Canon vs HP Printer 2026: Which Printer Brand Wins?
Canon PIXMA TR4720 ($149) and HP DeskJet 4155e ($69.99) are neck-and-neck at entry level — Canon wins on print quality for photos; HP wins on ink subscription savings via Instant Ink. Canon PIXMA TR8620 ($149) is the best all-in-one for home offices needing fax and duplex.
See Today’s Price →At a Glance
Canon vs HP Printer Buying Guide
How we compared these. We compared Canon and HP printers across print quality (DPI), ink cost per page (ISO standard), print speed (PPM), wireless reliability, and total cost of ownership over 2 years, cross-referencing PCMag, Consumer Reports, and verified owner reviews.
Canon and HP are the two most-sold inkjet printer brands, and they go head-to-head in the $149-149 range covered by these four models. Both offer wireless printing, scanning, and copying. The differences come down to photo print quality, ink subscription options, and feature depth.
Canon vs HP: The Core Difference
Canon leads on photo print quality. The PIXMA TR4720 ($69) uses a 4-color dye-ink system optimized for crisp, color-accurate photos and graphics. Canon's FINE print head technology delivers 4800 x 1200 dpi resolution. HP takes a different approach: DeskJet 4155e ($69.99) and DeskJet 2755e ($84.99) are optimized for everyday document printing with HP Instant Ink integration. HP Instant Ink replaces ink by page usage rather than cartridge levels, cutting ink costs for high-volume users by up to 50%%. Canon wins on photo output; HP wins on ink economy.
Where Canon Wins
Canon PIXMA printers consistently outperform HP DeskJet models on photo print quality. The PIXMA TR8620 ($149) adds a 5-color ink system for even richer photo reproduction, plus an ADF (auto document feeder), two-sided scanning, and fax — features missing from HP DeskJet. Canon's PIXMA TR4720 ($69) produces noticeably better photo prints than HP DeskJet 4155e at the same price, making it the better choice for families who print photos regularly.
Where HP Wins
HP wins on ink economics and app ecosystem. HP Instant Ink (starting at $0.99/month) monitors your ink remotely and ships replacement cartridges before you run out — a genuine convenience for busy households. HP DeskJet 4155e ($69.99) also supports HP Smart app integration for mobile scanning and print jobs. For offices that print mostly documents and spreadsheets, HP DeskJet is optimized for that workflow and Instant Ink makes the total cost of ownership lower over time.
Choose Canon If... / Choose HP If...
Choose Canon PIXMA TR4720 ($69) for the best photo print quality at entry level. Choose Canon PIXMA TR8620 ($149) for a complete home office printer with fax, ADF, and 5-color photos. Choose HP DeskJet 4155e ($69.99) or DeskJet 2755e ($84.99) for document printing with Instant Ink savings. Canon wins for photo printers; HP wins for document printers with ink subscriptions.
Watch Before You Buy
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“Best Canon for photo and document printing”
See Today’s Price →What we like
- Canon photo print quality is excellent at this price
- 20-sheet ADF for multi-page scanning
- Wireless, mobile printing, and Bluetooth
- Compact design
- Good color accuracy for photos
Watch out for
- Ink cartridges are expensive without a subscription
- Lower print speed than laser
- Fax feature adds cost that most buyers don't need
Read Full Analysis
The Canon PIXMA TR4720 handles print, copy, scan, and fax with Canon's 4-color ink system for sharper photo output than comparably-priced HP models. Compatible with Canon's FINE ink cartridges. Best for: households that print both documents and occasional photos.
“Best all-in-one wireless printer under $70”
See Today’s Price →What we like
- Most affordable all-in-one on this list
- HP Instant Ink subscription option included
- Quick wireless setup via HP Smart app
- Compact footprint for small spaces
- Prints, scans, and copies
Watch out for
- Print speed is modest (8.5 ppm black)
- No ADF — manual document placement for scanning
- Ink cartridge costs are high if you don't subscribe
Read Full Analysis
The HP DeskJet 4155e includes print, scan, copy, and fax in one compact machine. 6 months of free Instant Ink included. HP+ compatible for ongoing ink savings. Best for: home users who need an affordable all-in-one with smart ink management.
“The HP DeskJet 2755e All-in-One Printer features print, scan, and copy functionality. Best suited for home users who print occasionally and want all-in-one convenience.”
See Today’s Price →What we like
- Print, scan, and copy functionality
- Wireless printing from any device
- Compatible with Instant Ink subscription
- Compact footprint
Watch out for
- Slow print speed at 8ppm
- Color ink cartridges are expensive per page
Read Full Analysis
On a Canon vs HP printer comparison, the HP DeskJet 2755e at $84.99 is the most expensive of three options — above the Canon PIXMA TR4720 at $69 and the HP DeskJet 4155e at $69.99. Its specific audience is HP Instant Ink subscribers. The Instant Ink model charges a flat monthly fee per printed page rather than per cartridge, and the DeskJet 2755e is optimized for that service — HP's app integrates directly with Instant Ink enrollment, tracking pages and automatically ordering ink before it runs out. For households that print sporadically (the worst case for per-cartridge cost) or consistently at volume (where per-page pricing beats retail cartridges), the 2755e makes the subscription economics work. The wireless printing, scan, and copy functions cover standard home needs. Buyers who print without a subscription will find the Canon TR4720 at $69 a better value — comparable features at $16 less with lower per-page cartridge costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper to run, Canon or HP?
Is Canon or HP better for photo printing?
Do HP Instant Ink cartridges work without a subscription?
Can I use third-party ink cartridges?
Which brand is more reliable long-term?
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 26,555+ 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.
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