in this roundup. See the full verdicts above for every pick, with pros, cons and who each one suits.
Browse all cartridge-free printers on Amazon — Prime-eligible options with current pricing.