HP Instant Ink: Difference between revisions

'''HP Instant Ink''' is a subscription service launched by [[HP Inc.]] for its printers in late 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=HP launches new Instant Ink programme |url=https://www.therecycler.com/posts/hp-launches-new-instant-ink-programme/ |website=The Recycler |date=24 Sep 2013 |access-date=26 Mar 2023 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503181925/https://www.therecycler.com/posts/hp-launches-new-instant-ink-programme/ |archive-date=3 May 2022}}</ref> Consumers with compatible printers can choose from five different plans based on their usage volume and receive a set amount of ink each month to cover that usage. The monthly price includes the relevant ink or toner, delivery, and recycling of used cartridges.

In 2024, HP began offering paper as part of the monthly plans, for an additional fee. This was rolled out to countries including the USA, the UK, metropolitan France, and Germany.<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Never run out of paper again! |url=https://instantink.hpconnected.com/us/en/l/v2/paper |website=[[HP]] |date= |access-date=3 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260206231914/https://instantink.hpconnected.com/us/en/l/v2/paper |archive-date=6 Feb 2026}}</ref>

Also in 2024 HP All-In Plan, a new printer-lease program was announced. This program expanded from just cartridges to include a printer that, depending on the tier of subscription, limited the number of pages that could be printed, effectively removing the ability to use third-party cartridges.<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Enjoy hassle-free printing with the HP All-In Plan |url=https://www.hp.com/us-en/all-in-plan/printers.html |website=[[HP]] |date= |access-date=3 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://megalodon.jp/2026-0504-1035-51/https://www.hp.com:443/us-en/all-in-plan/printers.html |archive-date=4 May 2026}}</ref> The program at the time of writing offers three different printers, each with various printing plans based on the number of pages to be printed, at different prices.

*'''User freedom:''' Use of a subscription service for ink and toner cartridges and/or printers allows HP to maintain post-sale control of a product the consumer used to purchase and own outright. Such practices limit autonomy and freedom of consumer to use the products they pay for as they see fit. Furthermore, using a subscription service means the customer uses these products under specific terms that can change at any time<ref name="TOS">{{Cite web |author= |title=Instant Ink Terms of Service for Consumer & Business Customers |url=https://instantink.hpconnected.com/us/en/terms |website=[[HP]] |date=15 Apr 2025 |access-date=3 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250424101736/https://instantink.hpconnected.com/us/en/terms |archive-date=24 Apr 2025}}</ref> leaving them without recourse in many cases. Of note is also the limitation to use specific brands of ink, extending market control of the manufacturer and locking the consumer to an ecosystem entirely under their control.

 

 

*'''Market control:'''

This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents related to this product. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{PAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].

===Cost savings and pricing===

As of January 2025, the pricing for each tier of the service for customers in the USA was as follows:

HP claims that "most customers save on ink and many save up to 50% compared to buying traditional ink cartridges."<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=HP Instant Ink FAQs |url=https://www.hp.com/us-en/printers/instant-ink/faq.html#faq |website=[[HP]] |date= |access-date=3 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260209182321/https://www.hp.com/us-en/printers/instant-ink/faq.html#faq |archive-date=9 Feb 2026}}</ref> The cost savings are based on the monthly subscription cost of the 700-pages-per-month "Business" plan of the program, and the results are compared to the cost per page to print ISO/IEC 24711 pages on A4 paper in color.

The printers used in the study that led to these findings in the 2022 and 2023 reports<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=HP Instant Ink Reports |url=https://keypointintelligence.com/HPInstantInk |website=Keypoint Intelligence |date= |access-date= |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251214111539/https://keypointintelligence.com/HPInstantInk |archive-date=14 Dec 2025}}</ref> were all HP branded, and the ink or toner was Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) (i.e. not using third-party inks), as HP notes in their FAQ sections. Comparisons were not made with the XL cartridges, which are cheaper per unit of ink.

HP Chief Financial Officer Marie Meyers has also publicly stated that HP sees a 20% uplift on the value of a consumer (i.e. a consumer spends 20% more with HP) when they are locked into an ink and paper subscription model vs. a traditional transactional pricing model.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kunert |first=Paul |title=HP exec says quiet part out loud when it comes to locking in print customers |url=https://www.theregister.com/2023/12/04/hp_printer_lockin/ |website=The Register |date=4 Dec 2023 |access-date=3 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251115134713/https://www.theregister.com/2023/12/04/hp_printer_lockin/ |archive-date=15 Nov 2025}}</ref>

Once cancelled, any ink that you still have from being sent the wrong color (a common occurrence, especially with cyan) is no longer usable in the printer, forcing the consumer to dispose of all remaining — and paid for — ink.

The HP All-in program can be canceled for free if done within 30 days of enrolling, and the printer is returned within 10 days of cancellation. However, if the subscription has been maintained for longer than 30 days and less than 24 months, there are additional fees to cancel.

As of January 2025, the Basic printer starts at $6.99 per month ($83.88 per year), and cancellation after 30 days but before 12 months will cost $120 in fees. Before 24 months, it would cost $60 in fees. That is 143% and 71% of the per-year cost of this plan, respectively.

HP+ is a free six-month trial of HP Instant Ink that comes with a new printer.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stone |first=M. David |title=HP Instant Ink vs. HP Plus vs. HP Smart: Which Ink Program Saves You the Most? |url=https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/hp-instant-ink-vs-hp-plus-vs-hp-smart-which-ink-program-saves-you-the-most |website=PCMag |date=9 Sep 2021 |access-date=3 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250213054522/https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/hp-instant-ink-vs-hp-plus-vs-hp-smart-which-ink-program-saves-you-the-most |archive-date=13 Feb 2025}}</ref> After activating HP+, the printer is permanently flashed with updated firmware, which causes the printer to only accept genuine HP-branded consumables.<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=Dlaczego drukarki z serii HP+ nie obsługują zamienników? |trans-title=Why don't HP+ series printers support substitutes? |url=https://www.dodrukarki.pl/blog/dlaczego-drukarki-z-serii-hp-nie-obsluguja-zamiennikow |website=Dodrukarki.pl |date=22 Nov 2022 |access-date=3 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250719023320/https://www.dodrukarki.pl/blog/dlaczego-drukarki-z-serii-hp-nie-obsluguja-zamiennikow |archive-date=19 Jul 2025 |lang=pl}}</ref>

All HP printer models ending with an "e" (for example ''HP OfficeJet 8035e'') support activating HP+.<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=HP+ printers models ending with the letter "e" does not recognize compatible cartridges |url=https://support.shopperplus.com/en/support/solutions/articles/9000227500-hp-printers-models-ending-with-the-letter-e-does-not-recognize-compatible-cartridges |website=Shopper+ |date=9 May 2023 |access-date=3 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251013130101/https://support.shopperplus.com/en/support/solutions/articles/9000227500-hp-printers-models-ending-with-the-letter-e-does-not-recognize-compatible-cartridges |archive-date=13 Oct 2025}}</ref> This has the potential to devalue used HP printers in this class, as the previous owner of the printer may have activated HP+ — rendering the printer incompatible with cheaper non-OEM replacement ink cartridges or toner.

===Class-action lawsuit (''2021—2023'')===

On 6 July 2021, a {{Wplink|Class action|class-action}} lawsuit was filed against HP by New York resident Radek Barnert.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Javitch |first=Mark L. |title=''Barnert v HP Inc.'' (5:2021cv05199) |url=https://www.classaction.org/media/barnert-v-hp-inc.pdf |website=classaction.org |date=6 Jul 2021 |access-date=3 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250708171736/https://www.classaction.org/media/barnert-v-hp-inc.pdf |archive-date=8 Jul 2025}}</ref>

*HP will block you from using cartridges or ink purchased outside of the program (even first-party), a fact they do not disclose.

In February 2023, HP settled the complaints, and the parties filed for dismissal.<ref>{{Cite web |author= |title=HP settles Instant Ink Complaint |url=https://www.therecycler.com/posts/hp-settles-instant-ink-complaint/ |website=The Recycler |date=22 Feb 2023 |access-date=3 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251025104639/https://therecycler.com/posts/hp-settles-instant-ink-complaint/ |archive-date=25 Oct 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Van Keulen |first=Susan |title=ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE RE SETTLEMENT for ''Barnert v. HP, Inc.'' |url=https://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/california/candce/5:2021cv05199/381410/49 |website=Justia |date=7 Feb 2023 |access-date=3 May 2026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260504034847/https://consumerrights.wiki/images/6/6c/Barnert_v_HP%2C_Inc._-_Filing_49.pdf |archive-date=4 May 2026}}</ref>

It is possible on some HP cartridge models and their respective printers to replace the DRM chip of an incompatible cartridge with one from a compatible OEM cartridge. This is possible because many HP cartridge models share the exact same physical dimensions despite the difference in name. This also allows for the use of less expensive, third-party cartridges or refillable cartridges in printers that may not have had them available for purchase otherwise.