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Despite giving its catch-all Cloud Print service the ax in December 2020, Google has maintained ubiquitous printer support for Chromebooks through native printing and app drivers ever since. Therefore, these days, you can use just about any printer with a Chromebook so long as it has the equipment for Wi-Fi or wired network connectivity. Note that Chromebooks still can’t print over Bluetooth, not that most people opt for the short-range wireless standard even when it is available.
That opens up a wide range of options when it comes to selecting the best printers for Chromebooks as we’ve done below. Because one Chromebook user’s needs may differ from the next, we settled on a top pick for a number of different categories, with the portable and versatile Canon Pixma TR150 taking our number one spot. Whether you already have a particular brand or type of printer in mind or you’re starting your search from scratch, let us help you expedite your hunt so that you can get back to what matters most—running your business from the convenient comfort of a Chromebook.
Best Overall: Brother HL-L2350DW ($190)
Best HP Printer: HP OfficeJet 200 ($330), also at other retailers
Best All-in-One: HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e ($250), also at other retailers
Best Photo Printer: HP Tango X ($220), also at other retailers
Best for Small Business: Brother MFCL2750DW ($400), also at other retailers
Best Ink Saving Option: Epson EcoTank ET-2720 ($200)
Best Printer Under $100: Canon Pixma MG3620 ($80), also at other retailers
Best Overall: Brother HL-L2350DW ($190)
One of the major benefits of using a Chromebook is being able to take it wherever you go. But what if you could do the same with your printer? That’s the value proposition of the Canon Pixma TR150, a compact mobile printer capable of jetting out photos and documents up to 8.5 x 11 inches in size. With a form factor measuring only 12.7 x 7.3 x 2.6 inches itself, it’s small enough to fit into a backpack or travel bag. Installing the optional $99 battery gives it enough juice to print 330 pages on a single charge, though it is limited to 50 sheets at a time, so you will have to reload the tray a few times along the way.
Best HP Printer: HP OfficeJet 200 ($300)
For the risk-averse, a good general rule of thumb is to stick to what you know. In the case that what you know is HP, the diminutive OfficeJet 200 is a formidable alternative to the best printer for Chromebooks overall.
A built-in 2-inch display makes for an easy setup while a 50-sheet tray ensures you never run out of paper unexpectedly. Best of all, although the OfficeJet 200 is on the pricier side, the battery comes standard, eliminating the need for a separate purchase. You can get it on Amazon or from HP directly.
Best All-in-One: HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e ($230)
Those seeking a more robust option will be impressed by the HP OfficeJet 9015e, available from Amazon and other retailers. Tailored to the at-home office worker, a 250-sheet input tray provides not only a high capacity for double-sided printing, but it also outputs quickly at up to 22 pages per minute (ppm) in black or 18 ppm in color.
Six months of Instant Ink adds an unbeatable value to the 9015e as well, netting you up to 700 pages a month in free printing. And since it’s delivered straight to your door, there’s no trip to the store necessary. The only downside is that you’re going to have to free up some space on your desk for this inkjet gargantuan.
Best Photo Printer: HP Tango X ($200)
Described by HP as the “world’s first smart home printer,” the Tango X aims to fill the void of the now-defunct Google Cloud Print by letting you print from anywhere with an internet connection.
Whether you’re working from a coffee shop or a hotel room on your Chromebook, smartphone, or tablet, the HP Tango X stylishly spits out photos and documents up to 8.5 x 14 inches large, boasting image quality that matches that of the displays on your devices. And for a whole 2 months after your purchase, you can enjoy an Instant Ink subscription free of charge. The Tango X is sold on both Amazon and from other retailers.
Best for Small Business: Brother MFCL2750DW ($400)
Brother’s MFCL2750DW is an outstanding printer for small businesses. The monochrome laser all-in-one printer features printing, copying, and scanning functionality. It’s capable of two-sided copying and scanning with a 50-sheet automatic document feeder. With its wireless printing support, the MFCL2750DW can print wirelessly using Wi-Fi from smartphones, desktops, laptops, and Chromebooks.
Additionally, cloud printing lets you print and scan to and from various cloud storage services such as Google Drive, Dropbox, OneNote, and Evernote. Able to print up to 36 pages per minute, print jobs will be complete in no time. Aside from printing and scanning, the Brother MFCL2750DW supports faxes, too, making it a fantastic option for small businesses. It’s available on Amazon and from other retailers.
Best Ink Saving Option: Epson EcoTank ET-2720 ($200)
Living up to the eco in its name, the Epson EcoTank ET-2720 is a good eco-friendly printer for Chromebooks. The printer, scanner, copier sports a unique refillable ink reservoir with up to a two-year lifespan. As such, you’ll rarely have to get more ink.
There’s Wi-Fi and mobile printing including the Epson iPrint app, Apple AirPrint, and Google Cloud Print. A 5760 x 1440 dpi (dots per inch) color resolution makes for lovely looking prints, whether photos or documents. Its four individual ink tanks may be easily re-filled.
A USB port onboard lets you print from flash drives or with a USB cable. High-quality, ink-saving, and well-priced, the Epson EcoTank ET-2720 will satisfy your printing needs without breaking the bank.
Best Printer Under $100: Canon Pixma MG3620 ($60)
Chromebooks are inexpensive, so naturally your instinct might tell you not to spend more on a printer than you did on your laptop. In that case, look no further than the Canon Pixma MG3620, a wireless all-in-one inkjet complete with support for Wi-Fi, AirPrint, Mopria, NFC, and wired USB connections.
All that starting at $80 from the Canon site or from other retailers. That said, depending on your anticipated print volume, it may be worth the investment to spend more on one of the aforementioned HP models with Instant Ink, especially since the cost per page is a bit steep for a printer in this price range at 24 cents versus the 22 cents with the OfficeJet Pro 8035.
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