It’s difficult to avoid noticing brand names when looking for a printer. Even though there are fewer companies to choose from, it is still challenging to identify the best printer manufacturer because each one offers a wide range of products that are catered to specific needs. Nevertheless, every business has its own perspective on the same technologies as well as strengths and weaknesses.

To assist you in starting your research process, we’ll discuss the specific products and distinctive services that each company offers in this blog. We’ll also give you a general overview of the brands.

We will also discuss alternative purchasing options and offer advice on how to navigate the wide range of printing options if you decide that dealing directly with manufacturers is not for you.

Factors That Went into This List

Company Reputation and Pedigree

Being a part of any “Best Of” list requires companies to have renowned credibility and influence across the entire industry.

This list was largely compiled based on company reputation. Among other things, this entails achieving high rankings on the global scale, increasing customer satisfaction, and innovating in terms of both product and quality.

Product Efficacy and Features

Naturally, compiling a list of the best printer/copier manufacturers would be impossible without carefully evaluating the goods offered by each company and the distinctive benefits of doing business with them.

When selecting the top five printer manufacturers from among the various printer manufacturers, product effectiveness and distinguishing product features were crucial factors to consider.

Empirical Data

Statistical indicators were used to help corroborate initial findings, though they weren’t as important as the first two.

The company Statista, which specializes in market and consumer data, was the primary source of the information. They rank as “Least Biased” on the Website for media bias and fact-checking.

Revenue and Finances

In order to identify the top companies in terms of bottom-line performance, revenue and finances were also taken into account.

Although company revenue is typically one of the best indicators of success, it was the least important factor taken into account for this list because it is more concerned with consumers than with company performance.

5 Leading Printer Brands in the Industry

Hp

In a one-car garage in Palo Alto, California, David Packard and Bill Hewlett founded Hewlett-Packard (HP) in 1939.

The HP LaserJet, which was introduced in 1984, is frequently credited with launching the desktop publishing trend. HP specializes in laser products, primarily computers, and printers.

They include printing options for both professional and home use, as well as the HP+ Smart Printing System, which transforms an HP printer into a Smart device.

In addition to their machines, they also offer their own Managed Print Service, which targets the hybrid work environment and revolves around “security, flexibility and manageability,” according to their website.

According to Statista, HP had the largest share of global printer shipments as of last year, and its revenue increased from $2.8 billion to $6.5 billion, making them an obvious choice as one of the top five printer producers.

To find out more about HP and how they stack up against other brands, read our blog post comparing HP and Xerox.

Canon

The company was founded in Japan in 1933, but it really took off in the United States. with the establishment of its New York division in 1955.

Although they sell a variety of technology, cameras and printers are their areas of expertise. Regarding printing, Canon offers a wide range of options for home, business, large format, and production printing in addition to expert and cloud-based print services.

In particular, Canon provides a broad selection of production options, such as ID Card Printers, Label Printers, Card & Badge Printers, and Cable and Wire Marker Printers.

Canon deserves a place on this list due to its strong reputation and the fact that it shipped the second-most printers globally by a single company in 2021.

Xerox

In Rochester, New York, Xerox established its roots in 1906 and is credited with developing the first xerographic plain-paper copiers.

Xerox focuses primarily on printers/copiers, including single-function and multifunction devices for production, office, and the remote work environment, whereas HP (computers) and Canon (cameras) concentrate on other areas in addition to office solutions.

In addition to offering services like DocuShare Enterprise Content Management and CareAR’s Augmented Reality Support, Xerox devices are renowned for their ConnectKey technology features and App Gallery.

More than 8,500 patents for innovation are currently active at Xerox, which serves more than 160 countries. For three of the previous six years, they have appeared on Statista’s list of shipments of global printers.

Xerox is deserving of inclusion on this list due to its continued standing as one of the top printer producers as well as its distinctive features and services.

Brother

Currently based in the United States, Brother International Corporation was founded in Japan in 1908. headquarters in New Jersey’s Township of Bridgewater

The product strategy of Brother Printers is focused on office solutions, such as printers, scanners, and label makers, for workgroups of roughly 1 to 20 users.

Their industrial machines support numerous industries, including clothing, automotive, travel, and the medical sector. They are also well known for their sewing, embroidery, and quilting machines. Brother, which has a distribution presence in more than 100 nations, came in third on Statista’s list of the world’s top printer markets in 2021.

Brother earns a spot on the most recent ranking of top printer producers thanks to their recent global expansion and high standard of products.

Epson

The EP-101, the first miniprinter in the world, was introduced by Epson, a Japanese company with headquarters in Tokyo, in 1968. Epson was founded in 1942.

They provide a range of printer and scanner options, including models for home and business use like Supertank Printers, Photo Printers, and Impact Printers in addition to straightforward single-function and multifunction machines.

In addition to selling robotic office products, Epson offers its customers five different types of paper: photo paper, presentation paper, professional imaging media, scrapbook and craft paper, and copy and printer paper.

Epson has utilized its global footprint to grow into one of the largest multinational printer manufacturers in the world, appearing on Statista’s Global Printer Share list in all but one of the recent five years.

The last spot on this list goes to Epson thanks to its consistent global presence and its standing as a cutting-edge technological company. As with the other brands on this list, we’ve compared Epson and Xerox to show how the two businesses compare in various categories.

How Do I Know Which Printer Brand to Choose?

The short summaries of the five businesses listed in this article won’t be sufficient for you to accurately determine which of those companies products would be the best fit for you because the answer to that question depends on a variety of factors.

It should be noted that if you’re looking for basic single-function or multifunction printer options, all the major manufacturers will carry quality options. If their products are of poor quality, the top manufacturing companies will not achieve their current levels of success.

With that being said, here are four questions you can ask yourself to help decide which brand to go with:

• What characteristics do I want in a printer?
• What special services does this company provide, and would I find them useful?
• Has this company a positive reputation and a successful track record with customers?
• What environmental and security safeguards does the business have?

The topics that you will need to think about in your research process are not all covered by these questions. The decision of which printer to buy—and ultimately, from whom to buy it—is heavily influenced by factors like the price of the device, the volume at which it can print, and the size of the device. However, if you start by asking yourself these questions, it will be a good starting point for a more thorough evaluation process.

Alternative to Buying Directly from Printer Brands

You have the choice to either buy directly from the manufacturing company, which not everyone is qualified to do or through a nearby vendor who sells the manufacturing company’s goods.

Some benefits of buying from a local vendor that you don’t get from buying directly from a manufacturer include:

• an association that is easier to access.
• stable organizational structure.
• a direct line of communication.

In general, buying directly from the manufacturer would be the best option if your company has multiple locations across the nation and you want to have one solution for any problems that might arise with your printer collection.  

However, purchasing from a nearby print vendor who sells the goods from the direct manufacturer would be the better choice if you’re a locally run business looking for a more dependable and personable option.  

The Bottom Line

The printers and brands we suggest above are the ones we believe are currently the best for the majority of users. While identifying the best printer manufacturer may be difficult, it’s equally critical to remember that no printer is ideal for every application. The majority of them are good enough to satisfy most people, and the differences are frequently not apparent unless you really look for them.