HP turns - again - the price screw for the Instant Ink subscription
The last price increase was less than 15 months ago. And now HP is already announcing the next one. Anyone with an Instant Ink subscription will have to pay up to 20 per cent more per month.
You get new ink cartridges for your printer automatically and always on time. That's the promise of HP and its Instant Ink plan. A monthly amount includes a quota of pages. It doesn't matter whether you print all in colour or only in black and white. The price is the same for everyone. Because the printer reports the ink level to HP via the Internet, the company can send replacement cartridges when the ones currently in the printer are running low.
This is convenient because you don't have to worry about replenishing the cartridges yourself. I know this from my own experience as a user of Instant Ink on an OfficeJet Pro model.
From the end of April, however, there will be new pain. HP has informed users by email that prices are going up. Once again. The last time was at the end of 2023. At that time, prices were even increased by up to 60 per cent.
It won't be quite that bad this time. But inflation rates are actually much lower now. In Switzerland it was just 1.1 per cent in 2024. So inflation cannot be the reason, even if HP cites "rising costs" as the only reason in its email.
In spite of this, HP is making a statement, and this is what it looks like in the individual contingents:
- 10 pages: 11 per cent to 2.50 francs (instead of 2.25)
- 50 pages: 4 per cent on 6.50 francs (instead of 6.25)
- 100 pages: 15 per cent to 9.50 francs (instead of 8.25)
- 300 pages: 12 per cent to 18.50 francs (instead of 16.50)
- 500 pages: 16 per cent to 28.50 francs (instead of 24.50)
- 700 pages: 15 per cent to 37.50 francs (instead of 32.50)
- 1500 pages: 14 per cent to 72.50 francs (instead of 63.95)
This means that frequent printers will be hit proportionately harder than those who print less with the 50-page quota. Pages printed in excess of the quota now also carry more weight. The price will rise from one franc per 10 pages to 1.50 francs, i.e. by a whopping 50 per cent. The new 25-page tariffs at a monthly price of 4.50 francs are little consolation.
Switch to other ink systems more attractive
At the end of 2021, the price for 50 pages was still 3.95 francs. From April, I will now pay 6.50 francs instead. That's 65 per cent more. In three and a half years, even some tech shares on the stock market have not risen so steeply. The price increase for the multi-printer is somewhat more moderate; the 700-page quota started 2021 at 28.95 francs and is now 37.50 francs after the latest price increase - 30 per cent more.
Since the launch of Instant Ink in 2021, it is particularly impressive that HP has increased the prices for plans with relatively few monthly pages the most.
The more HP increases the price of its Instant Ink subscription, the more attractive the alternatives become. For example, Epson's EcoTank system and Canon's MegaTank offer large ink tanks that contain significantly more ink than conventional cartridges. This means you print at a comparatively lower cost per page. And you can decide for yourself where you want to buy your cartridges at a particularly favourable price.
Even HP offers its own system with Smart Tank, where printing costs are relatively low thanks to large ink cartridges.
Plan your exit from HP Instant Ink well
If you currently have an HP printer with an Instant Ink subscription, you can cancel it on a monthly basis. Note that after the end of the plan, the ink cartridges from the Instant Ink service will no longer work, even if they are still full. You will then have to use cartridges you have purchased.
How do you print? Do you use a plan service model? Let the Community and me know in a comment. What are the prices like in other countries? Instant Ink customers are also welcome to let the Community know. We are curious.
Header image: Martin Jungfer
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Martin Jungfer
Head of Content
Martin.Jungfer@digitecgalaxus.chJournalist since 1997. Stopovers in Franconia (or the Franken region), Lake Constance, Obwalden, Nidwalden and Zurich. Father since 2014. Expert in editorial organisation and motivation. Focus on sustainability, home office tools, beautiful things for the home, creative toys and sports equipment.
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