In late 2021, HP notified customers of its decision to end its popular "free ink for life" plan that allowed customers to print up to 15 pages per month.
Now, as a double whammy, HP printer owners who have adopted the Instant Ink subscription service have been notified that their subscription price will increase (potentially up to 50% in some cases) in March 2022.
The changes are two; First, the smallest plan sees a 33% reduction in its allowance (15 to 10), while its price remains the same (essentially a stealth increase from 6,67 p/c to 9,9 p/c) while that moderate and frequent plans (50 and 100 pages) see a flat increase of €1 or €1 (depending on where you are) to €2,99/€2,99 and €4,49/€4,49, an increase of 50% and 29% respectively.
The remaining plans, which are likely to be less popular, have yet to see a price increase. The price of the additional page sets (generally €/€0,1 each in sets of 10) and the rollover of unused pages remained the same. At €/€0.03, the most expensive plan also has the cheapest price per page.
What is the best alternative to HP Instant Ink?
The changes appear to be global and have been criticized on HP customer forums. "So overall, I'm disgusted with HP, even before our relationship started." wrote one member, summing up how most users feel.
As with all subscription services, Print as a Service (or PAAS) has grown in popularity, with HP being the innovator and main driver, particularly in the home printer market.
Instant Ink has been a huge success, with HP revealing in October 2021 that it had 10 million users, generated €500 million in revenue per year, and 30% annual revenue and subscriber growth. These are the most popular print subscription services by far.
The best alternative to subscription services like HP Instant Ink are so-called CIS (Continuous Ink System) printers and we have a list of the best ink tank printers at your fingertips. Popular with hobbyists and DIYers at the turn of the century, they were adopted by major printer vendors as competition for compatible ink cartridges became more intense.
Most major brands (HP, Epson, Brother, Canon) have at least one of these Supertank printer models: INKvestment, Ecotank, Megatank, Smart Tank. They all share the same philosophy: large refillable ink tanks, a high (but perfectly acceptable) purchase price, and a large footprint.