Click to Skip Ad
Closing in...

Stop spending hundreds on printer ink – I tried $7 ink and it’s just as good

Published Oct 7th, 2015 10:15AM EDT
Printer Ink Refill Kits

If you buy through a BGR link, we may earn an affiliate commission, helping support our expert product labs.

The other day, my Epson Artisan printer ran out of magenta ink. I wasn’t trying to print anything magenta, but it refused to print anything else until I swapped out that empty magenta cartridge for a new one. So, I hopped on Amazon, searched for the right ink, and found it… for $72.

I have had this printer for years and I’ve used brand name ink in it ever since I first got it. This time, however, I was fed up. I did a quick search for no-name ink cartridges that would fit my printer and found a set with good reviews, so I bought it.

How much did that set of six ink cartridges cost me, you ask? $6.49 with free Prime shipping.

Honestly, I was a bit skeptical when I received the new ink two days later. At less than 10% of the cost of brand name ink, I assumed that there was no way this cheap generic ink would look as good. I figured it would be dull and it might even smudge a bit after I printed with it. I was totally wrong.

I’ve used the new ink a bunch of times since receiving it and it looks exactly the same as brand name ink. Colors are bright, blacks are deep, and there’s no smudging at all.

So do yourself a favor: next time your printer runs out of ink, give no-name ink a try. A link to the well-reviewed seller I purchased from is below, but there are plenty of other sellers on Amazon that also have good ratings.

Generic Printer Ink Cartridges from Ink_Cartridge_Supply

Maren Estrada Deals Editor

Maren Estrada has been the Editor of BGR Deals since it launched in 2013. She has more than 20 years of experience testing more than 1,500 products, and reviewing a wide range of consumer electronics including mobile devices, smart home products, computers, and home appliances.

Previously, she was a leading consultant specializing in copywriting, product development, and new product launches.