Epson EcoTank vs Brother mono laser: cheapest home printer to run?
If you print in colour at all, the EcoTank wins on running cost — refillable tanks push the price per page below a cent, and it ships with roughly two years of ink. If you only ever print black text, the Brother laser is cheaper to buy, faster, and completely immune to the problem that ruins home inkjets: dried, clogged print heads after weeks of not printing. That single failure mode is why so many households end up buying a second printer. Be honest about what you print. Occasional black documents only, buy the Brother. Kids' school projects and photos, buy the EcoTank and use it regularly.
Spec by spec
| Spec | Epson EcoTank ET-2850 | Brother HL-L2400DW Mono Laser |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Ink tank all-in-one | Mono laser printer |
| Functions | Print, scan, copy✓ | Print only |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, USB, mobile app | Wi-Fi, USB |
| Duplex | Auto double-sided | Auto double-sided |
| Running cost | Under 1c per colour page✓ | — |
| Included ink | Up to 2 years typical use | — |
| Speed | — | 34ppm✓ |
| Paper | — | 250-sheet tray |
A tick marks the stronger spec on that row — not necessarily the one that matters to you.
Which one should you buy?
Buy the Epson EcoTank ET-2850 if…
You print colour, you want scanning and copying, and the printer gets used regularly.
Prices & specsBuy the Brother HL-L2400DW Mono Laser if…
You print black text occasionally and want something that always works when you come back to it.
Prices & specsCommon questions
Do inkjet print heads really clog?
Yes, and it is the most common reason home inkjets get replaced. Printing something in colour at least fortnightly largely prevents it. If that sounds unlikely in your house, buy a laser.
Is toner or ink cheaper overall?
For mono text, toner. For colour, refillable ink tanks are dramatically cheaper than both cartridges and colour toner.