Ok teacher friends, have you heard about the HP Instant Ink program?? Today I'll share with you how I was able to print over 2,000 pages (in color!!) for free and how you can earn free pages too. I will also answer some of the most commonly asked questions I have heard from teachers about the program.
Please note, this post does contain affiliate links which means that I earn a small amount when you make purchases or enroll. However, my promise to you is that I am only sharing my honest opinions and I will never promote something I do not believe in. See my disclaimer page for full details.
The Basics
What is HP Instant Ink?
I define Instant Ink as one of the best decisions I've made lately...and a huge sanity saver! But, I suppose a more technical definition may be needed as well. Instant Ink is a monthly subscription program through HP that monitors your ink usage wirelessly. Then, they send you new ink as soon as you start to get low. You pay by the amount of pages that you print, not by the amount of ink you use. This means that you can literally print everything in full color if you need to!
What kind of printer do you need?
First, you need to see if your HP printer is compatible with the Instant Ink Program.My old favorite 8620 was sadly discontinued but I currently have the HP OfficeJet Pro 8035 which I also love! If your printer is not compatible now is a great time to find one with all of the back to school sales. If your printer is compatible, you are in luck because it is super simple to sign up and I will walk you through the basics.
How much does it cost and is it worth it?
When you enroll in the program you can choose a plan that works best for you. The plans start at just a few dollars a month and increase depending on how many pages you need.
These are the current prices as of July 2022:
Also, when I first enrolled in the program I had 6 free months (I promise I will show you how to get free months too) so I can justify a few dollars in overages.
Now to the "Is it worth it?" part of the question.... To me, the answer is yes. When I would go out and buy ink I would easily spend $60-$100 at a time depending on how many cartridges I had to replace. Now, it would take me months to spend that much on ink using the subscription! I like that I am not making large payments at one time. I even tried using refurbished ink cartridges in the past which were definitely less expensive but often gave me trouble. Now as soon as I run out I know that I have larger than normal cartridges waiting as a backup for me in my office which means that I need to replace them less often than before too.
Why does this work so well for teachers?
* Last minute binge printing is totally possible.... you never run out of ink! I don't know about all of you but Ioften occasionally put off school work until the night before I need something. Nothing is more annoying than happily binge printing when you suddenly run out of ink. Who wants to run to the store in PJs on a Sunday night?!? HP monitors your ink usage so as soon as they notice you are running low they send you more ink.
*** Also, I want to mention that I was sent ink a few weeks ago and have since printed almost 400 pages and STILL do not need to switch cartridges yet. That is how far in advance it's sent. Plus, if you know you are going to be doing a ton of printing you can contact them (super friendly customer support) and they will rush you ink sooner.
* It is cheaper than office supply stores. I already mentioned this once but again, I am saving so much money by not needing to buy ink all the time or take pages to copy centers. My teacher wallet is happy.
* Change the plans as needed. Okay, just like we like to differentiate, so does HP. You can choose a plan that works for you and switch it whenever you need to at no extra cost! For example, if you know back to school requires a lot of printing then you can have the 300 page plan that month. However, maybe you are out of school for Winter break and want to switch to a lower plan in December. Totally fine! You can always switch back when you want to.
* One less thing to think about. HP does the thinking for you. They will send you an email when your ink is getting low, and when you are getting close to your page limit for the month. They also mail the ink right to you. Simply drag your tired teacher body to the mailbox and you are good to go.
* Teachers love to share and earn free things! If you sign up for instant ink and love it like I think you will, you will probably want to tell all of your friends. Of course you can share this post with them but HP also has a referral program that makes it easy for you and your friends to earn a free month whenever they enroll using your code.
Anything you want! It doesn't matter if you print a small picture, black and white worksheet, or full page photo. Each counts as one page. Also if you print something double sided know that it counts as two pages, just like the copy machines at school. HP monitors the pages printed, not the pieces of paper.
I have printed everything from last minute homework assignments to colorful classroom decor. I have had no problems with it printing on different materials like card stock. I have also printed on Avery Printable Magnet Sheets
which are my new obsession. My printers take the magnetic pages great and it still counts as just a regular page. I also love using Avery 2 X 4 Shipping Labels
to organize EVERYTHING in my classroom.
2) Wait until next month- Not ideal, but you could wait until your monthly plan restarts.
3) Keep on printing and know that it is still less than an office supply store. This is typically what I do if I have have used all of my pages and my back up rollover pages. $3 in ink overages is better than the $30 it would have cost to buy a cartridge otherwise or the hassle of leaving my home to print somewhere else.
Nope! They will send you ink far ahead of time and you just set it aside and keep using what you have. You only change the ink once your printer tells you you are completely out (mine usually stops printing unless I put new ink in at that time). Also they make it super easy for you to recycle your old empty cartridges for free.
If you are purchasing a new printer that comes with a trial of instant ink it will usually include directions on how to get started. If you would like to use my referral code we each get an additional free month :)
If you already have a printer and are ready to take the plunge you can click here to sign up. Again, it is a super simple process!
Once you have signed up HP will send you a welcome letter and kit that contains ink. Your free trial or enrollment period does not begin until you actually install those cartridges. This means that you can use the ink you currently have in your printer until it runs out and then install the new ones. No need to waste ink.
Teachers love great deals, I know I do. Here is how I think you can get the most bang for your buck.
* First, when you enroll in the program you can enter any Promo Codes your printer may have come with to have a free trial. The trial is great because you will get a feel for the program without worrying about paying for it. Remember you can cancel any time but I do believe you will love it!
* Enroll in the biggest plan, especially if you are using the free trial. Print what you need to now, stock up on some rollover pages, and be able to print everything you need in color without worrying about going over your limit.
*Save printing your black and white copies for school and enjoy loading up on color for your classroom using your Instant Ink. If I am printing simple worksheets or homework I prefer to use my school's copy machine. However, I have also printed plenty of last minute black and white copies at home (ex. sub plans) when I was in a pinch.
Well if you stuck around for such a long post you deserve a pat on the back! I hope you were able to see the value in Instant Ink and are ready to join. If I can answer any other questions or help you get set up please just let me know, I would be happy to help.
Happy printing everyone!
Want to save this post for later? Be sure to Pin the image below.
I have the $24.99 plan which means that I can print 700 pages (in color if I choose) each month. Some months I have gone over my limit. In those situations I was charged $1 for every 15 pages I printed. At first I was worried about the cost but then realized that $1 was a LOT less than if I took 15 pages to my local copy store to be printed in color.
Also, when I first enrolled in the program I had 6 free months (I promise I will show you how to get free months too) so I can justify a few dollars in overages.
Now to the "Is it worth it?" part of the question.... To me, the answer is yes. When I would go out and buy ink I would easily spend $60-$100 at a time depending on how many cartridges I had to replace. Now, it would take me months to spend that much on ink using the subscription! I like that I am not making large payments at one time. I even tried using refurbished ink cartridges in the past which were definitely less expensive but often gave me trouble. Now as soon as I run out I know that I have larger than normal cartridges waiting as a backup for me in my office which means that I need to replace them less often than before too.
Here are a few of the reasons that I think this program works especially well for teachers.
* Teachers love color!- It is so nice to know that I can print full color centers and materials without having to worry about running out of ink or needing to use the draft setting. My room looks beautiful and my students are happy.* Last minute binge printing is totally possible.... you never run out of ink! I don't know about all of you but I
*** Also, I want to mention that I was sent ink a few weeks ago and have since printed almost 400 pages and STILL do not need to switch cartridges yet. That is how far in advance it's sent. Plus, if you know you are going to be doing a ton of printing you can contact them (super friendly customer support) and they will rush you ink sooner.
* Change the plans as needed. Okay, just like we like to differentiate, so does HP. You can choose a plan that works for you and switch it whenever you need to at no extra cost! For example, if you know back to school requires a lot of printing then you can have the 300 page plan that month. However, maybe you are out of school for Winter break and want to switch to a lower plan in December. Totally fine! You can always switch back when you want to.
* One less thing to think about. HP does the thinking for you. They will send you an email when your ink is getting low, and when you are getting close to your page limit for the month. They also mail the ink right to you. Simply drag your tired teacher body to the mailbox and you are good to go.
* Teachers love to share and earn free things! If you sign up for instant ink and love it like I think you will, you will probably want to tell all of your friends. Of course you can share this post with them but HP also has a referral program that makes it easy for you and your friends to earn a free month whenever they enroll using your code.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I print?
Anything you want! It doesn't matter if you print a small picture, black and white worksheet, or full page photo. Each counts as one page. Also if you print something double sided know that it counts as two pages, just like the copy machines at school. HP monitors the pages printed, not the pieces of paper.
I have printed everything from last minute homework assignments to colorful classroom decor. I have had no problems with it printing on different materials like card stock. I have also printed on Avery Printable Magnet Sheets
which are my new obsession. My printers take the magnetic pages great and it still counts as just a regular page. I also love using Avery 2 X 4 Shipping Labels
to organize EVERYTHING in my classroom.What happens when I get to my limit each month?
You can easily monitor how many pages you have printed through your HP account once you get set up. They will also email you when you are getting close to your monthly limit. If you do run out of pages you have a few options.
1) Use rollover pages- If you do not print all of your pages in one month the remaining pages will be stored as rollover pages (up to the total amount of your plan). This means that if you are on the 300 page plan you can have up to 300 rollover pages stored (maybe you save 50 pages one month, 100, the next, 20 a different month, etc.). If you need to go over your page limit one month and have rollover pages stored, your account automatically uses those rather than charging you.
3) Keep on printing and know that it is still less than an office supply store. This is typically what I do if I have have used all of my pages and my back up rollover pages. $3 in ink overages is better than the $30 it would have cost to buy a cartridge otherwise or the hassle of leaving my home to print somewhere else.
Do I change the ink as soon as they mail it to me?
Nope! They will send you ink far ahead of time and you just set it aside and keep using what you have. You only change the ink once your printer tells you you are completely out (mine usually stops printing unless I put new ink in at that time). Also they make it super easy for you to recycle your old empty cartridges for free.
What happens when I first enroll?
If you are purchasing a new printer that comes with a trial of instant ink it will usually include directions on how to get started. If you would like to use my referral code we each get an additional free month :)
If you already have a printer and are ready to take the plunge you can click here to sign up. Again, it is a super simple process!
Once you have signed up HP will send you a welcome letter and kit that contains ink. Your free trial or enrollment period does not begin until you actually install those cartridges. This means that you can use the ink you currently have in your printer until it runs out and then install the new ones. No need to waste ink.
How do I get the best deal?
Teachers love great deals, I know I do. Here is how I think you can get the most bang for your buck.
* First, when you enroll in the program you can enter any Promo Codes your printer may have come with to have a free trial. The trial is great because you will get a feel for the program without worrying about paying for it. Remember you can cancel any time but I do believe you will love it!
* Enroll in the biggest plan, especially if you are using the free trial. Print what you need to now, stock up on some rollover pages, and be able to print everything you need in color without worrying about going over your limit.
*Save printing your black and white copies for school and enjoy loading up on color for your classroom using your Instant Ink. If I am printing simple worksheets or homework I prefer to use my school's copy machine. However, I have also printed plenty of last minute black and white copies at home (ex. sub plans) when I was in a pinch.
Well if you stuck around for such a long post you deserve a pat on the back! I hope you were able to see the value in Instant Ink and are ready to join. If I can answer any other questions or help you get set up please just let me know, I would be happy to help.
Happy printing everyone!
Want to save this post for later? Be sure to Pin the image below.
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