Copiers vs. Multifunction Printers

Published on: May 20, 2021 Published in: Blog

It’s an office device grudge-match! When it comes to your company’s paper needs, which machine will win your loyalty: copiers or multifunction printers? Let’s find out!

Two Go in, One Comes Out

Even the most environmentally conscious company will probably need a paper document processed at some point, which means copiers and multifunction printers still have an important place in the business world. However, that doesn’t mean these machines have to look and perform the same way they always have–or that one has the edge over the other just because it may be more familiar.

Of course, there’s only one way to find out which machine fits into your company’s unique environment: an office device grudge match! Let’s get started:

Copiers

Price: Copiers tend to be cheaper upfront, but the price per copy is higher than what an MFP offers. Copiers are also more expensive overall because they provide only one main job in your fleet, meaning that you’ll need other devices to fill in the gaps.
Paper size: Many copiers can work with your standard 8.5×11 paper, but they can also handle copy jobs up to 12×18. This gives them a bit of an edge in the flexibility department–but only if nonstandard copy jobs are a frequent occurrence in your office.
Features and functions: The truth is in the name. Copiers are, for the most part, just copiers, and although they may come with a few additional features, they usually aren’t hailed as multitasking workhorses in the business world.

Multifunction Printers

Price: Multifunction printers are pricier upfront, but cost less to operate in the long run. They also save money by combining print, scan, copy, and fax capabilities in one machine, meaning you won’t have to pay for an entire fleet to get the job done.
Paper size: When it comes to multifunction printers, you have a little less flexibility with paper size. Keep this in mind when shopping for your ideal machine.
Features and functions: Naturally, multifunction printers are like the Swiss army knife of the printing world, which means they do a bit of everything. In addition to their four main functions, they often come with finishing options, advanced connectivity, efficiency tools, and more.

So, when it comes to your needs, which machine is the winner of this office device grudge match? Whether it’s copiers or multifunction printers, we’re here to help–so contact us today!