A:Answer While it makes getting ink much easier, it's not required to use the printer (although without it, you don't get the six months of Instant Ink for free). The cost is based on the number of pages you'll print. For most home users, the 50 page plan is enough, which costs $2.99/month, or $36 for the year. And yes, you can cancel the plan at any time, although if you do, at the end of your current billing cycle you'll need to buy a set of cartridges for the printer.