6 Best Low-Cost 3D Printers
Ten years ago, a 3D printer would have cost thousands of dollars as an industrial fixture. Even the ordinary printer these days can fit on a desk and likely costs far less than the gadget you're using to read this text. Finding a high-quality, reasonably priced 3D printer is easier than ever before, especially for those with limited funds. A top-notch entry-level printer that can have you printing in no time at all will cost you less than $200.
In this guide, we will look at the best low-cost 3D printers, along with their pros and cons, and the best prices in the market.
1. Creality Ender 3 V3 SE
Key features:
- Print Technology: Marketed as Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM)
- Extruder Nozzle Temperature: 482°F / 250°C
- Positioning Precision: XY Axis: 100 microns / 0.1 mm
- Print Speed: 180 to 250 mm/s
- Filament Compatibility: 1.75 mm Diameter: PETG, PLA, TPU
Blending a recognizable shape with beginner-friendly, fully automatic bed leveling and self-offsetting, the Creality Ender 3 V3 SE sets a new standard for affordable 3D printing, resulting in effortlessly faultless initial layers.
The typical features include a build volume of 220 x 220 x 250 mm, a hot end that can reach 260°C, and a Sprite dual-gear direct extruder that feeds filament to the end. Two Z-axis motors provide stability when printing through the entire height.
We have discovered the Ender 3 V3 SE to be a little dependable printer during our time using it. Although it does not come with the latest and greatest firmware or fancy features like the more expensive machines on the market, it does provide an improvement over earlier models in terms of ease of use and printing quality. We have a lot of good sentiments about it, but there are a few strange things that aren't there. For example, there isn't a filament sensor, which is so common in modern electronics that its lack is noticeable, even in a machine that costs less than $200.
With the included Creality Print software—which has a V3 SE profile—print job preparation is a breeze. Other open-source programs, like Cura and PrusaSlicer, are also available for use during slicing. Using the two screws as guides, aligning the print sheet when replacing it after a print can be a bit of a pain, but removing the print is a breeze with the magnetic PC-coated print sheet. This, however, pales in comparison to the high-quality printouts and printing convenience you may expect.
Price: $199
2. Anycubic Kobra 2
Key features:
- Print speed: 250mm/s(Max.) 150mm/s(Avg.)
- Accelerated speed: 2500mm/s²
- Printing accuracy: ±0.1mm
- Z-axis: Single rod and motor
At its fastest, the Kobra 2 can't compete with the top-ranked P1P and X1C 3D printers, but it can match the AnkerMake M5's top speed. Even though we found the best output quality at roughly 150 mm/s in our testing, it is happy to print at 250 mm/s. The included filament runout sensor and bed leveling feature are also highly effective.
The Kobra 2's greatest selling feature is its affordable price, which makes it the best budget 3D printer. Incredible as it may seem, it offers all the benefits of a quicker printer for less than $300. If you are a first-time buyer or are watching your spending, we would suggest this.
Price: $199
3. Mingda Magician X2
Key features:
- Printing Size: 230*230*260 mm³/ (9″x9″x10.2″)
- Max Nozzle temperature: 260 °C (300°C) | 500 °F (572°C)
- Max Bed temperature: 110 °C | 230 °F
- Machine Dimension: 46*41.5*54.6cm³ / 18.1x16.3x21.4in(X×Y×Z)
Consider the Mingda Magician X2 if you're short on room, want a small computer, and are watching your budget. Integrated filament sensors, a quick-swap extruder, and 16-point auto-leveling ensure that you never run out of filament while printing. An integrated display and simple Z-axis adjustment are two more features that are ideal for beginners.
The Magician X2 has several positive qualities, including being simple, inexpensive, and user-friendly. A hot end temperature indicator, integrated cooling, and a detachable PEI plate are all part of the package. If they so desire, advanced users can also access more configuration options.
Naturally, though, there are a few downsides, especially considering the price. Even for seasoned users, this interface could feel antiquated, and the system's print speed of 180 mm/s won't be setting any records. Therefore, experts in the field may wish to go elsewhere, but newbies will love it for its simple controls and reliable performance.
Price: $239
4. Creality Ender-3 S1
Key features:
- Extruder Nozzle Temperature: 500°F / 260°C
- Positioning Precision: XY Axis: 100 microns / 0.1 mm
- Print Speed: 150 mm/s
- Filament Compatibility: 1.75 mm Diameter: ABS, PETG, PLA, TPU
There are a lot of articles that rave about Creality desktop PCs if you've done any prior research. The company has made a name for itself in the market for affordable 3D printers in recent years.
Famous for its Ender Series, especially the Ender-3, which has been around for a long time. With its six-step assembly process and focus on accessibility, this Cartesian 3D printer made its debut in 2018. The most recent S1 model's build volume isn't huge at 220 x 220 x 270 mm, but it's big enough for making models of a reasonable size. These prints are a breeze to set up and take down on the Ender-3, thanks to its automatic bed levelling and detachable spring steel sheet plate.
Material compatibility is another crucial factor to think about when purchasing a 3D printer. Printing PLA, TPU, PETG, and ABS is all within the capabilities of the Ender-3 S1. Each of these materials offers unique strengths, flexibilities, and dimensional stability, allowing for the customization of components to meet the needs of certain uses.
Accuracy and quickness are two areas where the Ender-3 S1 isn't perfect. There might be more appropriate machines available if you're seeking a 3D printer to handle a business case for the prototype. Having said that, Creality currently provides models with greater specifications, such as the Creality K1, a fast 600 mm/s 3D printer that was released not long ago. Therefore, if you're ready to shell out the dough for a more powerful machine, there's certainly space to grow.
Price: $379
5. Original Prusa i3 MK3S+
Key features:
- Build Volume: 25×21×21 cm (9.84"×8.3"×8.3")
- Layer height: 0.05 - 0.35 mm
- Nozzle: 0.4mm default, wide range of other diameters/nozzles supported
- Filament diameter: 1.75 mm
- Max travel speed: 200+ mm/s
- Max nozzle temperature: 300 °C / 572 °F
- Max heatbed temperature: 120 °C / 248 °F
Makers have taken to Prusa machines in the same way they embrace Creality 3D printers. It is not hard to understand why the Prusa i3 MK3S+ has been so successful, with over 350,000 units sold thus far. You can have the systems already assembled for just under $900, or you can get a kit and make your own for a lot less money.
The machine also has automatic bed leveling, which is great for beginners because it makes sure the first layers of models print out properly, all because of the included SuperPinda probe. In addition to being compatible with PETG, ASA, PC, and PP, the Prusa i3 MK3S+ has an integrated filament sensor that can detect when material is running low, but cannot detect nozzle blockages.
The latter's compatibility is of utmost importance because PP is an excellent building block for creating sturdy, lightweight prototypes. This, together with the Prusa i3 MK3S+'s affordable price, user-friendly design, and ability to recover from power outages, makes it a great option for both experienced 3D printer users and those just starting out in the industry. An improved model, the Original Prusa MK4, is available, as is the case with many of the other machines mentioned here.
The newest desktop system from Prusa has a redesigned mainboard and an extruder that is one generation ahead of its predecessor, among other upgrades. On the other hand, the firm has released its Multi-Material Upgrade 3, or 'MMU3' bundle for the Prusa i3 MK3S+; thus, the decision as to whether or not the performance improvement is worthwhile is totally up to the users.
Price: $899 (Kit $649)
6. Ankermake M5
Key features:
- Layer Resolution: 100 microns / 0.1 mm
- Supported Extruder Nozzle Diameter: 0.4 mm
- Extruder Nozzle Temperature: 500°F / 260°C
- Print Speed: 50 to 500 mm/s
Adding a few extra bells and whistles to its lineup, the Ankermake M5 is making headlines in the 3D printing world. The marketing for the technology claims that it allows for 3D printing that is "five times faster," which has caused quite a stir in the industry regarding its speed in recent years. Although the claim's legitimacy depends on the 3D printer you compare it to, the machine's 250 mm per second 'rapid mode' has given it some credibility in practice.
Along with the usual suspects, like an easy-to-assembly design, auto-bed leveling, and a non-stick PEI build plate, the Ankermake M5 boasts an impressive built-in AI camera monitoring system that lets users keep their prints on track. This tracking is limited to the machine's native slicer, which is a big downside. Customers who received first-run machines also complained about the printers' quality, although Anker has kept improving its first 3D printer since releasing the AnkerMake 5C.
The Anker M5's main issue is that while it has attracted considerable interest in the market for pre-assembled, high-speed 3D printers, it does not control the market. Launched in 2022, the larger, same-speed X1 Series from Bambu Lab was an industry game-changer thanks to its affordable, incredibly high-quality print and build. The X1 may be slightly faster than the M5, but it's still worth considering all options if speed is a priority.
Price: $699
Best 3D Printing Software
There are a lot of 3D modeling software available that you can use to prepare your designs for 3D printing, and a good example is SelfCAD. It is a powerful 3D modeling software that allows you to create 3D models from scratch or edit existing designs and customize them based on your needs.
If the files have issues like unnecessary holes, you can fill them out easily using various software tools. After preparing your files, you can use the built-in online slicer of the software to slice your files and generate the G-code to send to your 3D printer.
In addition to being easy to use, SelfCAD has many resources to help you get started effortlessly. There are many interactive tutorials to help you learn by actually creating 3D models. The 3D modeling 101 series and 3D modeling for beginners videos on YouTube are also great resources to help you learn how SelfCAD works and how you can use it to create your 3D models.
Enjoy powerful modeling, rendering, and 3D printing tools without the steep learning curve.
Need to learn 3D modeling? Get started with interactive tutorials.