The Worst Printers of 2026: 10 Models to Avoid (and What to Buy Instead)

Updated September 2026. Castle Ink earns a commission when you buy through Amazon links on this page, at no extra cost to you. The rankings are based on public review data, not on commissions.

Most "best printer" lists tell you what to buy. This one tells you what to avoid. We went through thousands of real owner reviews on Amazon and Best Buy, along with independent testing and reliability data, to find the printers that disappoint buyers most often. Every printer on this list is still on sale as of September 2026, so you might see any of them on a shelf this week.

For each one, we explain what goes wrong, who might still be OK with it, and what to buy instead.

How We Picked the Worst Printers

We ranked current printers by their share of one-star reviews on Amazon. That tells you more than the average star rating, because it shows how often a printer truly fails its owner. To make the list, a printer had to:

• Still be sold new at a major US retailer (Amazon, Best Buy or the manufacturer's store) in September 2026.
• Have enough ratings to spot a pattern (hundreds to tens of thousands).
• Show the same complaints across retailers and in independent coverage, such as setup failures, Wi-Fi drops, ink lock-in and short cartridge life.

A note on Best Buy: star averages there run higher (for example, the DeskJet 2855e is 4.1 at Best Buy versus 3.6 at Amazon), but the complaints in the negative reviews are the same. Ratings change over time, and all figures below were checked in September 2026.

One pattern stands out: HP has seven of the ten spots. That's partly because HP sells more printers than anyone, but it also reflects HP+ and Dynamic Security, two systems that tie many HP printers to HP-brand ink. We explain both in our guide to printers that don't lock you into OEM ink.

The Worst Printers at a Glance

1. HP OfficeJet Pro 9125e

HP OfficeJet Pro 9125e. Image: HP

Amazon rating: 3.5/5 from 3,693 ratings · One-star reviews: 27% · See current price on Amazon

On paper, the OfficeJet Pro 9125e is a capable small-office machine: a 35-sheet document feeder, automatic two-sided printing, a big touchscreen and fast color output. In practice, it has the worst review profile of any mainstream printer we checked. More than one in four Amazon reviewers gave it a single star, and the complaints are not about print quality so much as about whether it prints at all.

Why It Made the List

• It has the highest one-star share on this list. 27% of 3,693 Amazon ratings are one star, and the average sits at just 3.5. For a printer marketed to businesses, that is a lot of people whose work stopped.
• Wi-Fi drops are the top complaint. Amazon's review summary highlights owners reporting that it fails to connect to the network or disconnects from Wi-Fi. A business printer that falls off the network is a support ticket waiting to happen.
• Build quality doesn't match the price. Reviewers repeatedly describe cheap plastic construction, and some report it simply stops working.
• Some jobs crawl. Some reviewers say simple documents take far longer than the rated speed suggests, in one case nearly an hour.
• HP+ can lock it to HP ink forever. The "e" means it ships with HP+ enrollment offered at setup. HP's own FAQ says HP+ requires an HP account, an internet connection and "Original HP Ink for the lifetime of the printer."
• The ink family is limited. It uses HP 936 cartridges. HP sells a higher-capacity 936e, but there is no true HP 936XL, and compatible choices are thin. Castle Ink doesn't stock this family either.

Who might still be OK with it: If you already own one, skip HP+ enrollment (or leave it off if you haven't set it up yet), give it a reserved IP address on your router, and keep firmware updates set to ask before installing.

More detail: our full HP OfficeJet Pro 9125e review and what ink the HP OfficeJet Pro 9125e uses.

2. HP DeskJet 2855e

HP DeskJet 2855e. Image: HP

Amazon rating: 3.6/5 from 20,376 ratings · One-star reviews: 25% · See current price on Amazon

The DeskJet 2855e is one of the best-selling printers in America, and that is exactly why it belongs here. It is cheap to buy, which pulls in tens of thousands of shoppers, and a quarter of them end up leaving one-star reviews. HP now lists the 2855e as replaced by the DeskJet 2955, but the 2855e is still sold at Amazon and Best Buy.

Why It Made the List

• One in four buyers hates it. 25% of more than 20,000 Amazon ratings are one star. With that many reviews, this isn't bad luck, it's a pattern.
• Setup and Wi-Fi are the biggest pain points. Amazon's review summary says many owners report it won't connect to Wi-Fi, and it only works on 2.4 GHz networks, which trips up people whose routers push 5 GHz.
• Owners report ink cartridges that aren't recognized. The review summary specifically calls out complaints that included ink doesn't work and that the printer doesn't recognize cartridges.
• The cartridges are tiny. It uses HP 67 cartridges: about 120 pages for standard black and about 100 for tri-color. Even the XL versions are only about 240 and 200 pages.
• It's bare-bones. There's no automatic two-sided printing and no document feeder, the input tray holds just 60 sheets, and it prints at 7.5 pages per minute in black.
• HP+ is pushed at setup. Enroll and the printer is locked to Original HP ink for life, which rules out cheaper compatible HP 67 cartridges.

What about the new model? The DeskJet 2955 that replaces it isn't off to a better start: 22% of its first 380 Amazon ratings are one star, and it switches to HP 68 cartridges.

Who might still be OK with it: If you only print a few pages a month and already own one, it will get by. Skip HP+, buy XL cartridges, and print a page every week or so to keep the printhead from drying out.

More detail: our full HP DeskJet 2855e review and what ink the HP DeskJet 2855e uses.

3. HP DeskJet 4255e

HP DeskJet 4255e. Image: HP

Amazon rating: 3.8/5 from 7,074 ratings · One-star reviews: 22% · See current price on Amazon

The DeskJet 4255e is the "step-up" DeskJet: it adds a 35-sheet document feeder for copying and scanning stacks. Unfortunately, it keeps the 2855e's biggest flaws, and reviewers are almost as harsh. HP now lists it as replaced by the DeskJet 4355, but it's still on sale.

Why It Made the List

• 22% one-star reviews. More than one in five of its 7,074 Amazon ratings are one star.
• Jobs fail or stall. Amazon's review summary highlights printers that often fail to print jobs or stop in the middle of a page, plus very slow printing.
• Wi-Fi is unreliable. Owners describe a printer that never connects via Wi-Fi or keeps losing its connection.
• Same tiny HP 67 cartridges. About 120 pages from a standard black and about 100 from tri-color, so running costs climb fast for anyone who prints regularly.
• No automatic two-sided printing. You get a document feeder, but you'll still flip pages by hand to print double-sided.
• HP+ lock-in risk. Like every "e" model, enrolling in HP+ ties it to Original HP ink for the life of the printer.

What about the new model? Its replacement, the DeskJet 4355, is doing worse so far: 26% of its first 246 Amazon ratings are one star.

Who might still be OK with it: If you need a document feeder on a tight budget and print lightly, it works for some owners. Use a stable 2.4 GHz network and skip HP+ so compatible HP 67XL cartridges stay an option.

More detail: our full HP DeskJet 4255e review and what ink the HP DeskJet 4255e uses.

4. HP Envy 6555e

HP Envy 6555e. Image: HP

Amazon rating: 3.7/5 from 2,278 ratings · One-star reviews: 22% · See current price on Amazon

The Envy 6555e looks like the right home all-in-one: automatic two-sided printing, a document feeder and borderless photos. But at roughly $180 it asks a mid-range price for a printer that runs the same small HP 67 cartridges as the budget DeskJets, and reviewers aren't impressed. HP now lists the Envy 6555 as its replacement.

Why It Made the List

• 22% of Amazon ratings are one star. That's the same one-star share as the much cheaper DeskJet 4255e.
• Connection problems again. Amazon's review summary says owners report constant connectivity issues and trouble connecting to computers or phones.
• Some reviewers call it the worst printer they've owned. Several also warn other shoppers away from HP printers entirely.
• Mid-range price, entry-level ink. HP 67 cartridges yield about 120 black and 100 color pages at standard size, so a printer bought for family photos and school projects burns through ink quickly.
• Slow output. Reviewers call print speed slow, which matters when you pay extra for a feeder meant to handle bigger jobs.
• HP+ at setup. Enrolling locks the printer to HP ink for good.

Who might still be OK with it: If you print a handful of photos a month and value the feeder, it can work. Skip HP+ and buy XL cartridges.

More detail: what ink the HP Envy 6555e uses.

5. HP Smart Tank 5101

HP Smart Tank 5101. Image: HP

Amazon rating: 3.7/5 from 4,960 ratings · One-star reviews: 22% · See current price on Amazon

An ink tank printer should be the safe choice, which makes the Smart Tank 5101's reviews surprising. It has the right idea, refillable tanks and cheap bottles, but reviewers hit enough problems that it lands well behind Epson and Canon tank printers.

Why It Made the List

• 22% one-star reviews. That's a higher one-star share than Epson's ET-2800 (16%) or Canon's G3270 (14%).
• Wi-Fi drops and a hard setup. Amazon's review summary highlights frequent disconnections, trouble connecting to Wi-Fi and instructions reviewers called terrible.
• Inconsistent prints. Some owners report only half the page printing, and others describe very slow prints.
• Limited ink options. It uses HP 32XL black and HP 31 color bottles, and there are few mainstream third-party alternatives. Castle Ink doesn't stock them.
• Stock is drying up. At the time of writing, Amazon showed only one unit left and no listed price, so it may be on its way out.

Who might still be OK with it: If you already own one and it's working, the bottle ink is still cheap per page. Keep it on a stable network and print weekly.

More detail: our full HP Smart Tank 5101 review and what ink the HP Smart Tank 5101 uses.

6. HP OfficeJet Pro 8135e

HP OfficeJet Pro 8135e. Image: HP

Amazon rating: 3.8/5 from 3,741 ratings · One-star reviews: 20% · See current price on Amazon

The OfficeJet Pro 8135e is the 9125e's smaller sibling, and it shares a lot of the same problems. A fifth of Amazon reviewers gave it one star. HP now sells a non-"e" OfficeJet Pro 8125 alongside it.

Why It Made the List

• 20% one-star reviews. One in five of 3,741 Amazon ratings are one star.
• "Won't print at all." Amazon's review summary says some owners report it simply won't print, plus constant issues and long processing times.
• Setup and Wi-Fi are hit or miss. Some reviewers connect easily, and others find it very difficult to use.
• Reviewers call the ink outrageously overpriced. It uses HP 923 cartridges, about 500 pages for standard black and 400 for standard color. The high-yield version is HP 923e, and there is no HP 923XL.
• HP+ lock-in. Enrolling in HP+ requires Original HP ink for the life of the printer.

Who might still be OK with it: If you have one, skip HP+ and use compatible HP 923 cartridges to cut per-page costs.

More detail: our full HP OfficeJet Pro 8135e review and what ink the HP OfficeJet Pro 8135e uses.

Already own one? Castle Ink stocks compatible HP 923 cartridges: black, cyan, magenta and yellow.

7. Epson Expression Home XP-4205

Epson Expression Home XP-4205. Image: Epson

Amazon rating: 3.8/5 from 2,915 ratings (XP-4200 listing) · One-star reviews: 19% · See current price on Amazon

Epson's small Expression Home printers are cheap, compact and include automatic two-sided printing. The catch is the ink. Australian consumer group CHOICE put the XP-4200/XP-4205 on its list of printers to avoid, estimating about $400 a year in ink for its test usage. (The XP-4205 is the version Epson sells in the US. The ratings here come from the XP-4200 listing on Amazon, which has far more reviews.)

Why It Made the List

• Ink runs out fast. Amazon's review summary says many owners complain about running out of ink quickly. Standard Epson 232 cartridges yield only about 150 black and 165 color pages.
• Ink costs can exceed the printer's price. CHOICE's roughly $400-a-year ink estimate is several times what the printer costs.
• 19% one-star reviews. Nearly one in five Amazon ratings are one star, with owners reporting poor print quality or printers that stop working.
• Four separate small cartridges. Individual colors help a little, but the 232XL still tops out around 500 black and 350 color pages.
• Wi-Fi is mixed. Some owners connect easily, and others struggle.

Who might still be OK with it: If you print a few pages a month, it's fine. Buy 232XL cartridges, never standard.

More detail: what ink the Epson Expression Home XP-4205 uses.

8. Brother Work Smart 1360 (MFC-J1360DW)

Brother Work Smart 1360 (MFC-J1360DW). Image: Brother

Amazon rating: 3.8/5 from 2,587 ratings · One-star reviews: 19% · See current price on Amazon

Brother rarely makes lists like this, and its laser printers are some of the best values anywhere. But its newer Work Smart 1360 (model MFC-J1360DW) is off to a rocky start. On paper it's well equipped, with a 20-sheet document feeder, automatic two-sided printing and speeds up to 16 pages per minute in black.

Why It Made the List

• 19% one-star reviews. Nearly one in five of 2,587 Amazon ratings are one star.
• Wi-Fi trouble. Amazon's review summary highlights owners reporting it won't connect to Wi-Fi.
• Slow in real use. Reviewers describe waiting about five minutes to print a single page, far from the rated speed.
• Hard setup for some. Setup experiences are mixed, and some owners call it very difficult.
• Small cartridges and few alternatives. It uses Brother LC501 cartridges, about 250 pages for standard black, and third-party options are still limited. Castle Ink doesn't stock LC501 yet.
• A tiny 1.8-inch display. It makes menu navigation and Wi-Fi setup harder than it needs to be.

Who might still be OK with it: Reviewers generally like its print quality. If you can connect it by USB, many of the complaints go away.

More detail: what ink the Brother Work Smart 1360 uses.

9. HP LaserJet M110w

HP LaserJet M110w. Image: HP

Amazon rating: 3.9/5 from 2,169 ratings · One-star reviews: 18% · See current price on Amazon

Lasers usually beat inkjets on reliability, but HP's tiny LaserJet M110w is an exception worth knowing about. It's a print-only machine with no two-sided printing, and its toner story is the problem. HP discontinued the HP+ "e" versions of this printer after user backlash, but the standard M110w is still sold.

Why It Made the List

• 18% one-star reviews. That's high for a laser. Brother's comparable HL-L2405W is at 14%.
• Owners report toner lasting only weeks. Amazon's review summary notes that some owners saw cartridges last only several weeks, and others report it stopped working after the first print.
• HP Dynamic Security. HP LaserJets use firmware that can block cartridges with non-HP chips. HP settled a lawsuit in 2025 by promising to keep firmware updates that include Dynamic Security optional, but it didn't drop the feature.
• Small toner cartridges. The M110w uses HP 141A/141X toner. The HP+ M110we uses a different family, HP 142A/142X, so owners often order the wrong one.
• Print only. There's no scanner, no copier and no automatic duplex, which makes it easy to outgrow.

Who might still be OK with it: It's compact and reviewers say setup is easy. If you buy one, turn off automatic firmware updates before inserting any third-party toner.

More detail: what ink the HP LaserJet M110w uses.

10. Canon PIXMA TR4720

Canon PIXMA TR4720. Image: Canon

Amazon rating: 3.9/5 from 15,049 ratings · One-star reviews: 17% · See current price on Amazon

The TR4720 packs a lot into a cheap printer: a document feeder, automatic two-sided printing and even fax. It also works with third-party ink. So why is it here? With more than 15,000 Amazon ratings, 17% of them one star, too many owners are reporting reliability problems.

Why It Made the List

• 17% one-star reviews across 15,000+ ratings. That's a large and consistent pool of unhappy buyers.
• Some printers quit early. Amazon's review summary flags owners saying it stopped printing after six months and goes offline often.
• Wi-Fi won't stay connected. This is the most common complaint in our own review of this printer.
• Starter cartridges run dry fast. Expect to buy PG-275/CL-276 cartridges within the first 50 to 100 pages.
• Mixed print quality. Some reviewers report blurry output, and color photos are only average.
• Slow color. It prints about 4.4 color pages per minute.

Who might still be OK with it: It's one of the better cheap printers for ink freedom. If you have one, buy XL cartridges and use a USB cable if Wi-Fi keeps dropping.

More detail: our full Canon PIXMA TR4720 review and what ink the Canon PIXMA TR4720 uses.

Already own one? Castle Ink stocks PG-275XL black and CL-276XL color.

Why So Many Printers End Up on "Avoid" Lists

The same problems show up in almost every one-star review:

• Cheap printer, expensive ink. Many printers are sold at or below cost, and the profit comes from cartridges. A printer that costs $60 can easily cost several hundred dollars a year in ink. See our breakdown of HP Instant Ink vs. compatible cartridges.
• Ink lock-in. HP+ requires Original HP ink for the life of the printer once you enroll, and HP's Dynamic Security firmware can reject cartridges with non-HP chips. If a printer's name ends in "e," you'll be offered HP+ during setup. You can say no.
• Wi-Fi and app-first setup. Almost every printer on this list gets heavy complaints about connecting to Wi-Fi or staying connected. Printers that only work on 2.4 GHz networks and need an app to set up generate the most frustration.
• Inkjets are less reliable than lasers. Consumer Reports' survey of nearly 70,000 printers found that laser printers are more reliable than inkjets and that no inkjet brand earned a high reliability rating. If you mostly print black text, a laser is the safer choice. See inkjet vs. laser: which one saves money.

How to Avoid Buying a Bad Printer

1. Look at the one-star share, not just the average. On Amazon, click the star rating to see the breakdown. Be cautious with any printer where more than 20% of ratings are one star.
2. Price out the ink before you buy the printer. Check cartridge page yields. If a standard black cartridge prints fewer than 200 pages and you print every week, consider an ink tank or laser instead.
3. Skip HP+ at setup if you want to use compatible or remanufactured cartridges.
4. Buy a laser for text-heavy printing. Toner doesn't dry out, and lasers last longer.
5. Buy an ink tank for color printing at volume. Epson EcoTank and Canon MegaTank printers cost more upfront and much less per page.
6. Try our free tool. The PrinterIQ Finder is a 60-second quiz that helps you find a printer that fits how you print. You can also browse our printer buying guide and reviews.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the worst printer brand in 2026?

No brand is bad across the board, but HP has the most models on this list. That's mostly because of HP+ ink lock-in and the widespread setup and Wi-Fi complaints on its budget DeskJet and Envy lines. HP's LaserJets and some OfficeJets are good machines, and Brother's lasers consistently rank among the most reliable printers you can buy.

Are HP "e" printers bad?

The "e" means the printer is HP+-eligible. HP+ isn't required, but if you enroll, HP says the printer will require Original HP ink for its lifetime. HP has started replacing many "e" models with versions that drop the letter (for example, the DeskJet 2955 replaces the 2855e), and it discontinued its HP+-only LaserJet "e" models after user backlash.

Can I use cheaper ink in the printers on this list?

Often, yes. Canon, Epson and Brother cartridge printers generally accept compatible cartridges, and HP printers usually do too if you skip HP+ and control firmware updates. Castle Ink stocks compatible and remanufactured cartridges for many of these printers. You can find ink by printer model here.

Is an ink tank printer worth it?

If you print more than a few pages a week, usually yes. Tank printers cost more upfront, but a bottle set prints thousands of pages, so they pay back the difference quickly.

What is the most reliable type of printer?

A laser printer. Consumer Reports' reliability data shows lasers outlasting inkjets, and toner doesn't dry out when the printer sits unused.

The Bottom Line

The worst printers aren't necessarily the ones that print badly. They're the ones that are hard to connect, stop working early, or cost far more in ink than you expected. Before you buy a cheap cartridge printer, especially an HP "e" model, look at an Epson EcoTank, a Canon MegaTank or a Brother laser. You'll likely pay a little more today and a lot less over the life of the printer.

Sources: Amazon and Best Buy customer ratings and review summaries (checked September 2026); HP's HP+ FAQ; CHOICE, "Inkjet and laser printers to avoid"; Consumer Reports, "Most and Least Reliable Printer Brands"; The Register on HP's 2025 Dynamic Security settlement; TechRadar on HP's discontinued LaserJet "e" series. As an Amazon Associate, Castle Ink earns from qualifying purchases.