Best home printer under $100 for students?

Combined ranking

1. 1
   Canon PIXMA TR4720▲17 pts

   GPT #2Claude #3

   Strong cheap all-in-one with ADF, auto two-sided printing, compact footprint, reliable mobile printing, and better photo/color output than many budget rivals

   To stay #1 Faster print speeds

2. 2
   HP DeskJet 4255e▲35 pts

   GPT #5Claude #2

   The best-rounded all-in-one under $80 — print, copy, scan with wireless that's genuinely reliable through the HP app, and optional Instant Ink can keep costs predictable for light users.

   To rank higher Decouple the good experience from HP's ink ecosystem — high standard cartridge costs and aggressive HP+ / account-signup requirements are the main reason it loses to the Brother laser.

3. 3
   BBrother HL-L2405Wnew5 pts

   GPT —Claude #1

   Monochrome laser at ~$99 with the lowest real cost-per-page of anything in this bracket — toner doesn't dry out between semesters, it prints essays and problem sets fast (30ppm) with duplex, and Wi-Fi plus AirPrint means it just works from a laptop or phone in a dorm.

   To rank higher Add a flatbed scanner — students constantly need to scan/copy syllabi and IDs, and its print-only design forces many buyers down to an inkjet all-in-one.

4. 4
   BBrother MFC-J1010DW▼35 pts

   GPT #1Claude —

   Best student feature set under $100: automatic duplex printing, 20-sheet ADF, scan/copy/fax, good text speed, Wi-Fi, and solid everyday document output

   To rank higher Much lower ink cost per page

5. 5
   HP ENVY 6155e▼23 pts

   GPT #3Claude —

   Clean setup, good-looking documents and occasional photos, auto duplex, strong app support, AirPrint, and Instant Ink can make sense for predictable student printing

   To rank higher Lower cartridge costs without requiring a subscription

6. 6
   EEpson Expression Home XP-4200▼22 pts

   GPT #4Claude —

   Compact, easy to use, auto duplex, individual ink cartridges, sharp text, and good enough color quality for coursework and handouts

   To rank higher Add an automatic document feeder

7. 7
   EEpson WorkForce WF-2930new2 pts

   GPT —Claude #4

   Frequently $69-99 on sale with ADF, decent scan quality, and solid document output; Epson's no-HP+-style-lock-in approach appeals to students who hate subscriptions.

   To rank higher Improve reliability and print speed — it's slow (~10ppm black) and Epson's frequent printhead-cleaning cycles waste already-small cartridges.

8. 8
   HP DeskJet 2855enew1 pts

   GPT —Claude #5

   Regularly $49-60, making it the lowest entry price for a working print/copy/scan machine — fine for a student who prints a handful of pages a month and needs occasional scans.

   To rank higher Add auto duplex and cheaper ink — single-sided-only printing and pricey cartridges mean anyone with regular coursework outgrows it in a semester.

Rank history

By model

Tracked by ModelsAgree · rank 1 = 5 pts … rank 5 = 1 pt · re-polled continuously