Third-party ink cartridges will be a lower-cost option compared to original manufacturer cartridges but not supported by all printers. Some printers are perfectly fine with using third-party inks, while others may need firmware updates or adjustments. In this manual, we will discuss printers that are compatible with third-party ink and guide you through identifying if your printer can use third-party ink cartridges.
Why Use Third-Party Ink Cartridges?
There are several advantages of third-party ink cartridges, which are:
Less cost: Less costly than OEM (original equipment manufacturer) cartridges.
More availability: Various brands and models exist for different printer models.
Same quality: There are third-party inks with prints that match the quality of original cartridges.
Printers Supporting Third-Party Ink
Following are some of the well-known brands and models that support third-party ink cartridges:
1. Epson Printers
Epson printers, especially the EcoTank and WorkForce series, mostly support third-party ink cartridges. Refilling ink tanks with the same ink brand is also supported by some models without showing error messages.
2. Canon Printers
There are certain Canon PIXMA and MAXIFY printers that can use third-party ink without any issues. Some printer models, however, need the firmware updates to be disabled in order to prevent compatibility issues.
3. HP Printers
Most older HP printer models accept third-party ink cartridges. Newer HP models, particularly those that have HP+ technology, will most likely block non-HP cartridges via firmware updates.
4. Brother Printers
Brother printers, such as the INKvestment Tank and certain laser printer models, tend to be more inclusive of third-party ink and toner cartridges, and this is the reason why they are the preferred choice of budget-conscious consumers.
How to Ensure Third-Party Ink Cartridge Compatibility
Check Printer Settings: Certain printers will disable firmware updates that prevent third-party cartridges.
Use Reputable Third-Party Brands: Use high-quality ink companies to prevent low-quality prints and damage to the printer.
Check for Reset Chips: Certain third-party ink cartridges contain reset chips, which ignore error messages and make it easy to install.
Final Thoughts
If you wish to save money on printing, having third-party ink-compatible printers is a great idea. Epson, Canon, Brother, and some HP models are accommodating when it comes to using other ink brands. Just always double-check with research of your printer model and the quality of third-party ink cartridges.
For more tips and recommendations for printer troubleshooting, see Printer Not Working.