Brother MFC-J491DW vs Epson WorkForce Pro WF-7840 All-in-One Printer

Epson WorkForce Pro WF-7840 All-in-One Printer is both cheaper to buy and cheaper to run — the straightforward pick for most buyers.

Brother MFC-J491DW

Brother MFC-J491DW

Price
$399.00
Cost per page (mono)
29.6¢/pg
Buy — $399.00
Best overall
Epson WorkForce Pro WF-7840 All-in-One Printer

Epson WorkForce Pro WF-7840 All-in-One Printer

Price
$379.99
Cost per page (mono)
4.0¢/pg
Buy — $379.99

Cost to run

Total cost of ownershipBrother MFC-J491DWEpson WorkForce Pro WF-7840 All-in-One Printer
After 1 year$2,176$617
After 2 years$3,953$854
After 3 years$5,731$1,092

Epson WorkForce Pro WF-7840 All-in-One Printer is cheaper to buy and cheaper to run, so it stays the lower total cost at every volume.

Specs compared

SpecBrother MFC-J491DWEpson WorkForce Pro WF-7840 All-in-One Printer
Print technologyinkjetinkjet
Color supportcolorcolor
Device typemultifunctionmultifunction
Functionsprint, scan, copy, faxprint, scan, copy, fax
Print speed (mono)12 ppm25 ppm
Print speed (color)12 ppm12 ppm
Resolution1200 x 6004800 x 2400
Duty cycle (monthly)2,500 pages—
Recommended volume1,000 pages/mo—
Automatic duplexYesYes
Automatic document feederYesYes
Display—4.3-inch LCD touchscreen
Wi-FiYesYes
EthernetNoYes
USBYesYes
BluetoothNoNo
Paper sizesLetter, Legal, A4, PhotoLetter, Legal, A4, A3, Photo
Weight (kg)8.2120.6

Cartridges & running cost

Brother MFC-J491DW

Cheapest to run: Brother LC3011BK Standard-yield Black Ink Cartridge — $59.24 · 29.6¢/page · 200pg yield

Epson WorkForce Pro WF-7840 All-in-One Printer

Cheapest to run: Epson 812XXL Extra-High-Capacity Black Ink Cartridge — $86.99 · 4.0¢/page · 2,200pg yield

Which should you buy?

  • High-volume or cost-conscious printing: Epson WorkForce Pro WF-7840 All-in-One Printer — about 87% lower cost per page (4.0¢ vs 29.6¢).
  • A lower upfront budget: Epson WorkForce Pro WF-7840 All-in-One Printer — $19 less to buy.
  • The fastest printing for a busy or shared office: Epson WorkForce Pro WF-7840 All-in-One Printer — 25 ppm vs 12 ppm mono.

Where to buy

Brother MFC-J491DWBuy — $399.00
Epson WorkForce Pro WF-7840 All-in-One PrinterBuy — $379.99

Compare with other models

Frequently asked questions

Which is cheaper to run, the Brother MFC-J491DW or the Epson WorkForce Pro WF-7840 All-in-One Printer?
The Epson WorkForce Pro WF-7840 All-in-One Printer — its cheapest black cartridge works out about 87% cheaper per page (4.0¢ vs 29.6¢ mono).
Which costs less to buy, the Brother MFC-J491DW or the Epson WorkForce Pro WF-7840 All-in-One Printer?
The Epson WorkForce Pro WF-7840 All-in-One Printer is about $19 cheaper upfront based on current prices.
What are the main differences between the Brother MFC-J491DW and the Epson WorkForce Pro WF-7840 All-in-One Printer?
Print speed (mono): Brother MFC-J491DW 12 ppm, Epson WorkForce Pro WF-7840 All-in-One Printer 25 ppm. Resolution: Brother MFC-J491DW 1200 x 600, Epson WorkForce Pro WF-7840 All-in-One Printer 4800 x 2400. Ethernet: Brother MFC-J491DW No, Epson WorkForce Pro WF-7840 All-in-One Printer Yes. Paper sizes: Brother MFC-J491DW Letter, Legal, A4, Photo, Epson WorkForce Pro WF-7840 All-in-One Printer Letter, Legal, A4, A3, Photo.