Printer ink costs more per ounce than Dom Pérignon, yet you’re locked into buying it from manufacturers who design cartridges with built-in restrictions. Paris-based Open Tools just torpedoed this racket with the Open Printer—a fully open-source inkjet that eliminates DRM, subscriptions, and proprietary restrictions entirely. Your wallet will thank you, and so will your sense of digital dignity.
Technical Freedom Meets Real Performance
Open-source firmware delivers competitive specs without the corporate surveillance.
The Open Printer handles serious work with 600 dpi black-and-white and 1,200 dpi color printing, matching mainstream alternatives. More importantly, it accepts standard HP 63 and HP 302 cartridges that you can refill indefinitely—no firmware updates will ever lock you out.
The Raspberry Pi Zero W controller supports everything from letter-size documents to 11-inch rolls with automatic cutting. Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth connect seamlessly across Windows, macOS, Linux, and mobile devices, proving you don’t need proprietary software to get things done.
Breaking the Subscription Stranglehold
This printer’s open-source design prevents future rug-pulls from profit-hungry corporations.
Unlike HP’s ecosystem that restricts third-party ink through firmware updates, the Open Printer’s code remains forever in your control. All components—electronics, mechanical designs, firmware—carry Creative Commons licensing, meaning you can modify, repair, or upgrade anything.
This approach directly challenges an industry that’s perfected planned obsolescence, where your $200 printer becomes worthless when cartridge supplies disappear or compatibility gets restricted. These are common computer problems that plague users across all device categories.
The Crowdfunding Revolution Gains Steam
Consumer appetite for printer alternatives mirrors broader rebellion against tech restrictions.
Open Tools joins a surging wave of hardware innovators using crowdfunding to bypass traditional manufacturing gatekeepers. Anker’s EufyMake printer recently shattered records with $46.7 million raised on Kickstarter, proving consumers desperately want alternatives to incumbent players.
The success signals growing rejection of subscription-dependent devices across categories—from John Deere tractors to Tesla features—where ownership increasingly means paying forever.
Your Printer, Your Rules
Availability details remain limited, but the precedent could reshape home printing.
Open Tools hasn’t announced pricing or launch dates for their Crowd Supply campaign, though interested buyers can subscribe for updates. The real victory lies in proving viable alternatives exist to corporate printer cartels.
When your current printer starts restricting third-party ink or pushing subscription services, remember: there’s finally another option that puts you back in control.
