Epson vs Brother Ink Cost Per Page: 3 Cheapest Options
Brother toner currently beats Epson ink on cost per page for home printing. A SuppliesMAX toner cartridge rated for 2,600 pages at $17.99 on Newegg costs $0.0069 per page. Comparatively, an Epson 410XL ink cartridge replacement rated for 530 pages at $23.99 on Newegg costs $0.0453 per page. The data reveals a $0.0384 per-page gap in Brother's favor.
The Short Answer
Brother wins at $0.0069 per page versus $0.0453 per page for Epson, based on the cheapest tracked listings for each brand at Newegg. The Brother floor comes from a SuppliesMAX-compatible toner cartridge rated for 2,600 pages at $17.99 ($17.99 ÷ 2,600 = $0.006919). The Epson floor comes from a 410XL-compatible ink cartridge rated for 530 pages at $23.99 ($23.99 ÷ 530 = $0.045264). For details on how we source and rank printer ink listings, see our methodology page.
Price Per Page Breakdown
Here are the cheapest tracked listings for each brand, head-to-head:
| Brother (SuppliesMAX) | Epson (410XL) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $17.99 | $23.99 |
| Page Yield | 2,600 pages | 530 pages |
| Cost Per Page | $0.0069 | $0.0453 |
| Retailer | Newegg | Newegg |
The per-page gap is $0.0384 ($0.0453 − $0.0069). Over 2,600 pages — the yield of one Brother toner cartridge — that difference equals $99.84 in savings ($0.0384 × 2,600) compared to paying Epson's cartridge rate.
Brother also has a second tracked listing: a genuine Brother Cyan High Yield XL ink-jet cartridge for MFC-J5330DW, MFC-J6530DW, and MFC-J6930DW printers, rated for 550 pages at $34.86 ($34.86 ÷ 550 = $0.0634 per page). That ink cartridge is more expensive per page than both the SuppliesMAX toner and the Epson 410XL.
Same Capacity, Same Tier?
No — and this is the critical caveat. The Brother floor is a toner cartridge for laser printers (DCP-L2500, HL-L2300, MFC-L2700 series). The Epson floor is an ink cartridge for inkjet printers (Expression XP-7100, XP-830, XP-640 series). These are different print technologies that require different hardware.
The Brother advantage only holds when toner is included. Toner cartridges inherently deliver higher page yields at lower per-page costs because laser printing deposits dry powder rather than liquid ink.
What the Extra Cost Buys You
The Epson 410XL costs more per page but serves a different printer ecosystem. Here is what the listing data confirms:
- Print technology: Brother's cheapest listing is toner (laser); Epson's cheapest is ink (inkjet). These are not interchangeable — Brother toner will not work in an Epson Expression XP-7100.
- Page yield: Brother toner yields 2,600 pages; Epson 410XL yields 530 pages; Brother Cyan XL ink yields 550 pages.
- Printer compatibility: Brother toner fits DCP-L2500, DCP-L2540, HL-L2300, HL-L2360, MFC-L2680, MFC-L2700, and MFC-L2740. Epson 410XL fits Expression XP-7100, XP-830, XP-640, XP-530, XP-630, and XP-635.
No additional specifications — color yield, fade resistance, or print resolution — are available from the listing data.
When Each Makes Sense
- Choose Brother toner if you own a compatible Brother laser printer (DCP-L2500 series or similar) and want the lowest tracked cost per page at $0.0069. A single $17.99 cartridge covers 2,600 pages of output.
- Choose Epson ink if you own a compatible Epson Expression inkjet printer (XP-7100 or similar). The 410XL at $0.0453 per page is the cheapest tracked Epson cartridge — but EcoTank refill bottles offer a dramatically cheaper alternative.
The EcoTank Alternative
The tracked database includes several Epson EcoTank-compatible refill bottles that undercut both cartridge options by orders of magnitude. The cheapest is a Faslvink refill bottle set rated for 30,000 pages at $16.98 → — $0.0006 per page. The OKGO!INK 522-series bottles at 18,000 pages for $16.99 ($0.0009 per page) offer a similar value tier.
These refill bottles require an EcoTank-series printer such as the ET-2850, ET-3760, or ET-3850 — not a cartridge-based Expression model. If you print frequently at home, the per-page savings from refill bottles versus cartridges are substantial enough to justify researching an EcoTank printer purchase. For a broader comparison across four major brands, see our HP vs Canon vs Epson vs Brother cheapest ink analysis.
Verdict
Brother wins on raw cost per page: $0.0069 versus $0.0453 for Epson, based on Newegg listings tracked as of 2026-08-04. The comparison crosses toner and ink technologies, though — if you are locked into an inkjet printer, the cheapest Epson cartridge ($0.0453 per page) actually beats the cheapest Brother inkjet cartridge ($0.0634 per page). The lowest overall cost per page belongs to Epson EcoTank refill bottles, starting at $0.0006 per page for a 30,000-page Faslvink set at $16.98.
Prices verified on 2026-08-04 from tracked Newegg and Amazon listings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Brother ink cheaper than Epson ink?
For inkjet cartridges specifically, Epson is cheaper. The tracked Brother Cyan XL ink cartridge (550 pages, $34.86) costs $0.0634 per page, while the Epson 410XL (530 pages, $23.99) costs $0.0453 per page. Brother only wins when toner cartridges are included in the comparison.
What is the cheapest Brother option per page?
The SuppliesMAX compatible toner for Brother DCP-L2500, HL-L2300, and MFC-L2700 series laser printers is the cheapest option.
Do Epson EcoTank bottles work in standard inkjet printers?
No, EcoTank refill bottles are designed exclusively for EcoTank-series printers (such as the ET-2850 or ET-3850) which use internal tanks instead of cartridges. Standard Epson Expression inkjet printers require traditional cartridges like the 410XL.
Does higher yield always mean lower cost per page?
Generally, yes. High-yield cartridges and toner spread the fixed manufacturing costs over a larger number of printed pages. However, comparing across different technologies (like laser toner versus liquid ink) will often reveal massive price disparities that outweigh standard yield metrics.