8 Things You Should Know About HP® Instant Ink® Before Signing Up

With the recent wave of backlash against the HP Instant Ink program, it comes as no surprise that more consumers are wondering what’s the HP Instant Ink program and if it’s a service worth subscribing to.

People who buy an HP printer most of the time find the HP Instant Ink program thrust upon them without really a chance to do some research on what it is. This article serves to inform HP printer users on what the HP Instant Ink program is and the disclaimers you should know about before signing up. And at the end of the article, we’re hoping that you’ll get a sense of whether or not this service is right for you or not.

Let’s dive into the most frequently asked questions about Instant Ink.

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What is HP Instant Ink?

The HP Instant Ink program is monthly service jumping on the subscription bandwagon (similar to Netflix, Amazon’s Subscribe-and-Save, etc.), and with it they are reinventing the way customers buy ink.  HP may be finally offering their ink for a competitive price with this program, but after years of high cartridge prices, some customers are still understandably apprehensive.

What does HP Instant Ink mean?

Simply put, it’s a subscription service where HP sends you only the amount of ink you need when you need it. No, it’s not as “instant” as the name suggests. But since it’s a subscription service, in theory, HP will eventually figure out your ordering patterns and ideally send out ink when you’re almost at the end of your current cartridge.

What does HP Instant Ink Ready mean?

You’ll see the phrase “HP Instant Ink Ready” on most HP printers out in the market today. This only means that the printer can take HP Instant Ink cartridges. Older HP models aren’t programmed to use HP Instant Ink cartridges so you can’t sign up for HP instant ink if it’s for use on older printer models.  You can find a list of HP printers that are compatible with Instant Ink here.

Do HP Instant Ink cartridges look like regular HP ink cartridges?

No, HP instant ink cartridges do not look like regular HP ink cartridges. Instant Ink cartridges are visibly bigger and contain more ink than standard and even high yield HP ink cartridges.

The idea is for consumers to not need to replace cartridges as often. This theory is flawed if you’re not a frequent printer user, however, as ink tends to dry up when left unused. Even more so if you have a larger cartridge with more ink.

How does the HP Instant Ink program work?

Instead of buying and owning a cartridge outright and printing when needed, Instant Ink requires that you pay to print a predetermined amount of pages each month depending on what package you choose. The program comes in different price points so you can choose the plan that suits your printing volume best. Replacement cartridges get sent to you as your current cartridge hits empty.  There is no long term contract with HP Instant ink, just a month-to-month commitment, so you can cancel at anytime (be sure to read up on how to cancel as it can get tricky) and if your printing needs ever change, you can always upgrade or downgrade your plan.

Instant Ink is offered at five different price points¹. Regardless if you print in color or black and white, any page that comes out of your printer counts as one print.  If you don’t print your allotted page amount every month, HP rolls over a select number of unused pages.

HP now has two versions of their Instant Ink subscription service: the original Instant Ink plan, which works with ink cartridges and select HP inkjet printers, and they recently rolled out a toner subscription service, which works with toner cartridges and select HP laser printers. Both programs are branded under the “HP Instant Ink” umbrella  and even though “ink” is in the name,  the service includes ink or toner subscription options.  We have included monthly pricing details and page limits for either service below.

As of June 23, 2023:

Price-wise, a subscription-based ink service looks pretty enticing.  But if you peel back the fine print, dealing with Instant Ink’s rules and regulations may outweigh the convenience of a low monthly cost.

Is HP Instant Ink worth it?

It depends largely on how often you print and the volume of documents or images you print. If you don’t print with any regularity or consistency, it might not be worth it. It’s also a mixed bag when it comes to consumer feedback. Though this service works for some, there are also those who initially signed up then cancelled soon after.

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8 Things You Should Know about HP’s Instant Ink Service

If you plan on buying an HP printer soon, we strongly advice you read up on the things you should know about the Instant Ink program. Chances are your new printer will come with a free trial period of Instant Ink.

A printed page may not be what you expect.
HP defines a printed page as “a page upon which any amount of ink is placed by your printer” ². Meaning if you print a page with just one line of text on it, it counts towards your monthly total.  By introducing a firm set of print guidelines, customers of this program may want to be mindful of every page that is sent to their printer, especially if they are on a budget. Having minor prints like mailing labels count just as much as a full color photo might put you in a bit of a pickle if you normally don’t think about monthly printing habits. Customers may also need to factor in for unexpected and unintentional prints like the extra pages that magically appear with a printed concert ticket or recipe.

Beware of overage fees.
Printing more than your subscription warrants may add up.  If you have printed your monthly page limit and gone through all of your rollover pages, HP charges¹ a $1.00 per set for additional pages.  Extra pages are available in sets of 10-50 pages, depending on what plan you are on.  Paying an extra dollar for a handful of desperately needed bonus pages isn’t a big deal for most.  But if a major print job requires you to print far more than the allotted monthly amount, those extra dollars may add up quick.  To avoid the extra fees, customers enrolled in this program might need to plan ahead and weigh their options.  Investing in a set of backup cartridges makes the most sense if you have a lot more printing to do.  Although it’s an added expense, you’ll be able to continue printing as much as you want without constantly worrying about overage fees.

HP monitors your activity.
HP is watching your printer. By enrolling in the Instant Ink service, you are authorizing HP² to remotely monitor page count, ink levels, the type of documents you print, the type of device you use to print a particular document and whether the last cartridge you used was new or used.  They are also allowed to share some of your information² (name, address, email, printer model, printer serial number) with the retailer that you purchased the subscription from.

Replacement cartridges may take up to 10 days to arrive.
HP sends replacement cartridges via standard shipping, noting that it could take up to 10 days² for a new set of cartridges to arrive. Luckily for most, the wait time probably won’t be quite that long. When tested, an order of instant ink cartridges arrived relatively quickly. HP sent an email notification stating that a new set of cartridges were being shipped out on Friday and they were received the following Wednesday.  Because it keeps track of your ink, your printer can anticipate when it thinks you will run out and ship ink to you in advance. HP bases this on when your cartridges have enough ink to “print twice as much as the number of average pages in your monthly plan“⁶. This works pretty well for someone that prints occasionally, and shipping time probably won’t be an issue. But if a high volume print job is in the works, you might want your next cartridge waiting in the wings, not waiting in transit.  Need your Instant Ink in a pinch? HP does offer expedited shipping but customers may incur an additional charge.

Unused prints rollover to the next month – up to a certain point.
Under Instant Ink, the number of rollover pages you can accrue corresponds directly with the specific tier you’ve enrolled in. So if printing isn’t needed for a of couple of months, the number of rollover pages you can acquire is automatically capped.  The cheapest ink plan offers a maximum of  45 rollover pages³ in your account at a time, the next tier up allows for up 150 rollover pages per account, the tier after that offers up to 300 rollover pages, after that, you get up to 900 pages and the most expensive plan allows for up to 2,100 pages.  If you are in the toner subscription service, the breakdown is slightly different.  The cheapest toner subscription tier allows for 100 rollover pages, the next tier allows for 200 pages, followed by 800 pages, then 1,600 pages and finally, 3,000 pages for the most expensive tier option.

Your printer must be connected to the internet to accurately monitor your use.
HP’s Instant Ink cartridges are designed to communicate directly with your printer to accurately  track⁴ page usage and ink levels. The cartridges only communicate to the printer when you are connected to the internet, so if your internet connection is spotty or disconnected for a period of time, it won’t be able to properly record your page total.  Any pages you print when your printer is not connected to the internet will be recorded when you reconnect and refresh the page counter included in Instant Ink’s online portal.  This delay  may become a problem for Instant Ink customers if they run a big print job offline, reach their monthly page limit and need a replacement cartridge right away.  If the connection isn’t able to reflect how many pages you have left in real time, the program might not be able to anticipate when to ship out a new cartridge.  Waiting for the service to catch up with you may put the brakes on a major project, requiring you to go out and buy regular cartridges in the interim.

Instant Ink only works with certain printers.
There are a select number of printers⁵ that operate under the Instant Ink program.  Consumers with  older model machines will need to upgrade if they want to enroll in the service. Printers can range from around $70 to $380, depending on the model and where you buy.

Forget to pay your Instant Ink bill and HP just might shut off access to the service.
Worrying about a monthly charge to use something as commonplace as a printer isn’t something we are used to.  If you don’t stay current, HP has the option to temporarily shut down access² to the service and your Instant Ink cartridges.  A temporary delay in the service might be a bigger issue than anticipated if you happen to be low on ink at the time. Since Instant Ink relies on an active account to report ink levels, a delay in payment might also delay the shipping time of a badly needed replacement cartridge.

Instant Ink is making us think differently about the way we print.  The low monthly rate and ability to print whatever you need within a designated page range is very enticing, especially for consumers that only print a few times a month.  But for customers that are trying to stick to a strict printing budget, the extra fees that come along with unexpected prints might end up being a burden.  No matter where you stand, factors like a monthly bill, connectivity concerns, and overage fees are worth keeping in mind.

So, now we get to the most asked question…

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Does HP Instant Ink really save money?

It depends on what you print and how often.  If you are able to comfortably stay within HP’s monthly preset page limit and don’t mind being tied to the whims of their subscription service, it might make sense for you (Check out our customer comments at the bottom of this article!).  Keep in mind, anything you print counts as one printed page, so if your printing needs change from month to month, you’ll need to stay on top your subscription and map out your expected print volume in advance.  And if you don’t print that often, paying a monthly fee for access to a seldom used service isn’t ideal.

Instant Ink is definitely cheaper than buying most original HP ink cartridges every few months, but if you print a lot, a laser printer that’s not tied to a subscription service, or ink tank printer might be a better fit for you.  Laser printers and ink tank printers can cost a bit more upfront but they print thousands of pages and you don’t have to worry about counting each page.

How can you cancel HP instant ink?

If you wish to cancel your HP Instant Ink printing plan or switch plans, you can do so whenever you want. To make changes or cancel the service, simply log in to your account.¹

Can I use my HP printer without HP Instant Ink?

Yes, you can use an HP printer without HP Instant Ink. If you sign up for Instant Ink and decide you want to cancel, you can go back to using regular HP ink cartridges.¹  Please note, the HP Instant Ink cartridges will stop working in your printer at the end of your current billing cycle and you will need to return them to HP.

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HP Instant Ink Alternatives

If HP Instant Ink’s terms and conditions are a concern for you, there are a few budget-friendly alternatives that can keep your printing costs low without committing to a subscription service.

Affordable Aftermarket Printer Cartridges

For decades now, aftermarket cartridges have been the best way to score low prices on ink and for thousands of customers, this is still their preferred low cost printing solution.  Remanufactured and compatible cartridges are competitively priced and offer the same print quality as an original cartridge, without a long list of preconditions.  Aftermarket cartridge options are available for almost every printer model on the market, so if you are happy with your current printer, you can start saving  with lower cost cartridges right away.  Check out this banner to see the dramatic difference in pricing.

A lot of customers have made the switch to compatible cartridge replacements and are able to freely print as much as they want at a great price.

Epson EcoTank Printers

Other major printer brands have introduced new printers with low running costs in recent years that rival HP Instant Ink.  Epson’s Ecotank printers are one option – a series of refillable ink tank printers that use ink bottles instead of a cartridge to create a print.  Epson designed the ink bottles to be far more cost effective than the average printer cartridge, printing thousands of pages per refill for pennies on the dollar.  The Epson Ecotank ET-2720 is a solid entry level machine that produces great text and images.  It works with an Epson T522 black ink bottle that prints 4,500 pages and the color bottles print 7,500 pages each.  Ecotank printers are more expensive than most inkjet printers but if you print a lot, the cost savings you get with ink bottles will more than make up for that price difference.

Canon Megatank Printers

Canon developed their own ink tank printer series soon after Epson launched the Ecotank.  Savings wise, they provide about the same value as the Ecotank and they are priced about the same as well.  They also rely on an ink tank system to create a print and ink bottles to handle the refilling process.  Which brand is better is really up to the preference of the user.  Epson currently has a more robust line up, offering 15 Ecotank printers to Canon’s 6 Megatanks, but both brands offer a range of options that are suitable for homes and businesses.  Canon’s PIXMA G5020 Megatank is a good option that works with the GI-20 ink bottle series.  The black ink bottle prints around 6,000 pages and each color bottle prints 7,000 pages.

Brother Inkvestment Printers

Brother’s inkvestment printer line is a hybrid ink tank / inkjet printer.  Rather than refilling the tank with an ink bottle, Brother created a cartridge that automatically does the refilling for you.  All you have to do is install the cartridge into the printer and the ink inside the cartridge feeds directly into the tank.  Currently Brother offers two printer models in their Inkvestment Ink Tank line up, the Brother MFC-J805DW  and Brother MFC-J995W.  XL versions of the printers are available at a slightly higher price point that include two sets of cartridges. Printing costs are more expensive than the Ecotank and Megatank due to higher priced cartridges but they are a nice middle of the road option if you are apprehensive about refilling with an ink bottle.  Brother’s LC3035 super high yield cartridges print 6,000 pages and the color cartridges print 5,000 pages.

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Closing

Doing your research on replacement cartridge options can save you tons of money. Now that you a have a better idea of what to expect with Instant Ink and what other options you have, the choice is up to you. A lot of customers who have used HP Instant Ink share their feedback below.

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^{1 “How It Works.” HP.com, https://instantink.hpconnected.com/us/en?jumpID=va_nxc3gze76w.  Accessed 18 February 2019.}

^{2 “HP Instant Ink Terms of Service.” HP.com.  https://instantink.hpconnected.com/us/en/terms.  Accessed 18 February 2019, v.08.13.2018.}

^{3 “HP Instant Ink – Understanding HP Instant Ink Monthly Charges.” HP.com, http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c03917913.  Accessed 18 February 2019.}

^{4 “HP Instant Ink – Page Count Is Not the Same as Actual Pages Printed.” HP.com, http://support.hp.com/us-en/product/HP-Instant-Ink-series/5264756/model/5401249/document/c05029962/.  Accessed 18 February 2019.}

^{5 “HP Instant Ink Eligible Printers” HP.com, https://store.hp.com/us/en/SearchDisplay?client=&searchTerm=HPInstantInkPrinters&search=&charset=utf-8&storeId=10151&catalogId=10051&langId=-1&beginIndex=0&pageSize=50&jumpid=cp_r11549_hho_iieligible_printerselector_090117.  Accessed 18 February 2019.}

^{6 “HP Instant Ink FAQ.” HP.com, http://m.hp.com/us/en/ads/instant-ink/faqs.html.  Accessed 18 February 2019.}