Which affordable plastic card printer is right for you?
Looking for an affordable plastic card printer for staff ID cards, membership cards or visitor badges? These are the three lower-volume printers we most commonly recommend, depending on how you'll use them.
IDP Smart 21s
From £495 + VAT
Best if you only print a few cards at a time.
- Card feed: Hand-fed
- Annual volume: Up to around 500
- Connectivity: USB
- Warranty: 2 years
- Colour cost/card: approx. 43p
- Software: Starter ID card software included – no subscription*
Evolis Zenius 2 Classic
From £685 + VAT
Best for regular low-volume printing and automatic card feeding.
- Card feed: Automatic 50-card feeder
- Annual volume: Up to around 5,000
- Connectivity: USB
- Warranty: 3 years
- Colour cost/card: approx. 31p
- Software: ID-ALL Starter included – Windows & macOS, no subscription
Magicard Pronto100
From £699 + VAT
Best for shared workplaces needing Ethernet connectivity.
- Card feed: Automatic 50-card feeder
- Annual volume: Up to around 1,000
- Connectivity: USB & Ethernet
- Warranty: 3 years
- Colour cost/card: approx. 46p
- Software: Starter ID card software included – no subscription*
Colour cost per card: approximate consumable cost based on one full-colour YMCKO print plus one standard recycled PVC blank card at current prices. Excludes VAT, the printer itself, cleaning supplies and optional software upgrades.
Software: starter software is included and isn't a monthly subscription. If your requirements grow, you may choose to purchase a one-off upgrade to a higher software edition.
*Using a Mac with the Smart 21s or Pronto100? Let us know before ordering so we can check compatibility and make sure the correct software is supplied for your setup where available.
What is the main difference between these budget ID card printers?
The IDP Smart 21s keeps the initial cost down by using a hand-fed design, making it a sensible choice for occasional printing and small batches.
The Evolis Zenius 2 Classic is the stronger all-round option if you expect to print more regularly. Its automatic card feeder makes batch printing easier, while its higher-yield consumables currently give it the lowest approximate full-colour cost per card of these three.
The Magicard Pronto100 also gives you automatic card feeding, but its main advantage is built-in Ethernet connectivity, making it particularly useful when the printer needs to be shared across a network.
Is the cheapest ID card printer always the cheapest to run?
No. A cheap plastic card printer may cost less initially but use lower-yield or more expensive ribbons, so it's worth comparing ongoing consumable costs as well as the purchase price.
If you only print a small number of cards each year, the difference may be fairly minor. If you're printing hundreds or thousands of cards, the cost per card becomes much more important.
When comparing running costs, look at:
- Ribbon price and print yield
- Cost of blank plastic cards
- Cleaning supplies
- Whether your software requirements may change later
Want a more detailed comparison? Read our guide to ID card printer running costs .
What else do you need to start printing plastic ID cards?
Alongside the printer, you'll normally need a compatible ribbon, blank plastic cards, cleaning supplies and card design software.
If this is your first printer, an ID Card Printer Bundle can make things easier because the main compatible items are supplied together.
Consumables
- Colour or monochrome printer ribbon
- Blank plastic cards
- Compatible cleaning supplies
Ribbon yields vary between printers, which is why two machines with a similar purchase price can have different ongoing printing costs.
Card design software
All three printers above include starter card design software, with no monthly software subscription required.
The Evolis Zenius 2 Classic includes ID-ALL Starter, which supports Windows and macOS.
If you're using a Mac with the Smart 21s or Pronto100, tell us before ordering so we can check compatibility. If you later need more advanced software features, upgrades are available as a one-off purchase.
Not sure what card software does? Read What Is ID Card Software and Why Do I Need It?
Can a cheap plastic card printer print on both sides?
Yes. The printers above are single-sided, but you can print the front of a plastic card, turn it over and feed it through again to print the reverse.
That's perfectly manageable for occasional double-sided cards. If most of your cards need printing on both sides, an automatic Double-Sided ID Card Printer will save considerable time.
Affordable plastic card printer FAQs
What is a plastic card printer?
A plastic card printer is a specialist desktop printer designed to print directly onto plastic cards such as staff ID cards, membership cards, visitor passes and photo identification cards.
Can I use a normal printer to print plastic ID cards?
A standard office inkjet or laser printer isn't designed to print directly onto standard CR80 plastic ID cards. For professional plastic cards you'll normally need a dedicated plastic card printer and compatible ribbon.
Is ID card software a subscription?
The starter card design software supplied with these printers doesn't require a monthly subscription. If your requirements grow, you may choose to purchase a one-off upgrade to a higher software edition for additional features.
Should I buy an ID card printer or a printer bundle?
If this is your first printer, a bundle is often the simplest option because it includes compatible supplies to help you start printing. If you're replacing an existing printer and already have suitable supplies, buying the printer alone may make more sense.
Our Printer Finder Quiz asks four short questions about what you'll be printing and how often, then recommends suitable printers based on your requirements.
