#10 Best 3D Printers under $500 2023
You want to get started in the incredible world of 3D printing, but you don't want to spend too much money. You're in luck, then. You can find the best 3D printers for under $500. We show you some tremendous 3D printers that don't cost much money.
| 👤 Written by: | A. K. Sari |
| ⏳ Updated on: | |
| 📋 List: | 10 items |
| 👀 Reader: | 35 views |
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Do you want to make your child's shoes, a pen holder, a key chain, a figurine, a work of art, or even a toy? You won't go broke if you do this. The way things are made has changed because of additive manufacturing technology. In the beginning, only people with a lot of money could buy it because it cost thousands of dollars.
But, because technology has improved, it can now be bought for $500 or even less and has many new features. The demand for affordable 3D printers has grown greatly because they are fast, accurate, and cheap. They can be used in many ways. If you're new to printing, it might be challenging to choose a printer. Don't worry, though. We've already done all the work. Check out our recommended 10 best 3D printers under $500 below.
Table of contents
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1.Creality Ender 3 Pro 3D Printer: Best Customizations 3D Printer
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2.ELEGOO Resin 3D Printer Mars 2 Pro: Best Easy to Use
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3.ANYCUBIC Photon Mono 4K Resin 3D Printer: Best Intricate Prints
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4.R QIDI TECHNOLOGY X-one2 Single Extruder 3D Printer: Best Extruder Cartridges
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5.JGMAKER Magic Upgraded 3D Printer: Best Filament Run-out Sensor
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6.ELEGOO Neptune 2 FDM 3D Printer: Best Excellent Price
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7.ANYCUBIC Photon M3 Max Resin 3D Printer: Best Easy Setup
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8.ELEGOO Mars 3 MSLA 3D Printer: Best Monochrome Display
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9.Mingda Upgrade Magician X 3D Printers: Best Automatic Bed Leveling
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10.Sovol SV02 3D Printer: Best Dual Filament Printing
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Cant find the answer you’re looking for? Reach out to our Q&A community.
Are the best 3D printers under $500 worth buying?
Yes, low-cost 3D printers are suitable for people who are just starting, students, and for hobbyists who are on a tight budget. They let you try additive manufacturing technology, learn essential skills, and get hands-on experience with 3D printers and their parts.
What to expect in a 3D printer under $500?
Some complex features on $10,000+ industrial 3D printers must be left out of lower ones. You also can’t expect the same perfect quality, speed, or reliability that professional 3D printers offer. But at this price range, FDM prints made with PLA and maybe a few other filaments will be of good quality.
Most of the best 3D printers that cost less than $500 should be able to print ABS, but many are not enclosed, making warping difficult. You should expect reasonable quality, with a minimum layer height of 100 or 50 microns and maximum precision. If the power goes out or something else goes wrong, your printer should be able to pick up where it left off.
What types do the best 3D printers under $500 have?
Best 3D printers under $500 serve varied purposes. The layering approach utilized by FDM printers makes them perfect for people with limited time or who require speedy prototyping. FDM products aren’t exact, but their durability and strength make them ideal for practical usage and repeated iterations.
Resin printers provide finer details, smoother surfaces, and fewer defects at greater resolutions. This increased accuracy comes with less durability, longer print times, and more costs for printers, resin, and post-processing chemicals, yet the print quality beats FDM printers.
What things to consider for the best 3D printers under $500?
- Assembly: 3D printers can be bought fully, mostly put together, or in kits. Under $500, you’ll likely find a semi-assembled printer, excellent if installation seems overwhelming.
- Printing Technology: With $500, you can only use FDM and resin printing. You can choose FDM because it is cheap.
- Enclosed or Open Design: Open or enclosed 3D printers under $500, depending on the filament type. Near $500, we discover a few covered possibilities, but most have open designs.
- Build Volume: The size and number of prints a printer can make are called its “build volume.” You can get both medium and large printers for $500, so choose based on what you need.
- Connectivity: How you feed a printer the sliced file it needs to finish a print depends on its connection. At $500, SD card readers are the norm, and you can also find printers that connect to USB.
- Bed Leveling: Bed leveling gives a printer a precise layout for a steady, sturdy initial layer and a quality print.
| Name | Rank | Check Prices |
|---|---|---|
Creality
Ender 3 Pro 3D Printer | #1 | Amazon Creality3dofficial.com eBay |
ELEGOO
Resin 3D Printer Mars 2 Pro | #2 | Amazon Elegoo.com eBay |
ANYCUBIC
Photon Mono 4K Resin 3D Printer | #3 | Amazon Anycubic.com eBay |
R QIDI TECHNOLOGY
X-one2 Single Extruder 3D Printer | #4 | Amazon Shopabunda.com eBay |
JGMAKER
Magic Upgraded 3D Printer | #5 | Amazon Jgmaker3d.com eBay |
ELEGOO
Neptune 2 FDM 3D Printer | #6 | Amazon Elegoo.com eBay |
ANYCUBIC
Photon M3 Max Resin 3D Printer | #7 | Amazon Anycubic.com eBay |
ELEGOO
Mars 3 MSLA 3D Printer | #8 | Amazon Elegoo.com eBay |
Mingda
Upgrade Magician X 3D Printers | #9 | Amazon 3dmingdaofficial.com eBay |
Sovol
SV02 3D Printer | #10 | Amazon Sovol3d.com eBay |
10 List of Best 3D Printers under $500
Have a problem
with this product?#1Creality Ender 3 Pro 3D Printer
Best Customizations 3D Printer
1 experts agree 1 experts disagreeWHY WE LIKE IT:The Creality has maintained a good balance between price and performance. It has a built surface plate that can be taken off and put back on, and it can heat up to 110 degrees C in just five minutes. With a build surface of 220×220, a heated bed can help things stick better. It also arises with a 12-month warranty and technical support for as long as you own it.
Pros (reasons to buy)
Enormous, vibrant aftermarket
Lots of available customizations
Hundreds of instructional videos and tipsCons (reasons to avoid)
Getting a little old
No automatic bed levelingWhat other experts liked
The tight filament path makes it easier to use flexible filaments, and the small size and decent print volume make it easy to store.What other experts didn't like
The stepper motors and cooling fans make a lot of noise, and the interface looks and feels old.
Have a problem
with this product?#2ELEGOO Resin 3D Printer Mars 2 Pro
Best Easy to Use
1 experts agree 1 experts disagreeWHY WE LIKE IT:Elegoo Mars 2 Pro comes with a 2K LCD screen, 50 micron XY resolution, and a build volume of 129 mm x 80 mm x 160 mm, which is above average for resin printers. It is a fully assembled unit that can be used immediately with the ChiTuBox software. This under $500 3D printer is easy to use and has surprisingly fast print speeds, especially for a resin printer.
Pros (reasons to buy)
Fast
Easy to use
Pre-assembledCons (reasons to avoid)
Noisy
Fumes
Unshielded LCDWhat other experts liked
The built-in air filtration system helps reduce fumes, so you can keep this at home with less worry about your lungs.What other experts didn't like
The Build volume can feel small, and the test print that comes preloaded isn't very good.
Have a problem
with this product?#3ANYCUBIC Photon Mono 4K Resin 3D Printer
Best Intricate Prints
1 experts agree 1 experts disagreeWHY WE LIKE IT:The Anycubic Photon Mono combines affordability, ease of use, and good print results into a great deal overall package. Under the hood, you’ll find a 2K monochrome LCD, 51 microns XY resolution, a large 165 mm x 80 mm x 130 mm build volume, and, for a resin printer, a fairly self-contained 3D printing work station that’s easy to set up. As with other MSLA printers, the layer curing times are short. This makes the whole printing process go much faster.
Pros (reasons to buy)
Superb detailed/intricate prints
Generous build volume
Ease of us
Quick cure timesCons (reasons to avoid)
Ongoing costs
Fumes
Flimsy vatWhat other experts liked
This printer is a no-brainer for tiny fans who wish to produce realistic models on the cheap. It's compact, has a detailed screen, and costs a bit more than a mono model.What other experts didn't like
After printing four models, the platform was already pretty scratched up, and if the power went out, I couldn't start printing again.
Have a problem
with this product?#4R QIDI TECHNOLOGY X-one2 Single Extruder 3D Printer
Best Extruder Cartridges
1 experts agree 1 experts disagreeWHY WE LIKE IT:The R QIDI Technology X-one 2 is a cheap semi-enclosed 3D printer that can make parts of good quality up to 150 x 150 x 150 mm in size. Even though it has a smaller volume than most 3D printers, this one is easy to use and cheap. It has a heated bed, a direct-drive single extruder, and a print recovery system. Also, it can be closed to make a build chamber where the temperature can be controlled. This under $500 3D printer is perfect for beginners, kids, and students because it is safe and easy to use.
Pros (reasons to buy)
Enclosed print area
Extruder cartridges
High print quality
Comes with tools for maintenance
User-friendly navigation
Good priceCons (reasons to avoid)
Very tiny build area
No automatic bed leveling
Expensive for what it doesWhat other experts liked
The X-one2 is a good buy for the price. It is great for beginners and tinkerers on a budget who want a 3D printer that is easy to use.What other experts didn't like
It can be hard to get prints off the build plate, and it doesn't have a lot of space for building.
Have a problem
with this product?#5JGMAKER Magic Upgraded 3D Printer
Best Filament Run-out Sensor
1 experts agree 1 experts disagreeWHY WE LIKE IT:The JGMaker Magic 3D printer has proven to be one of the best kits you can buy for less than $300. You could talk about how great it is for a long time and never say too much. Users of the 3D printer can’t deny that it has benefits that are worth having. It has excellent print quality and is easy to put together. Even though it’s a 3D printer kit, putting it together won’t take long.
Pros (reasons to buy)
Low price
Heated bed
Filament run-out sensorCons (reasons to avoid)
No Wi-Fi
No automatic bed leveling
Assembly can take timeWhat other experts liked
This one is suitable for both 3D printing beginners and experts. JGMaker magic is my go-to PETG printer.What other experts didn't like
For someone who has never used a 3D printer before, the fact that there are several steps to putting it together can be confusing.
Have a problem
with this product?#6ELEGOO Neptune 2 FDM 3D Printer
Best Excellent Price
1 experts agree 1 experts disagreeWHY WE LIKE IT:For a cheap printer with a build area of 220x220x250mm, the machine has a few features that are anything but cheap. The Creality Ender 3 under $500 3D printer has a filament run-out sensor, so if you run out of filament, you can change the spool and keep printing. It also has a build plate that can be taken off, which makes it much easier and more reliable to take prints off. Overall, it’s a superb printer, and people who want to set up small print farms with cheap printers like to use it.
Pros (reasons to buy)
Excellent price
Filament run-out sensor
Good print qualityCons (reasons to avoid)
Manual bed leveling
Inconsistent availabilityWhat other experts liked
Comparatively, the Elegoo Neptune 2 3D Printer has a modest footprint. It's quick to assemble, light, and requires little altering or tinkering save bed-leveling, which is easy.What other experts didn't like
The instructions don't explain how to fix the problem, which could be frustrating for someone who is new to 3D printing.
Have a problem
with this product?#7ANYCUBIC Photon M3 Max Resin 3D Printer
Best Easy Setup
1 experts agree 1 experts disagreeWHY WE LIKE IT:Anycubic Photon M3 Max Resin 3D Printer is a cutting-edge piece of tech. It fits all of the current trends in resin 3D printing because it has a large build area, a 7K screen, and a black-and-white display. The Photon M3 Max can easily make high-quality prints and has a beautiful black frame with a large cover that is only partly attached. This under $500 3D printer is the biggest machine in the new Photon line and can build many things.
Pros (reasons to buy)
Great quality prints
Easy setup
Includes all you need
Priced rightCons (reasons to avoid)
Requires ventilation and extra safety gear
No built-in Wi-FiWhat other experts liked
The Photon M3 Max is one of the best large-volume SLA printers on the market, and it's cheaper than the comparable-sized competition.What other experts didn't like
The Photon Workshop often crashes, and FEP film could have a high chance of breaking.
Have a problem
with this product?#8ELEGOO Mars 3 MSLA 3D Printer
Best Monochrome Display
1 experts agree 1 experts disagreeWHY WE LIKE IT:The Elegoo Mars 3 is the company’s fourth small-sized resin printer. The Mars 3 uses a monochrome 4K LED light source, which means that all of the pixels on the 6.6-inch display light up to expose the print layer. This version adds a chip-on-board (COB) lens with a free-form surface, which makes UV light spread out more evenly. Also, the Mars 3 comes with a free one-year license for the Chitubox Pro slicer, but you can also use the Lychee slicer.
Pros (reasons to buy)
High-resolution prints
Monochrome display
Uniform print quality across the bed
Large print volume
4K resolution
Slick designCons (reasons to avoid)
Chitubox Pro is an extra cost license after one year
Relatively small build area
Supports can be a challengeWhat other experts liked
The Elegoo Mars 3 is good for anyone who wants to 3D print with resin. It's good for both beginners and experts because it works well, is easy to use, and doesn't cost too much.What other experts didn't like
The Elegoo Mars 3 doesn't have a built-in air filter or Wi-Fi, so you can't print wirelessly.
Have a problem
with this product?#9Mingda Upgrade Magician X 3D Printers
Best Automatic Bed Leveling
1 experts agree 1 experts disagreeWHY WE LIKE IT:The MINGDA Magician X is a filament 3D printer that does many things well. It has a heated build plate, a direct-drive extruder (which makes it easier to print with flexible filaments), a filament runout sensor, and an automatic bed leveling feature. With a recently built area of 230x230x260mm, it can manage a variety of mid-sized prints. It was simple and easy to put together. The PLA print quality was pretty good.
Pros (reasons to buy)
Direct-drive extruder
Automatic bed leveling
Easy to buildCons (reasons to avoid)
No removable build plate
Prints are often very difficult to removeWhat other experts liked
The Mingda Magician X is a small printer with deluxe features that is easy to use and takes up little space. It also works in a quiet way.What other experts didn't like
Even though it had a direct drive system, it couldn't handle filaments that were very flexible.
Have a problem
with this product?#10Sovol SV02 3D Printer
Best Dual Filament Printing
1 experts agree 1 experts disagreeWHY WE LIKE IT:The Sovol SV02 under $500 3D printer is a unique choice because this printer can do two things simultaneously. Dual-extrusion printers let you load two types of filament and switch between them while the print goes on. You can make highlights with two different colors, or you can use one filament as the final object and the other as support.
Pros (reasons to buy)
Dual filament printing
Exceptional price for dual filament printer
It can be expanded with a laser engraving kitCons (reasons to avoid)
Some users report unreliability
Sometimes difficult to get dual printing to workWhat other experts liked
All of the parts of this machine are good quality, and it prints well.What other experts didn't like
I think the temperature was a little too low, which caused a bulge at the end of the filament that was being pulled back.
Conclusion: Best 3D Printers under $500
Many 3D printers cost less than $500. There are pros and cons to all of these. Naturally, you don’t like all of them. This guide will help you find the best 3D printers under $500 that meet your goals.
It’s important to note that our guide only covers a small number of 3D printers. There are many more out there. Still, these 10 top picks are a great way to start 3D printing. They produce great results without breaking the bank.
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