HP Instant Ink vs Recycled Ink Cartridges: Which Is Best for You?

30th Dec 2024
Simon Cross

HP printers are some of the most popular on the market, known for their reliability, sleek designs, and a wide range of models to suit just about anyone’s needs. But when it comes to keeping your printer stocked with ink or toner, things can get a bit confusing. What’s the best option to save money and keep your printer running smoothly?

Is HP Instant Ink really worth it? Or are you better off sticking with traditional cartridges? In this blog, I’ll break it all down, comparing costs, convenience, and everything else you need to know to make the best choice for your printing setup.

What are Recycled Cartridges?

When it comes to buying printer cartridges, you’ve got two main choices: original (OEM) cartridges from the printer’s brand (e.g. HP) or recycled (also called remanufactured) cartridges. Recycled cartridges have come a long way in recent years and now offer a real alternative to OEM options.

So, what are they? Recycled cartridges are basically original cartridges that have been cleaned, refilled, rechipped, and thoroughly tested to work just like new.

Thanks to improvements in technology, they deliver the same quality and number of prints as original cartridges, but at a much lower price. They’re also more environmentally friendly since they reuse materials and reduce waste.

Will recycled cartridges damage my printer warranty?

Short answer: No.

The technology behind recycled cartridges is so advanced that it’s tough to tell the difference in print quality compared to OEM cartridges. If you’re worried about warranty issues or print quality, a good provider will give you the support and assurances you need.

At IJT Direct, for instance, we offer a full warranty that protects your printer from damage whilst using our top quality, low price inkjet cartridges.

What is HP Instant Ink?

HP Instant Ink is a subscription service that works a bit differently from buying cartridges the old-fashioned way. Instead of paying for the ink itself, you pay a monthly fee based on how many pages you print. The plans start at £1.49/month for light use (up to 10 pages) and go up to £25.49/month (up to 700 pages) if you’re printing a lot, like in a business.

How does HP Instant Ink work?

Here’s how it works: you pick a plan based on how many pages you think you’ll print each month. Your printer tracks its own ink levels and automatically orders replacements when it’s running low. Fresh cartridges show up in the mail, and you send the empties back to HP using a prepaid envelope they include.

It doesn’t matter if you’re printing a simple black-and-white document or a full-page colour photo—each page counts the same. If your printing needs change, you can switch plans or cancel at any time (but not without caveats - more on that later). The main thing to remember is that you’ll pay per page you print, not the number of HP Ink cartridges (or toner cartridges) you use.

It’s straightforward and convenient, but whether it’s worth it depends on how much you print and what kind of documents you’re usually working with.

Pros of HP Instant Ink

Convenience

One perk of HP Instant Ink is that it’s pretty hands off as long as you have chosen the right plan. With the correct usage tier, you don’t have to think about monitoring ink levels or purchasing new cartridges. Everything is automatic. Your printer orders replacements when needed, and they show up at your door.

Of course, there are still manual elements to the subscription. You have to be pretty calculated about monitoring your printing levels so you don’t get whacked with overage fees. So that’s definitely something to consider.

Bonus: some printers even include a few months of Instant Ink when you first buy them, so you can test it out without extra cost.

Less cartridge changes

HP Instant Ink cartridges are larger than the ones you’d buy individually, even compared to high-yield ones. That means they last much longer. If you’re someone who dreads swapping out cartridges every few weeks, this could be a big plus for you. Less fuss, less hassle.

That said, if you don’t print frequently the larger cartridge has more of a chance of drying out, which I’ll explain more later.

Consistent cartridge costs

With a monthly subscription, it’s easier to plan your printing expenses. Instead of paying a lump sum for cartridges when they run out, you’ll know exactly what you’re spending each month.

But keep in mind: if you print more than your plan allows, overage fees can kick in, which might make things less predictable (I’ll get into that later).

Cons of HP Instant Ink

Instant Ink cartridges are very large and can dry up without frequent printing

Okay, so I mentioned before that the Instant Ink cartridges are larger than anything you can buy individually. This is a huge plus for frequent printers like businesses, but if you’re a home user who doesn’t print every day, this larger cartridge could actually be bad news for you,

If not used frequently, ink can dry up inside the cartridge or even clog the printer’s internal components, which may ultimately mean replacing the printer altogether. Of course, this isn’t a problem unique to HP Instant Ink - it could happen with any ink cartridge - but its worse when the cartridge is larger like the Instant Ink ones.

You can’t use Instant Ink cartridges after you cancel your subscription

So, let's say you try Instant Ink and decide you want to cancel your subscription. You might be unhappy to find out that any Instant Ink cartridges you have in your printer will no longer work, even if they’re still full.

By contrast, recycled cartridges are yours to use whenever and however you like. You can buy them individually or in bulk without worrying about a subscription. Once you own them, they’re yours, no strings attached.

HP Instant Ink bills for pages printed, not ink used

One of the quirks of HP Instant Ink is that it charges per page, not by how much ink you use. This can be both a blessing and a curse, depending on what you’re printing.

HP defines a “page” as anything printed on a sheet, whether it’s a single letter, a small image, or a full-page photo. Even printing on both sides of a page counts as two separate pages.

In my experience, it's pretty common for printing to unnecessarily spill over multiple pages, like just the thumbnail of a concert ticket or the letterhead of a form printing an extra page or two. With HP Instant Ink, you’ll be paying the same for this page as a full page image.

This means you’ll need to be mindful of how your printing spreads across pages, as you could quickly use up your allowance or incur overage fees for extra pages.

HP Instant Ink overage fees can add up quickly

If you exceed your monthly page allowance, HP charges an overage fee: £1 for every additional 10 pages over your plan. While this might not seem like much, it can add up quickly if you consistently print more than your subscription allows. You can adjust your plan online to a higher tier if needed, but of course, that means paying more each month.

You can’t switch to recycled cartridges when using HP Instant Ink

I know what you’re thinking - why not have the best of both worlds? Some customers think about getting a low tier Instant Ink subscription (like 10 or 50 pages a month), then for the months they print more than that, just switch to using recycled cartridges to avoid the overage fees. Unfortunately, this is not possible.

HP instant ink is designed to tie you to HP original manufacturer ink. They’ve made it so that your printer will reject any recycled cartridges while you’re still under subscription.

You could keep a stash of OEM HP cartridges for emergencies, but once your new Instant Ink shipment arrives, those backup cartridges may go unused and could eventually dry out.

If you prefer flexibility in choosing cartridges, HP Instant Ink might not suit your needs.

Pros of Recycled Cartridges

More control over price

When you buy recycled ink you’re in charge of your printing costs. HP Instant Ink has increased their prices in 2023 and early 2024, and you’re basically stuck with whatever pricing changes they decide to make as they have the monopoly. Recycled cartridges let you take back control.

It doesn’t matter if you’re printing habits change

With recycled cartridges, there’s no need to monitor your printing habits or try to predict how much you’ll print in a month. You can print as much or as little as you like without worrying about overage fees or subscription tiers.

This is especially handy for home users who might suddenly need to print a long document or for businesses during busy times like the end of the financial year.

You can choose the cartridge size that suits you

Recycled cartridges come in standard and XL sizes. Unlike with HP Instant Ink cartridges which come in just one size, you can choose which one will be more suitable for you.

If you don’t print much, standard cartridges might make more sense to prevent the ink drying out. But if you’re a frequent printer, XL cartridges can help reduce waste and save time. If you’d like to know more about choosing between XL and standard cartridges, I’ve actually written a whole blog on it!

With recycled cartridges, you can choose what works best for your needs. Unlike the one-size-fits-all subscription model.

Recycled cartridges are guaranteed to work with your printer

Recycled cartridges are thoroughly tested and guaranteed to work with your printer, so you don’t have to worry about compatibility issues. They’re designed to deliver the same quality and performance as OEM cartridges.

Recycled cartridges are environmentally friendly

Recycled cartridges give empty cartridges a second life. By choosing them, you’re helping to reduce waste and support a more sustainable approach to printing. It’s a simple way to do something positive for the planet while saving money.

Cons of Recycled Cartridges

You have to manage the ordering yourself

One downside of using recycled cartridges is that you’re in charge of keeping track of your ink levels and ordering replacements when needed. Unlike HP Instant Ink, where everything is automated, you’ll need to be proactive to avoid running out of ink at the worst possible moment.

It’s not a huge hassle, but it does require a little more attention.

Inconsistent quality across manufacturers

While most reputable providers ensure their cartridges are cleaned, refilled, and tested properly, not all recycled cartridges are created equal.

If you choose low quality ones, you could have issues like leaking and streaky prints. To avoid this, you’ll need to choose your supplier carefully. Look for reputable providers that offer a warranty and have positive online reviews (like IJT?).

Is HP Instant Ink Cheaper Than Recycled Cartridges?

I was really curious to get to the bottom of this question, so I did an investigation and crunched all the numbers. Honestly, the answer is that it will depend on how consistent your printing is, how often you print and what kind of printer you own.

For those with laser printers or inkjet users who print less than 100 pages a month, I’d recommend sticking with recycled cartridges. But for high-volume inkjet printers, HP Instant Ink might be worth considering—if your printing is consistent, and you don’t exceed your plan.

Let me explain why!

How much does HP Instant Ink cost for HP inkjet printers?

If you have an Inkjet printer, consider the cost for the HP Instant Ink tiers per page.

How much do recycled cartridges cost for HP inkjet printers?

Okay, so below I’ve put into a table some popular inkjet cartridge types with varying yields and prices to give an example.

I recommend finding out which cartridge your printer uses for a fully personalised analysis. You can use our ink cartridges finder. To calculate the cost per page, divide the cost of the recycled cartridge by the page yield.

My recommendation for inkjet printers

Okay, so for inkjet printers, I don’t recommend Instant Ink for anyone that prints less than 100 pages a month, so that will be for most home users. Business owners, on the other hand, might save some money with Instant Ink, depending on cartridge type. Let me give some specifics.

Home users

For light and occasional tiers (printing 10-50 pages per month), I do not recommend HP Instant Ink. At £0.15 and £0.08 per page respectively, you’ll almost definitely be paying more per page than you would with recycled ink. For some cartridge types, like those that cost £0.04 per page, you could save up to £0.11 per print (if using the ‘light’ plan). That’s quite a saving!

And like I said before, the less frequently you print, the more likely the cartridge is to dry up and for ink to be wasted. So, you could be saving even more because recycled cartridges are smaller than the Instant Ink ones and you can change them more often. That means less chance of wasted ink.

Businesses

For the moderate, frequent and business tiers of HP Instant Ink (100-700 pages), you are likely to pay a similar amount per page for both Instant Ink and recycled cartridges (around £0.04, depending on your cartridge type), or in some cases you may save a few cents per page. So for business inkjet users, Instant Ink may be a cheaper option in some cases.

However, it’s worth mentioning that you’ll only be saving money with Instant Ink if you don’t go over your monthly limit. If you print even just 10 pages over in a month, the recycled cartridges would be cheaper.

So, I would recommend Instant Ink for businesses that have very consistent printing habits. Of course, you should also take into account other pros of recycled cartridges, like that they’re eco-friendly, not tied to a subscription and don’t require monitoring of your printing, before making your final choice.

How much does HP Instant Toner cost for HP laser printers?

If you have a laser printer rather than an InkJet printer, you’ll need to look at the cost of Instant Ink toner rather than ink cartridges.

How much do recycled cartridges cost for HP laser printers?

I’ve put into a table some popular HP toner cartridge types with varying yields and prices to give you examples.

I recommend finding out which cartridge your printer uses for a fully personalised analysis here. You can use our toner cartridges finder. To calculate the cost per page, divide the cost of the recycled cartridge by the page yield.

My recommendation for laser printers

Okay, so if you have a laser printer, I do not recommend Instant Ink because you will be massively overpaying for the toner.

This is because toner cartridges last a lot longer than inkjet ones, so paying a monthly subscription just doesn’t make sense when you compare the costs per print. And toner cartridges don’t dry up like ink ones, so there’s no need to worry about that.

Based on my calculations (and depending on your cartridge and tier), you could save up to £0.034 per print! As a business owner, that really adds up over time.

Questions to Ask Yourself Before Choosing HP Instant Ink

Is your printer compatible with HP instant Ink?

Not all HP printers work with Instant Ink, so if you already own one, you’ll need to double-check compatibility on the HP website before signing up.

What kind of printer do you have?

If you have an inkjet printer, you may save money with Instant Ink if you print more than 100 pages per month if you don’t get hit with any overage fees.

On the other hand, if you own a laser printer, Instant Toner is much more expensive than recycled toner cartridges. Check out the tables above for more specifics.

How much do you print per month?

Take a look at my recommendations in the last section. If you print more than 100 pages a month and own a laser printer, Instant Ink could save you some money.

If you print less than 100 pages per month, you will likely lose money using Instant Ink and the extra-large Instant Ink cartridges will dry up before you even finish them. What a waste!

How consistent is your printing volume?

If your printing habits fluctuate (say, you have months of heavy printing followed by long stretches of light use) HP Instant Ink might not be ideal. Choosing a plan based on high-use months could leave you paying overage fees later, while a low-use plan might lead to ink drying up before you use it.

I do not recommend Instant Ink for offices that have a very inconsistent printing volume, as you’ll get charged overage fees.

What kind of documents do you print?

If you frequently print in colour or create high-quality photo prints, HP Instant Ink might be worth it. HP Instant Ink charges the same for every page regardless of ink used, so the price doesn’t change between a simple text document and a full-page photo print.

This model could save you money if you print lots of photos or graphics.

My Final Thoughts

Choosing between HP Instant Ink and recycled cartridges really comes down to your printing habits and priorities.

If convenience is your top concern, HP Instant Ink might be appealing. It handles ink management for you, offers larger cartridges, and is a good choice for those who print high volumes consistently or create lots of colour-heavy documents like photos.

However, the subscription model ties you to HP’s terms, meaning overage fees can add up, especially if your printing habits fluctuate.

On the other hand, recycled cartridges offer more flexibility and control. You decide when and how much to spend, choose the cartridge size that fits your needs, and avoid being locked into a subscription. They’re also more environmentally friendly.

However, they do require you to manage your ink levels and ensure you’re buying from a reputable supplier.

Ultimately, the right choice depends on your printing habits, the type of printer you own, and how much flexibility you want. Whichever you choose, make sure it works for your needs and budget!

Blog Author: Simon Cross is the engaging and knowledgeable voice behind the insightful articles on printers and printer consumables at IJT Direct, an ecommerce store renowned for its comprehensive selection of printers, printer consumables, and hardware. View Simons author page to find out more about him.