Canon vs Epson Printer: Which Is Better? (2026)
Canon wins on upfront price — the PIXMA TR4720 ($479) is the most affordable all-in-one on this page. Epson wins on long-term cost: the EcoTank ET-2800 ($179.99) includes 2 years of ink in the box and costs a fraction per page compared to Canon cartridges. For light printing, get Canon. For frequent printing, Epson pays back within months.
See Today’s Price →At a Glance
Canon vs Epson Printer Buying Guide
Canon and Epson both make excellent home printers, but they've built competing philosophies around ink. Canon printers use standard ink cartridges — lower upfront cost, widely available replacement ink, and reliable performance for light to moderate printing. Epson's EcoTank printers use refillable ink tanks that hold dramatically more ink, dramatically reducing the per-page cost for high-volume printing. This comparison covers 2 Canon PIXMA models ($479–$149) and 2 Epson EcoTank models ($179.99–$219.99).
Canon vs Epson: The Core Difference
Canon's advantage is low upfront cost and widely available ink. The PIXMA TR4720 at $69 is a capable all-in-one that costs $110 less than the cheapest Epson here. Replacement cartridges cost $8–$25 and are available everywhere. Epson's advantage is long-term economics: the EcoTank ET-2800 at $179.99 includes enough ink for approximately 4,500 black pages and 7,500 color pages — roughly 2 years of average household printing included in the box. After those initial tanks, EcoTank refill bottles cost around $15–$20 and last for years.
Where Canon Wins
Canon wins for light printers and upfront cost. The PIXMA TR4720 at $69 includes wireless printing, ADF for multi-page document scanning, fax, and all-in-one functionality for under $70. For households that print occasionally — a few dozen pages per month — Canon's cartridge system is economical and the lower purchase price wins outright. The TR8620 at $149 adds a touchscreen, a 5-cartridge ink system for sharper photos, and dual paper trays for households that need separate photo and document paper loaded simultaneously.
Where Epson Wins
Epson wins for frequent printers on per-page cost. After the included ink runs out, EcoTank refill bottles deliver ink at approximately $0.003–$0.01 per page — compared to $0.05–$0.15 per page for Canon cartridges. A household printing 200 pages per month recoups the Epson price premium over Canon within 6–9 months. The ET-3850 at $219.99 also adds an ADF (absent on ET-2800) for multi-page document scanning, matching Canon TR4720's ADF at a $150 premium that the long-term ink savings more than offset for frequent users.
Price and Long-Term Cost
Canon models: $69–$149 upfront. Standard black cartridge: $8–$12, ~200–300 pages = $0.04–$0.06/page. Epson EcoTank models: $179.99–$219.99 upfront. EcoTank black refill bottle: ~$15, ~7,500 pages = $0.002/page. For 100 pages/month: Canon breakeven on ink savings vs Epson premium = 18–24 months. For 300 pages/month: breakeven = 6–9 months. High-volume printers should strongly consider Epson.
Get Canon if / Get Epson if
Get Canon if you print occasionally (under 100 pages per month), want the lowest upfront cost, or primarily print photos where Canon's color accuracy is excellent — the TR4720 at $69 is the best budget entry. Get Epson if you print regularly (100+ pages per month), want to eliminate the cost and frustration of running out of cartridges, or plan to keep the printer for 3+ years — the EcoTank system pays for itself and delivers dramatic long-term savings.
How We Picked These
We compared 4 printers from Canon and Epson across upfront cost, cost-per-page, print quality, ADF availability, connectivity, and long-term value, cross-referencing picks with expert reviews from Wirecutter, PCMag, and Consumer Reports. Products were selected to represent each brand entry and mid-range inkjet models with active Amazon listings and verified images.
Watch Before You Buy
“The Canon EOS Rebel T7 DSLR Camera 18-55mm Lens 24.1 MP Wi-Fi DIGIC 4+ features 24.1mp. 4.6 stars from 8,405 Amazon reviews signal consistent reliability.”
See Today’s Price →What we like
- 24.1MP resolution produces printable, croppable images from an entry-level camera — enough for canvas prints and detailed photo editing
- Scene Intelligent Auto mode makes accurate exposure decisions in most conditions so beginners can learn composition without fighting manual settings first
- EF-S 18-55mm IS II kit lens covers wide-angle through short telephoto — the versatile starting range that handles most beginner shooting situations
- Bluetooth connectivity supports smartphone app remote control and image transfer without additional accessories
- Canon's dedicated image processor delivers fast autofocus response that keeps up with basic action and moving subjects
Watch out for
- DIGIC 4+ processor shows age vs current mirrorless cameras
- No 4K video — tops out at Full HD 1080p
- Live View AF is slow compared to mirrorless
Read Full Analysis
The Canon EOS Rebel T7 is Canon's entry-level DSLR camera, built around a 24.1MP APS-C CMOS sensor with Canon's DIGIC 4+ image processor, a 9-point all-cross-type autofocus system, and built-in Wi-Fi with NFC for wireless image transfer. It accepts the full Canon EF and EF-S lens ecosystem — one of the widest lens libraries available — and supports Full HD video recording at 30fps. The optical viewfinder and familiar DSLR ergonomics make it a logical step up for photographers moving beyond smartphones. On this Canon vs Epson comparison page, the Canon EOS Rebel T7 appears as a Canon brand product in a context focused primarily on printer comparisons between Canon and Epson. It represents Canon's imaging division rather than its printing lineup. Epson products on this page are inkjet printers; the Rebel T7 is a DSLR camera, making direct Canon-vs-Epson comparison here atypical. Among Canon products on the page, it represents the photography side of the brand. The Canon EOS Rebel T7 is a strong entry-level DSLR for beginner photographers who want a broad lens ecosystem and optical viewfinder shooting. For Canon printer comparisons on this page, the Canon PIXMA TR4720 is the relevant product. The Rebel T7 is the right pick for first-time DSLR buyers who want Canon's lens compatibility and simple controls.
“The Canon PIXMA TR4520 delivers reliable all-in-one wireless printing at home with Canon's trusted print quality — a solid choice for everyday document and photo printing needs.”
See Today’s Price →Watch out for
- Advanced configuration may require technical knowledge to fully optimize
- Performance may lag behind premium models for intensive workloads
“The Canon PIXMA TR4720 is the best budget all-in-one at $79 — print, scan, copy, fax, and ADF in one compact package with Canon's widely available cartridges, though print speed is slower than premium”
See Today’s Price →What we like
- Under $70 all-in-one with print/scan/copy/fax
- ADF for multi-page documents
- Wireless and Bluetooth
- 4800x1200 dpi for photo quality
- Compact design fits small desks
Watch out for
- Slower print speed (8.8ppm black)
- Ink cartridges cost more per page than EcoTank
Read Full Analysis
The Canon PIXMA TR4720 is a compact all-in-one inkjet with a built-in automatic document feeder — a feature uncommon at the $69 price point that allows multi-page documents to be copied or scanned without manual page-by-page feeding. It handles print, copy, scan, and fax with wireless connectivity for Apple AirPrint, Mopria, and the Canon PRINT Inkjet app. Auto-duplex printing on both sides is standard, and the 2.0-inch LCD makes navigation straightforward without a computer. On this Canon vs Epson comparison, the PIXMA TR4720 at $69 competes against Epson's all-in-one printers at similar price points. Canon's advantage at this tier is the ADF — many Epson models near $69 omit document feeders. Epson typically competes on ink efficiency, particularly EcoTank models offering refillable tanks that cut per-page costs dramatically versus conventional cartridges. The PIXMA TR4720 uses standard ink cartridges, which cost more per page long-term than Epson EcoTank equivalents that serve high-volume printers better. The Canon PIXMA TR4720 is the right choice for a home office that needs a compact ADF-equipped all-in-one under $75 for occasional multi-page document scanning and copying. Skip it if you print in high volume — per-cartridge ink costs accumulate quickly, and Epson EcoTank alternatives on this page offer dramatically lower running costs for frequent printers.
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See Today’s Price →Watch out for
- Advanced configuration may require technical knowledge to fully optimize
- Performance may lag behind premium models for intensive workloads
Read Full Analysis
Extremely low running costs, large ink reservoirs; great for high-volume home printing. Reliable performance for everyday computing and productivity tasks Advanced configuration may require technical knowledge to fully optimize Performance may lag behind premium models for intensive workloads Compared to the Canon PIXMA TR4720 at $69 on this page, the Epson Epson EcoTank ET-2800 costs $141 more but may offer additional features or brand support worth considering for serious users.
Frequently Asked Questions
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How We Analyze Products
We analyze Amazon review data — often thousands of reviews per product — to surface patterns that individual buyers miss. Our process aggregates star ratings, review counts, and buyer sentiment at scale, identifying which strengths and weaknesses appear consistently across the largest review samples available. The 23,759+ reviews analyzed on this page represent real verified-purchase feedback from Amazon buyers.
Each product earned its placement through data: total review volume, average rating, and the specific praise and complaints that repeat most often across buyers. No manufacturer paid for placement on this page. Products appear here because buyers endorsed them at scale, not because a company asked us to feature them.
We use AI to summarize review sentiment — not to fabricate opinions, but to condense what thousands of buyers actually wrote into a readable format. The pros and cons you see reflect the most common themes found in verified purchaser reviews, paraphrased for clarity. We do not claim to have accessed Reddit, YouTube, or specific publications in generating these summaries.
Prices shown reflect Amazon pricing at the time this page was last generated. Click “See Today’s Price” to get the current live price on Amazon. Read our full methodology →