Ecotank Printer vs Cartridge Printer: Which is Better for You?

Ecotank, or simply Ink tank printers, are gaining popularity as they eliminate the frequent ink refills. On the other side, there are ink cartridge printers which are still the primary and most used printer type. But in a head-to-head comparison of Ecotank Printer vs Cartridge Printer, which one is better? Should you choose a tank printer or an ink printer and why? In this article, you will get an explicit answer to this question based on your requirements and preferences. We will discuss the pros and cons of choosing each. So, let’s begin the article.

What is a Cartridge Printer?

A cartridge printer is a traditional printer that uses small sealed plastic blocks and is unusable once the ink is empty. The cartridges are inserted into the printer and they spray microscopic droplets onto the pages directly. Each cartridge can print approximately 200 to 300 pages. They come with a low upfront cost but become very expensive, even more than the printer itself!

Pros of Cartridge Printer

• The cartridge printer comes at a very low price compared to a tank or laser printer.
• The cartridges are easy to replace and just require dropping into the slot when the ink is empty or dry.
• Since the cartridges are in direct contact with the paper to be printed and blend perfectly, the print quality is superb most of the time.
• Replacing a cartridge is a clean, "click-and-snap" process that takes less than five seconds with zero risk of ink wastage.
• This printer is best suited for infrequent users or those who print occasionally.

Cons of Cartridge Printer

• Though the initial cost is very low, replacing ink cartridges is one of the most expensive things to purchase and you have to buy them anyway.
• The printing capacity of ink cartridges can be as low as 150 pages as the ink gets dried many times.
• Many brands ensure that users do not purchase ink cartridges from third-party vendors. They use a microchip, so if one color is empty, it blocks the ink of all cartridges.
• Also, cartridge printers are not environmentally friendly if you print in high volume. As this type of printer can print a very low volume, you need to purchase new plastic cartridges frequently which adds to plastic wastage.

What is an Ecotank Printer?

An ecotank printer is a type of inkjet printer with a large refillable tank. Ecotank has translucent built-in tanks filled with ink bottles, and you may need to refill them once a month, unlike traditional cartridge printers. These printers come with high printing capacity and you can print roughly 6000-7000 pages with one set of bottles. Also, when the ecotank is empty, you only throw out a thin or a normal bottle - it has no chips or metals that harm the environment significantly.

Pros of the Ecotank Printer

• The printing cost of the ecotank printer is significantly lower than that of the traditional cartridge printer.
• No need to replace the tank ever. You just have to replace the ink bottle after a long time when the ink is empty.
• Eco-friendly with less wastage and the empty bottles are also recyclable.
• The large ink tank greatly reduces the chances of incomplete printing due to ink issues.

Cons of the Ecotank Printer

• The printer cartridge (a large tank) itself is more expensive than a complete cartridge printer. So, the upfront cost is very high.
• If there is no printing for a long time, the ink can dry up or can clog the printhead nozzles.
• When you try to clean a clogged nozzle, it requires power flushes that may consume a lot of ink as well.
• If you purchase an EcoTank model at a lower price due to budget, it may lack automatic double-sided printing (duplexing) or auto-document feeder (ADF) features.

Ecotank Printer vs Cartridge Printer: Which to Buy?

If you print regularly, an EcoTank printer is the better choice because it costs less to print over time. If you print occasionally, a cartridge printer is a good option because it is cheaper to buy. Choose based on how much you print.

Now, when you understand what an ecotank and cartridge printer are, you can purchase based on your requirements and preferences. If you are still unable to decide which one will be best suited to you, below are some points to be noted while making a purchase:

Choose an EcoTank Printer:

• You print frequently: When you print too frequently like in a shop or a busy office, you should go with an ecotank printer due to high volume requirements.
• You want long-term savings: As discussed above, for long-term and high-volume printing, traditional cartridges cost a lot. An ecotank printer can save you significant money over the lifespan of the machine.
• You value sustainability: Ink tanks use reusable bottles that significantly cut down on disposable plastic e-waste and are environment-friendly.

Choose a Cartridge Printer:

• You have a tight budget today: Traditional cartridge printer comes with a cheap price as compared to ecotank and laser printer. So, if you are on a tight budget, prefer a cartridge printer.
• You only print a few pages a month: Cartridge printer will be best for you if you rarely print or print a very low volume. You do not need to manually refill, and there will be no ink-drying issue anytime soon.
• You want zero-mess maintenance: Cartridge printers require very little maintenance as you can easily swap out a new cartridge. It also solves the issue of ink clogging and wastage. This type of printer also requires almost no cleanness.

Conclusion

When you are looking for ecotank printer vs cartridge printer, the choice significantly depends on usage frequency, printing requirements, budget and maintenance. If you are running a busy office, having a printing shop, printing in bulk and can afford the upfront cost, you should go with ecotank printer without a second thought. But you also have to maintain it regularly and you can choose online printer support for any issue for quick resolution.

However, if you print occasionally, have no need for bulk printing, and are low on budget, a cartridge printer is the right choice for you. In this article, we have discussed all the major points, as well as the pros and cons of both types of printers, to help you select your preferred printer. Irrespective of the printer you purchase, you can get full printer support online via PritnerITHelp if you are facing trouble with setup, driver issues, paper jam, and others. Our experts are available 24/7 and can fix every single printing issue.