The Best Printer Ink Stores

Tuesday, April 20th

2021 Printer Ink Store Reviews

Combo Ink

Established in 2003, Combo Ink offers Printer Ink in recycled cartridges that deliver high-quality, full-color results at a savings of up to 80% over OEM products. This company specializes in fast delivery, with most orders shipped within 24 hours of your purchase.

And, of course, if you're looking for those great prices, you'll find them with this retailer. For comparison shopping purposes, we chose two types of Printer Ink, inkjet and laser printer, from two of the most popular brands. These cartridges are typically priced at $82 and $125, respectively, when buying OEM from your local office supply store.

Fortunately, you'll pay less than half that when buying replacement or compatible cartridges through Combo Ink. See for yourself:

• HP 902 XL: $40.66 for a combo set of high-yield replacement cartridges (1 black, 1 cyan, 1 magenta, 1 yellow). Individual cartridges are priced at $8.95 for color and $15.95 for black.
• Samsung MLT-D115L: $44.99 for a compatible high-yield cartridge. 2-, 4-, and 10-packs available for extra savings.

While we were browsing the site, we got a pop-up discount offer: 10% off with the provided code, or 15% off if we subscribed to Combo Ink's email newsletter. Combo Ink also offers free 2-day shipping on orders over $50 - a nice perk if you've got print jobs that can't wait a week for your cartridges to arrive.

Another great way to save money when buying Printer Ink from this store is their Build a Combo option. If you don't find the exact configuration of cartridges you need - maybe you want 3 black replacements for every 1 color cartridge, for example - you can put together what you need and get a discount. You'll save 4% when you order 2 of the same items, 5.5% on 5 of the same items, 7.5% on 10, and 10% on 50. You'll see your order total drop as you add the items to your cart.

What about returns? Combo Ink does a great job in that department too. You can return your order for any reason within 10 days of delivery for a full refund. You're also covered for a full year under these conditions: defective cartridges are eligible for a refund, and non-defective, unopened cartridges can be returned for a store credit with no restocking fee or a refund minus a 15% restocking fee.

Over nearly 17,000 customer reviews on a third-party site, Combo Ink's parent company earned an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars. Customers had great things to say about the quality of the ink and the fast, friendly response from company representatives when the occasional problem arose.

Combo Ink makes it easy to get every possible discount available. When it comes to the lowest possible prices at the highest quality, a great 1-year return policy, and a demonstrated track record for top-notch customer service, you won't do better than Combo Ink. They earn our highest rating.

Comp and Save

CompAndSave is the parent company behind our first-place Printer Ink company, Combo Ink. Unsurprisingly, you'll find the same low prices and great perks offered by both online stores.

In fact, at first glance on our comparison products, CompAndSave came in a little cheaper (list price) for one and the exact same for the other:

• HP 902 XL: $38.80 for a combo set of high-yield replacement cartridges (1 black, 1 cyan, 1 magenta, 1 yellow). Individual cartridges are priced at $8.95 for color and $15.95 for black.
• Samsung MLT-D115L: $44.99 for a compatible high-yield cartridge. 2-, 4-, and 10-packs available for extra savings.

However - when you factor in the coupons that were so easy to find on the Combo Ink site, CompAndSave comes in just a little behind: you'll have to dig to find any available discounts on this online store. (Hint: look at the Score Extra Savings banner at the top of the page; we found codes for 8% off orders of $45+ and a few others.) If you want to score similar savings to the Combo Ink page, look for a bar on the side of the page that says, "See More Savings" and you'll get the 15% off code when you sign up for their newsletter.

We also didn't find the "build your combo" feature on the CompAndSave store. You can still get discounts for ordering 3 or more products, though.

Other than those small details, almost everything is the same between the Combo Ink and CompAndSave stores. You can take advantage of a great return policy, free shipping on orders over $50, all from a store with a fantastic reputation: thousands of 4- and 5-star reviews and an "A+" from the BBB. Additionally, CompAndSave specifically references a Low Price Guarantee, so if you find your Printer Ink at a competitor site, chances are good that you can get it matched by this retailer.

Low prices, an extended return policy, and an ironclad reputation for customer service all make CompAndSave a worthy choice when buying Printer Ink for any brand of printer.

4 Inkjets

4 Inkjets is based in California, with a retail location in Long Beach and a fully-featured website offering almost every brand of Printer Ink available. If you visit Ink Cartridges, another Printer Ink company in our review, you might see some similarities in products and pricing. That's because both companies are part of the LD Products brand family.

Here's how 4 Inkjets compares, both to its sister site and with other competitor sites online, when it comes to our reference products:

• HP 902 XL: $39.96 for a set of 4 remanufactured, high-yield cartridges (black, cyan, magenta, yellow). Individual remanufactured items also available for $8.99 (colors only; single-pack black available in remanufactured type). OEM cartridges were priced at $26.99 for colors and $60.99 for black.
• Samsung MLT-D115L: $49.99 for a compatible cartridge, or $46.99 each when ordering 3 or more. The OEM version of this cartridge was marked as discontinued and out of stock.

Shipping is free on all orders over $50.

When comparing the two sister sites, the differences are slight. 4 Inkjets' listed prices are lower, while Ink Cartridges sweetens the pot with promotional coupons and no minimum order for free shipping. If you enjoy the thrill of the bargain hunt, you can price out your Printer Ink across the two sites until you're sure you have the best deal, but either store will be a good choice compared with many of the higher-priced retailers out there.

Each store offers a fantastic 2-year, 100% satisfaction guarantee on all Printer Ink cartridges. In the first year, you can choose between a replacement or refund, and in the second year your options include a replacement or store credit.

LD Products is the parent company of both stores, and their reputation is well-demonstrated by their "A+" rating and accreditation with the BBB. Customers have very positive things to say about the quality of the cartridges and the ink, and how responsive company reps are when a refund or replacement is necessary.

Whether you choose 4 Inkjets or Ink Cartridges, you can expect low prices, an unparalleled return policy, and friendly, professional customer service if you should need to reach out for any reason. This is a great choice for your next Printer Ink order.

Ink Cartridges

Ink Cartridges is the second company in our review that is part of the LD Products brand family. So, you're likely to see a lot of similarities between this store and 4 Inkjets. For example, here's the pricing on Ink Cartridges for our two comparison products:

• HP 902 XL: $44.96 for a 4-pack of high yield, remanufactured cartridges (black, cyan, magenta, yellow). Individual remanufactured color cartridges were priced at $9.99 each (black not available). OEM cartridges were available for $27.99 for color and $50.99 for black.
• Samsung MLT-D115L: $51.99 for a compatible cartridge, or pay $48.99 each when ordering 3 or more. No OEM cartridges were available for this printer model.

Shipping is free on all orders within the lower 48 United States. That could save you money if you only need to order 1 cartridge, as most competitors charge around $4 for orders under their free shipping amount (usually $35 to $50 minimum spend).

At the time of our review, there was a seasonal discount featured at the top of the site: a savings of 10% on all Printer Ink and toner. We liked that it was applied automatically, with no need to enter the coupon code in the banner.

As you can see, there's no significant difference between the two online stores: 4 Inkjets has lower listed prices, while Ink Cartridges comes close with free shipping on all orders and promotional discounts. You can comparison shop across the two sites if you like to play with the numbers and ensure that you're getting their absolute best deal, but either one is a good choice.

Both Printer Ink sites offer a 2-year, 100% satisfaction guarantee on their cartridges: within the first year of purchase, you'll get a replacement or refund (your choice), and in year two you can choose between a store credit or replacement.

As a parent company, LD Products has a great reputation, as shown by their accreditation and "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau.

You can't go wrong buying your Printer Ink through Ink Cartridges or its sister site, 4 Inkjets. You'll find affordable prices, the industry's best return policy, and all backed by a company with a proven history of keeping its customers happy.

123 Inkjets

123 Inkjets is one of the longest-running retailers of Printer Ink online. First established in 1999, the company focuses primarily on the eco-friendly remanufactured type of cartridges, using items that have gone through one use cycle before being rebuilt with mostly new parts.

This retailer doesn't come in as the lowest-priced choice, but their prices are still competitive with other stores and offer a large savings over regular list price. Here are the two products we selected for comparison, as sold by 123 Inkjets:

• HP 902 XL: both OEM and remanufactured options available. The combo high-yield set consists of 1 remanufactured cartridge of black, cyan, magenta and yellow for $42.96. Individual remanufactured cartridges in this line sell for $9.99, only color ink available. OEM cartridges are priced at $26.99 for color and $48.99 for black. You can get a $1 discount per cartridge when buying 3 or more of the remanufactured items.
• Samsung MLT-D115L: priced at $55.99, the compatible replacement is the only cartridge offered for this printer. The OEM version was marked as discontinued and out of stock.

123 Inkjets calls cartridges "remanufactured" and "compatible" interchangeably. This seems to be due to the fact that they use both OEM and non-OEM parts when making their replacement cartridges.

The company offers several customer-friendly perks. You can take advantage of a 2-year satisfaction guarantee on all of the compatible/replacement products they sell: refund or replacement during the first year, and store credit or replacement in the second year. Just keep in mind that any used products you return have to be at least 70% full.

You can also get free shipping if your order is over $55 and shipped within the lower US.

We were pleased to see that this company has a flawless reputation with the Better Business Bureau, as shown by the "A+" grade and accreditation during its 21+ years in business. We were also happy to see thousands of 4- and 5-star reviews from actual customers, including many who have used 123 Inkjets for many years with no problems.

You might not find the absolute lowest price when shopping for your Printer Ink at 123 Inkjets, but you're literally guaranteed to have a risk-free experience with this store's fantastic return policy.

Ink Plus Toner

No matter which type of Printer Ink cartridge you want, Ink Plus Toner has you covered. In business since 2004, this California-based retailer carries OEM, remanufactured and compatible cartridges for the most common brands of printers: HP, Canon, Panasonic, and more.

Ink Plus Toner measures up competitively when considering price. Take a look at how this store did on our two comparison products:

• HP 902 XL: unlike many of the Printer Ink stores we evaluated, Ink Plus Toner didn't offer a set with multiple cartridges. Instead, we had to order each cartridge individually. OEM cartridges sold for $25.99 per color unit and $49.95 for black units. Remanufactured cartridges were available for $9.99 for color units and $19.99 for black units. Both types of cartridge had discounts of $1 per cartridge when ordering 3 at a time.
• Samsung MLT-D115L: $26.99, compatible (described as "replacement"), $1 discount per cartridge when buying 3 at a time.

We found several customers who were thrilled to find Printer Ink cartridges for their older-model printers. That's proof that Ink Plus Toner carries a wide selection of products, even if you don't have the latest printer on the market.

This retailer has a lower threshold for getting free shipping, when compared with other stores: you'll only have to spend more than $35 to get your Printer Ink delivered at no charge.

Ink Plus Toner has a good reputation, as shown by their "A" grade with the Better Business Bureau over more than 14 years in operation. While some customers have had issues with defective cartridges, the general consensus is that Ink Plus Toner is responsive and friendly with making needed replacements.

On the other hand, this business' return and satisfaction isn't as generous as some of the stores in our review. You'll have just 90 days to make a return or refund request. If you are claiming that your Printer Ink cartridge is defective, you could incur a restocking fee of 30% if Ink Plus Toner determines that there was no defect. You also need to ensure that your cartridge is at least 70% full when returning it, in order to be eligible for a replacement or refund.

Overall, Ink Plus Toner is a good choice when purchasing Printer Ink online. You might have to do a little extra work to add all of the products you want to your cart, but the savings on the price combined with free shipping may be well worth the effort.

Ink Farm

Ink Farm specializes in all items you could need for your printer, from OEM and remanufactured ink and toner cartridges to paper, USB cords, and more. In business since 1999, this company enjoys accreditation and an "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau, making them a trustworthy choice for your online printer ink purchase.

The available inventory at Ink Farm includes all of the major brands like Canon, Epson, HP, Brother, and Lexmark, among a total of 14 brands represented. Unless you have an extremely uncommon printer brand, you'll probably find what you need here.

Let's take a look at our two comparison products and see how Ink Farm measures up:

• HP 902 XL: $76.49 for the high-yield 5-pack (2 black, 1 cyan, 1 magenta, 1 yellow), remanufactured, free shipping
• Samsung MLT-D115L: $51.29, remanufactured, free shipping

As you can see, that's still a savings over OEM cartridges bought from your local big-box office supply store, but definitely more expensive than many of Ink Farm's competitors. At the time of our review, Ink Farm was running a free shipping and 10% discount promo at the top of the site, so be sure to look out for any additional savings that might be in place when you're shopping the site.

Ink Farm has a good return policy in place. If you purchase OEM cartridges, you can return them within 30 days of shipping for a refund - but you'll pay a restocking fee of up to $5 or 25% of your original purchase price. Defective OEM merchandise can be returned for a replacement only, if you make the request within 60 days of shipping. Their policies for remanufactured and compatible cartridges are much more generous: unopened products can be returned within 60 days, while defective cartridges can be exchanged within 2 years of purchase. That's a great offer if you're the type of person who stocks up on a lot of printer ink and doesn't necessarily use it right away.

Ink Farm isn't the slickest Printer Ink website on the market. It feels outdated and busy, with lots of small print and crowded sidebars. On the other hand, the store enjoys an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars over more than 30,000 customer reviews, which is worth considering.

Ink Farm didn't have the lowest-priced Printer Ink cartridges on the market, but the store is a decent choice for your purchase if you're looking for a business with an established reputation in the industry.

Need Ink

Based in Southern California, Need Ink has been in business for almost 20 years. This company focuses on compatible and remanufactured Printer Ink cartridges, with no options for OEM products.

Looking at our comparison items, the HP 902 XL inkjet cartridge set and the Samsung MLT-D115L laser toner cartridge, here's how Need Ink stacked up:

• HP 902 XL: $54.99 for a high-yield 5-pack (2 black, 1 cyan, 1 magenta, 1 yellow), remanufactured cartridges, free shipping
• Samsung MLT-D115L: $35.99, "compatible" (not OEM), no free shipping until over $49

At the time of our most recent visit, Need Ink was running a seasonal promotion of 10% off. Be sure to look for any current offers at the top of the site or featured on the main page before placing your order.

Need Ink had a smaller brand range than many of their competitors. Their inventory covers the big names - HP, Brother, Canon, Lexmark, Samsung, Dell, Epson, and Xerox -but just six of the lesser-used brands like Kyocera and Pitney Bowes.

On the positive side, Need Ink offers a fantastic satisfaction guarantee: one full year to return your cartridge if you're not satisfied for any reason. That's a big plus if you like to buy in bulk and might not use your cartridges right away. They also offer free shipping on all orders over $49 shipped within the lower 48 United States.

What do customers have to say about their experience with buying Printer Ink through this company? Reviews are mixed. On the one hand, Need Ink had a disappointing "C-" grade at the Better Business Bureau at the time of this review, but that grade was based on the company's failure to respond to a single customer complaint. On the other hand, Need Ink had an overall rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars over thousands of customer reviews on other sites, and people mentioned repeatedly that the company was very responsive when there were issues with cartridges and replaced them quickly.

Need Ink earns a 3-star rating: their prices are competitive and we appreciate their satisfaction guarantee, but we'd like to see a better track record with the BBB that matches the other customer reviews we found.

Double Inks

Double Inks sells remanufactured and compatible Printer Ink cartridges from all of the major brands, such as Lexmark, Epson, and more.

Finding our comparison products wasn't easy: when we typed the item names into the search bar, we got no results. Instead, we had to use the dropdown boxes and sort through the options until we found what we were looking for. Here's what Double Inks had to offer:

• HP 902 XL: remanufactured high yield, only 4 cartridges in the set (1 black, 1 cyan, 1 yellow, 1 magenta), $54.98 plus free shipping.
• Samsung MLT-D115L: product not found

As you can see, Double Inks comes up short compared with most of the other Printer Ink retailers we evaluated, both in terms of price and availability.

The Double Inks site feels outdated, and we didn't love that the site isn't secure (it's an HTTP site, not HTTPS). Given that the majority of websites were moved over to secure URL's more than a year prior to our review, that doesn't inspire much confidence that credit card information will be kept safe when placing an order. Plus, with no rating at the Better Business Bureau despite the company being in business for 10+ years, we were left wondering if we could trust Double Inks to honor their 180-day satisfaction guarantee.

We wanted to be encouraged by Double Ink's link to thousands of positive customer reviews on a third-party site - but as we read through the actual comments, they didn't line up. People who had given Double Inks a high rating had negative things to say: from difficulties using the site to place an order to cartridges that weren't up to par in terms of print quality.

For all of these reasons, Double Inks comes in at the bottom of our rankings. With so many other reputable sources of affordable, high-quality Printer Ink available, there's just no need to take the risk with this business.