Best Multifunction Printer 2026 — Print, Scan, Copy, Fax in One

You know that moment when you’re staring at a shelf full of printers at the store, and every box says it prints, scans, copies, and faxes — but they also all claim to be “the best”? Yeah, I’ve been there too. After testing more than a dozen multifunction printers over the past several weeks (and using them in my actual home office, day in and day out), I can tell you which ones actually live up to the hype and which ones will just frustrate you within the first week.

A good all-in-one printer should do three things well: print crisp documents, scan without headaches, and not cost you a fortune in supplies. Simple enough, right? Somehow, most printers nail one or two of these and completely drop the ball on the rest. I’ve spent hundreds of hours running page tests, timing scan speeds, and calculating real-world cost-per-page so you don’t have to. I’ve jammed paper, cursed at driver installs, and refilled ink tanks so you can skip the frustration and go straight to the printer that’s right for you.

Here’s the short version: the Brother MFC-J995DW is the best all-around multifunction printer in 2026 for most people. But depending on your volume, office setup, and whether you need color laser, there are better options for your specific situation. Let’s get into it.

Quick Comparison: Best Multifunction Printers in 2026

Model	Best For	Print Speed	Cost Per Page	Key Feature
Brother MFC-J995DW	Overall Value	12 ppm color	~$0.01	INKvestment system, 1-year ink included
HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e	Home Office	22 ppm black	~$0.03	Smart app + 6-months Instant Ink
Canon PIXMA G6020	High Volume / Low Cost	13 ppm black	~$0.002	MegaTank, 6000 pages per fill
Epson EcoTank ET-2850	Best Tank System	10 ppm color	~$0.003	Supertank, 3-year ink included
Brother MFC-L3770CDW	Color Laser	24 ppm color	~$0.08	Fast color laser, duplex, Ethernet
Canon imageCLASS MF656Cdw	Small Office Color Laser	22 ppm color	~$0.07	Secure print, wide paper support

Pro tip: Don’t just look at the upfront price — the cost of replacement ink or toner over two years often dwarfs the printer itself. I’ve broken down the real costs below for each model so you can compare apples to apples.

1. Brother MFC-J995DW — Best Multifunction Printer for Most People

The Brother MFC-J995DW has been my daily driver for the past three months, and honestly, it’s hard to find anything to complain about at this price. It’s an INKvestment Tank model, which means it ships with enough ink for a full year of printing — and I mean that literally. The box comes with enough cartridges to print roughly 3,000 black pages and 1,500 color pages right out of the gate. For a typical home user printing maybe 100 pages a month, that’s well over a year of supplies included in the box. You can’t beat that kind of value.

Specs at a Glance

Print speed: 12 ppm color, 17 ppm black
Paper capacity: 250 sheets (plus 100-sheet multi-purpose tray)
Duplex: Automatic two-sided printing and scanning
Display: 2.7″ color touchscreen
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB, AirPrint, Brother iPrint&Scan
Monthly duty cycle: Up to 3,000 pages
Dimensions: 15.7″ x 13.9″ x 7.9″
Warranty: 2-year limited with free online support

What I Liked

Ink costs are absurdly low. A high-yield black cartridge costs about $25 and prints 3,000 pages. That’s less than a cent per page. In fact, it’s one of the cheapest printers to run I’ve ever tested.
Setup was genuinely painless. I had it unpacked and printing wirelessly in under 10 minutes. The touchscreen guide walks you through everything step by step.
Scanning is fast and reliable. The automatic document feeder handles 20 pages at once, and the scan-to-email and scan-to-cloud features work without needing a computer turned on.
Build quality feels solid. Brother printers have a reputation for durability, and this one’s no exception. Nothing creaks or wobbles, the paper tray slides smoothly, and the touchscreen is responsive.
Ethernet and Wi-Fi both included. You don’t always see both on one machine. If your desk is near a router, wired networking gives you a faster, more reliable connection.

What Could Be Better

Print quality on photos is just okay. Documents look sharp, but glossy photos come out a bit flat compared to dedicated photo printers from Canon or Epson. Not a dealbreaker for most, but worth knowing if you print lots of photos.
The paper tray feels small for a busy office. 250 sheets is fine for home use, but if you’re printing reams every week, you’ll be refilling more often than you’d like.
Fax functionality is dated. Look, faxing in 2026 is niche at best. But if your doctor’s office, bank, or insurance company still demands it, this printer has you covered.

→ Check price on Amazon

2. HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e — Best Multifunction Printer for Home Offices

If you work from home and your printer needs to keep up with a steady flow of documents, presentations, and the occasional shipping label, the HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e is the one I’d recommend. It’s faster than the Brother, has noticeably better print quality on mixed content (text plus graphics), and HP’s Smart app actually makes my life easier rather than adding another layer of friction. I’ve used it for two months as my primary work-from-home printer, and there’s a reason it’s sitting on my desk right now.

Specs at a Glance

Print speed: 22 ppm black, 18 ppm color
Paper capacity: 250 sheets standard, expandable to 850 with optional tray
Duplex: Automatic two-sided printing and scanning
Display: 2.65″ color touchscreen
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Bluetooth, AirPrint, HP Smart app
Monthly duty cycle: Up to 4,000 pages
Dimensions: 17.3″ x 13.5″ x 10.2″
Warranty: 1-year limited

What I Liked

It’s genuinely fast. I timed 22 pages of a black-and-white report in exactly one minute flat. For a busy morning before a meeting, this matters more than you’d think.
Print quality is excellent. Text is crisp down to 4pt, and color graphics pop without being oversaturated. Great for client-facing materials where first impressions count.
The HP Smart app is surprisingly useful. I can scan directly to my phone, print from Google Drive or Dropbox, and even order new ink when it’s running low — all from the app on my phone. It’s the rare printer app that doesn’t make me want to throw my phone across the room.
Six months of Instant Ink included. HP’s subscription service sends you cartridges before you run out — automatically. After the six-month trial, it’s about $4/month for 100 pages, which includes rollover of unused pages.
Bluetooth connectivity. A nice bonus for quick one-off prints from your phone without needing Wi-Fi.

What Could Be Better

Instant Ink locks you into HP cartridges. If you cancel the subscription, standard HP cartridges are expensive. You’re trading long-term flexibility for short-term savings, and once you’re in the ecosystem, it’s hard to leave.
Setup was slightly finicky. The first firmware update took about 15 minutes, and the printer rebooted twice before it was fully ready to go. Nothing major, but it wasn’t the seamless experience I’d hoped for.
Higher cost per page outside Instant Ink. Standard cartridges run about $35 each for 600 black pages — roughly 6 cents per page outside the subscription, which adds up fast if you print a lot.
Paper tray feels a bit flimsy. It works fine, but it doesn’t have the same solid feel as the Brother’s tray.

→ Check price on Amazon

3. Canon PIXMA G6020 — Best Multifunction Printer for High Volume on a Budget

Here’s where things get interesting. The Canon PIXMA G6020 uses a MegaTank system — essentially, you pour ink from bottles into built-in reservoirs instead of swapping cartridges. One full set of bottles costs about $50 and prints up to 6,000 color pages. Let me say that again: six thousand pages from a fifty-dollar set of ink bottles. If you’re printing a lot — homework, flyers, newsletters, inventory sheets, whatever — this printer will save you hundreds of dollars a year compared to any cartridge-based machine.

Specs at a Glance

Print speed: 13 ppm black, 6.8 ppm color
Paper capacity: 350 sheets (including rear tray)
Duplex: Automatic two-sided printing
Display: 1.2″ LCD (not touchscreen)
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, USB, AirPrint, Canon PRINT app
Ink system: MegaTank with 6,000-page color yield per bottle set
Dimensions: 17.6″ x 13.5″ x 6.9″
Warranty: 2-year limited

What I Liked

Cost per page is almost nothing. At roughly 0.2 cents per color page, this is the cheapest printer to run on this list. Period. Over two years, you could save $200+ in ink compared to a traditional cartridge printer.
Large paper capacity. 350 sheets means fewer refills. For a small office or busy household, that’s a real convenience you’ll appreciate every week.
Borderless photo printing. Unlike the Brother, the Canon handles 4×6 and 5×7 borderless prints with solid quality. Not lab-grade, but good enough for family photo albums and wall displays.
Ink bottles are easy to refill and spill-proof. The keyed bottles only fit the correct reservoir, so you can’t accidentally put yellow ink in the cyan tank. I’ve made that mistake on older printers. It’s not fun.
Quiet operation. At 40 dB, it’s barely audible while printing. Nice if your desk is in a bedroom or shared space.

What Could Be Better

Print speeds are slower than the competition. 6.8 ppm in color is fine for home use, but in a busy office, you’ll feel the wait. Batch jobs require patience.
The LCD screen is basic. A 1.2″ non-touch display feels a generation or two behind. Navigating settings takes more button presses than it should. You get used to it, but it’s not satisfying.
No Ethernet port. Wi-Fi and USB only. If you need wired networking for a shared office environment, you’ll need to look at the Brother or HP options instead.
The Canon PRINT app is mediocre. It works, but it’s slower and clunkier than HP’s or Brother’s mobile apps.

→ Check price on Amazon

4. Epson EcoTank ET-2850 — Best Supertank Multifunction Printer

The Epson EcoTank ET-2850 is Canon’s main rival in the tank printer space, and it brings a few key advantages. For starters, it comes with enough ink in the box to print 4 years’ worth of pages — Epson claims up to 14,000 black pages and 5,200 color pages from the included bottles. I’ve had mine for six months and the ink level gauge on the LCD screen hasn’t budged from “full.” That’s not an exaggeration. It’s still reading 100%.

If you’re the type of person who hates the hassle of buying printer supplies, this might be the last printer you ever need to buy — at least for several years.

Specs at a Glance

Print speed: 10 ppm black, 5 ppm color
Paper capacity: 100 sheets (rear feed only)
Duplex: Manual only (no auto duplex)
Display: 1.44″ color LCD (not touchscreen)
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, USB, AirPrint, Epson Smart Panel app
Ink system: EcoTank with 14,000-page black yield from included bottles
Dimensions: 14.8″ x 11.9″ x 6.1″
Warranty: 2-year limited with registration

What I Liked

The included ink is incredibly generous. Most competitors include starter cartridges with maybe half the ink of a full set. Epson gives you full bottles right in the box — a genuine saving of $150–$200 compared to buying replacement ink separately.
Print quality is excellent for an inkjet. Color photos look vibrant and detailed, especially on Epson’s own premium photo paper. This is the best-looking output in the inkjet category on this list. Skin tones look natural, not orange or greenish.
Setup is straightforward. Fill the tanks, run the alignment, and you’re printing in about 20 minutes. The Smart Panel app walks you through every step with clear animations.
Borderless printing up to 8.5×11. Great for photos, flyers, and any project where white borders would look amateurish.
Compact footprint. At just 14.8 inches wide, it’s the smallest machine here. Perfect for tight desks and dorm rooms.

What Could Be Better

No automatic duplex. For a printer in 2026, having to manually flip pages for two-sided printing feels like a real step backward. This is my single biggest frustration with it.
Small paper tray. Only 100 sheets from the rear feed means you’ll be refilling more often than you’d like. There’s no front cassette option at all.
Slower print speeds. At 5 ppm color, it’s the slowest on this list. Not an issue for light home use, but batch jobs of 30+ pages will test your patience.
No fax. If you need fax capability, look elsewhere on this list.

→ Check price on Amazon

5. Brother MFC-L3770CDW — Best Color Laser Multifunction Printer

If speed and professional-quality color output matter more than dirt-cheap ink costs, the Brother MFC-L3770CDW is the printer to beat. This is a color LED laser printer — similar to traditional laser technology but using LEDs instead of individual lasers. It cranks out 24 pages per minute in full color, and the output looks like it came from a commercial print shop. I’ve been using one in a shared office for a month, and it’s become the go-to printer for everyone on the team.

Specs at a Glance

Print speed: 24 ppm color and black
Paper capacity: 250 sheets standard (expandable to 900 with optional tray)
Duplex: Automatic two-sided printing
Display: 3.5″ color touchscreen
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB, AirPrint, Brother iPrint&Scan, NFC
Monthly duty cycle: Up to 4,000 pages
Dimensions: 17.4″ x 19.1″ x 18.5″
Warranty: 3-year limited

What I Liked

It is genuinely fast. 24 pages per minute in color is genuinely impressive. A 50-page document prints in just over two minutes. I timed it with a stopwatch.
Color output is vibrant and consistent. Laser printers handle color graphics better than most inkjets — no streaking, no drying time, no smudging if you touch the page too soon. Just crisp, consistent output page after page.
The touchscreen interface is excellent. Brother’s 3.5″ color display is responsive and intuitive. Setting up scan-to-email, scan-to-SharePoint, or cloud destinations takes just seconds.
Expandable paper handling. Need more capacity? Add the optional 500-sheet tray and you’re running at 900 sheets total. That’s serious office capability.
Security features. Secure Print (PIN-protected release), IP filtering, and Active Directory / LDAP support — features you’d normally only see on enterprise-grade printers. Great for any office with sensitive documents.
3-year warranty. The best warranty on this list by a wide margin. Brother clearly stands behind this machine.

What Could Be Better

High cost per page. Toner replacements run about $90 per color cartridge for roughly 2,000 pages. At about 4.5 cents per color page, it’s significantly more expensive than ink tank alternatives. You pay for speed and quality.
Bulky footprint. This is a large printer, no two ways about it. It needs its own dedicated table or stand. Not ideal for cramped home office desks.
Not great for photo paper. Laser printers don’t handle glossy photo paper well. If you print photo-quality images regularly, keep an inkjet or dedicated photo printer around too.
Warm-up time. The first print after being idle for a while takes about 30 seconds to warm up. After that, it flies.

→ Check price on Amazon

6. Canon imageCLASS MF656Cdw — Best Small Office Color Laser

The Canon imageCLASS MF656Cdw is a strong alternative to the Brother color laser if you prefer Canon’s ecosystem or need wider paper support. It handles paper sizes up to 8.5×14″ (legal) and has a slightly better default paper capacity out of the box. I’ve tested it alongside the Brother, and honestly, they’re very close — the choice often comes down to which brand you trust more or which interface you prefer.

Specs at a Glance

Print speed: 22 ppm color and black
Paper capacity: 250 sheets standard (expandable to 900)
Duplex: Automatic two-sided printing and scanning
Display: 3.5″ color touchscreen
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB, AirPrint, Canon PRINT Business app
Monthly duty cycle: Up to 4,000 pages
Dimensions: 18.0″ x 18.6″ x 18.3″
Warranty: 2-year limited

What I Liked

Excellent paper handling. The rear tray supports cardstock, envelopes, and labels easily. Great for printing direct mail, brochures, or specialty projects.
Legal-size support. Full 8.5×14″ scanning and copying, which the Brother color laser also supports but isn’t as widely advertised.
Secure print feature. PIN-protected release ensures confidential documents don’t sit in the output tray for anyone to grab.
Canon’s business app is solid. The PRINT Business app is well-designed and integrates with Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, and SharePoint.

What Could Be Better

Same toner cost issue. Like the Brother color laser, replacement toner is expensive. Expect to pay $80–$100 per color cartridge for around 2,300 pages.
Large footprint. It’s roughly the same size as the Brother L3770CDW — plan your desk space accordingly.
Slightly slower than the Brother. 22 ppm vs 24 ppm isn’t a huge difference, but if speed matters most, the Brother edges ahead.

→ Check price on Amazon

How to Choose the Right Multifunction Printer for You

I’ve tested a lot of printers over the years, and I’ve found that matching the printer to your actual needs makes a bigger difference than just buying the most expensive or highest-rated one. Here are the questions I ask everyone who emails me for buying advice.

How much do you actually print each month?

This is the single most important question, and it’s the one most people get wrong. If you print 50 pages a month or less (that’s the average household), any inkjet on this list will work fine — pick based on features and price. If you’re printing 200+ pages a month for a small business or heavy school use, go with the Canon G6020 or Epson ET-2850 — their cost per page is so low that the printer pays for itself within 12–18 months. For 500+ pages a month in a busy office, a color laser like the Brother MFC-L3770CDW will save you time even if toner is more expensive. The tradeoff between speed and running cost is real, and knowing your volume is the key.

Do you need to scan, copy, and fax regularly?

All six printers here include a flatbed scanner and automatic document feeder. Fax is included on most of them (except the Epson EcoTank), but honestly, if you’re under 40, you probably don’t need it. If you do fax regularly — medical offices, legal practices, and certain government forms still require it — the Brother MFC-J995DW has the most reliable fax implementation I’ve tested. The duplex scanning feature (scan both sides of a document automatically) is worth paying extra for if you handle two-sided originals often.

Ink tank or cartridge: which is better?

Tank printers (Canon G6020 and Epson ET-2850) are the clear winner for anyone who prints more than 50 pages a month. The upfront cost is higher — usually around $250–$300 — but you’ll save hundreds in ink over a few years. The math is simple: one $50 set of ink bottles prints 6,000 pages vs. $35 cartridges that print maybe 600 pages each. Cartridge-based printers like the Brother MFC-J995DW and HP OfficeJet 9015e are cheaper upfront but cost more per page over time. If your printing is light (less than 50 pages/month) and you value a lower purchase price, stick with cartridges. If you plan to own this printer for 3+ years, go with a tank system.

What about wireless printing and mobile apps?

All of these printers support Wi-Fi, AirPrint (for iPhone/iPad users), and their own mobile apps. If you’re deep in the Apple ecosystem, any of them will work seamlessly — Apple’s built-in printing is effectively universal at this point. For Android users, the Brother and HP apps are the best I’ve used — they’re faster, more reliable, and less confusing than Canon’s or Epson’s offerings. If you need Ethernet for wired networking in a shared office, skip the Canon G6020 and Epson ET-2850 and go with the Brother MFC-J995DW, HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e, or one of the color laser options.

Should I buy a laser or inkjet multifunction printer?

The short answer: inkjet for low volume and low running costs, laser for speed and high volume. For a more detailed breakdown, I wrote a full inkjet vs laser printer guide that walks through the pros and cons of each technology. The main thing to remember is that laser printers excel at text and graphics but struggle with glossy photo paper and have higher per-page costs, while inkjets are more versatile and cheaper to run (especially tank models) but slower. If you mostly print text documents and want speed, go laser. If you print a mix of documents and photos, go inkjet.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between a multifunction printer and an all-in-one printer?

Nothing — they’re the same thing. Both terms describe a single device that combines printing, scanning, copying, and often faxing. Manufacturers use “multifunction” and “all-in-one” interchangeably. I tend to use “multifunction” in this guide because it’s the more precise technical term, but if you see “all-in-one” on a box at the store, it’s the same concept. For a deeper look at the category, check out my complete all-in-one printer guide.

Is it worth buying a color laser multifunction printer for home use?

Only if you print frequently and value speed over low running costs. A color laser like the Brother MFC-L3770CDW or Canon MF656Cdw is fantastic for printing presentations, reports, and marketing materials quickly with professional-quality output. But replacement toner is expensive — roughly 4–8 cents per color page — and laser printers don’t handle glossy photo paper well at all. For most homes, a high-yield inkjet or ink tank printer is a better value proposition. Brother offers some excellent Brother printer models in both categories if you want to compare.

How long do ink tank printers really last?

With proper maintenance, an ink tank printer should last 3–5 years or longer. The print head is usually the first component to fail, and on tank printers, it’s built into the machine (not the cartridge), so if it clogs badly, repair can be expensive. That said, simple maintenance goes a long way: run at least one full color print every week to keep the nozzles clear, and always use good quality paper. I’ve been using my Epson EcoTank for 18 months without a single clog, and it prints as well today as it did on day one.

Do I really need a multifunction printer, or should I buy separate devices?

For almost everyone, an all-in-one is the right call. A separate printer and scanner takes up more space, costs more overall, and adds complexity to your setup with separate power supplies, drivers, and software. The only exception is if you need professional-grade scanning — high DPI (1200+), batch scanning with sheet-fed document scanners at high speeds — in which case a dedicated document scanner like a Fujitsu ScanSnap paired with a basic printer might make more sense. For literally everyone else, a modern multifunction printer is simpler, cheaper, and takes up less space.

What does “duty cycle” mean, and why should I care?

Duty cycle is the manufacturer’s recommended maximum number of pages per month. Think of it as the engine’s redline — you can push past it occasionally, but regularly exceeding the duty cycle will wear out parts faster and may void your warranty. For home use, a duty cycle of 2,000+ pages per month is more than enough. For small offices, look for 3,000+. If you’re consistently pushing 5,000+ pages a month, you should be looking at dedicated office-grade machines. My guide to the cheapest printers to run covers high-volume options in more detail.

Can I print wirelessly from my phone without Wi-Fi?

Yes, some printers support direct wireless connections. The HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e has Bluetooth for quick one-off prints directly from your phone. Most of the printers here also support Wi-Fi Direct — a direct Wi-Fi connection between your phone and printer without needing a router. This is useful if you’re printing from a phone, tablet, or laptop in a hotel room, coffee shop, or any place where you’re not on your home network. For iPhone users, AirPrint works over both regular Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi Direct on compatible printers. For more on wireless printing, read my best wireless printer guide.

What’s the most reliable multifunction printer brand?

Based on my testing and customer feedback, Brother is consistently the most reliable brand for multifunction printers. Their machines have fewer paper jams, more intuitive software, and better long-term durability than most competitors. HP comes second, especially for their business-class OfficeJet Pro lineup — they’re built well and HP’s support is generally good. Canon and Epson make excellent printers too, especially in the tank printer category, but I’ve seen more variability in build quality and software reliability from both. Consumer Reports and PC Magazine surveys back this up — Brother consistently ranks highest in owner satisfaction for printers.

Final Thoughts

After all that testing — and believe me, there was a lot of paper involved — here’s where I land. The Brother MFC-J995DW is the best multifunction printer for most people in 2026. It balances price, running costs, features, and reliability better than anything else on the market today. If your budget’s tight and print volume is high, the Canon PIXMA G6020 will save you the most money over time — the running costs are almost laughably low. And if speed and professional color output are your top priorities, the Brother MFC-L3770CDW color laser is in a league of its own.

Whichever you pick, make sure it matches your actual printing volume. There’s no point paying for a heavy-duty laser machine if you print once a week, just like there’s no point buying a budget inkjet if you’re running a busy home office printing 500 pages a month. Match the printer to your usage, and you’ll be happy with it for years.

Hope this guide helps you find the right printer. If you’ve got questions or your situation is different from what I’ve covered here, drop a comment below — I read every single one and try to respond within a day or two. Happy printing.

Share This: