3D printing technology has come a long way in recent years, making it more accessible and affordable for individuals and small businesses.
While high-end 3D printers can cost thousands of dollars, there are now a number of options available for under $500.
In this article, we will be taking a look at the top 3D printers in this price range, highlighting their key features, benefits, and overall value for the money.
8 Best 3D Printers Under $500
- Ender 3 Pro by Creality
- FlashForge Finder
- Anet A8
- Monoprice Select Mini V2
- JGAURORA A5S
- QIDI TECH X-Pro
- Geetech A20
- Creality Ender 5 Plus
1. Ender 3 Pro:
Ender 3 Pro 3D printer placed on a floor. Image source: Howchoo
This 3D printer is known for its high-precision printing capabilities and easy-to-use design. It features a build volume of 220 x 220 x 250 mm, a filament diameter of 1.75 mm, and a layer resolution of 100 microns.
It also has a heated bed and a power recovery function, making it a reliable choice for long printing sessions. The printer is also open-source, meaning users can customize and upgrade the machine as they see fit. The price of Ender 3 Pro is around $200 to $250.
- It has a build volume of 220 x 220 x 250mm and can print with a variety of materials, including ABS, PLA, and TPU.
- It has a resume print function, which allows it to resume printing after a power outage.
- It is equipped with a filament run-out sensor, which pauses the print when the filament runs out, preventing waste.
- It has a magnetic build plate that makes removing the finished print easy and hassle-free.
- It has a sturdy and durable design, with a CNC-machined Y-axis mounting slot ensuring precise positioning.
- The Ender 3 Pro comes with a filament holder and a toolbox, making it easy to keep the printer and its accessories organized.
2. FlashForge Finder:
Flashforde Finder 3D printer placed on the table. Image source: YouTube
This 3D printer is known for its user-friendly design and easy setup process. It features a build volume of 140 x 140 x 140 mm, a filament diameter of 1.75 mm, and a layer resolution of 100 microns.
The printer also has a built-in camera, allowing users to monitor their prints remotely. The FlashForge Finder is priced around $400
Benefits:
- User-friendly design
- Easy setup process
- Built-in camera for remote monitoring
- Affordable
Limitations:
- Smaller build volume compared to other models in this price range
- Some users have reported issues with the bed leveling
3. Anet A8:
Anet A8 3D Printer placed on a white table. Image source: All3DP
The Anet A8 is a budget-friendly 3D printer popular among hobbyists and makers. It features a build volume of 220 x 220 x 240 mm, a filament diameter of 1.75 mm, and a layer resolution of 100 micrometers.
It also has a heated bed and a power recovery function, making it a reliable choice for long printing sessions. The price of Anet A8 is around $150 to $200.
Benefits:
- Affordable
- Large build volume
- Heated bed and power recovery function
Features:
- It has a self-developed motherboard, which provides more stable performance and easy operation.
- It has a LCD screen, which allows easy control of the printer and real-time monitoring of the print status.
- It has a filament run-out sensor and a power-loss recovery function, which ensures that the print job can be resumed after a power failure.
- It has a large build area and a sturdy frame, making it suitable for larger and more complex projects.
4. Monoprice Select Mini V2:
A person using Monoprice Select Mini V2 3D printer. Image source: Digital trends
This 3D printer is known for its compact design and easy setup process. It features a build volume of 120 x 120 x 120 mm, and a filament diameter of 1.75 mm.
It also has a heated bed and a power recovery function, making it a reliable choice for long printing sessions. The Monoprice Select Mini V2 is priced at around $200
Benefits:
- Compact design
- Easy setup process
- Heated bed and power recovery function
- Affordable
- It has a built-in heating bed, which allows for faster and more consistent heating, resulting in better print quality.
- It has an easy-to-use interface, with a control knob and a small LCD screen, allowing easy control of the printer and real-time monitoring of the print status.
- It has a micro-SD card slot, which allows you to print directly from the SD card, eliminating the need for a computer.
- It has a low noise level, making it ideal for use in quiet spaces such as offices or bedrooms.
Limitations:
- Smaller build volume compared to other models in this price range
- Some users have reported issues with the bed leveling
5. JGAURORA A5S
The JGAURORA A5S is a budget-friendly 3D printer that is popular among hobbyists and makers. The price of JGAURORA A5S is around $300. It has a build volume of 305 x 305 x 320mm and can print with a variety of materials, including ABS, PLA, and TPU.
Benefits:
- Affordable
- Large build volume
- Heated bed and power recovery function
- It has a filament run-out sensor and a power-loss recovery function, which ensures that the print job can be resumed after a power failure.
- It has a large build area and a sturdy frame, making it suitable for larger and more complex projects.
- It has a user-friendly interface, with a 4.3-inch color touch screen, allowing easy control of the printer and real-time monitoring of the print status.
- It has a built-in filament holder and a filament run-out detection function, which ensures that the filament will not run out during the printing process.
Limitations:
- Some users have reported issues with the print quality
6. QIDI TECH X-Pro
The QIDI TECH X-Pro is a high-performance 3D printer that offers a solid build quality and a large print volume. It has a build volume of 230 x 150 x 150mm, which is perfect for printing medium-sized objects.
The printer is fully enclosed which helps to maintain a stable printing environment and reduce warping. It can print with a variety of materials such as ABS, PLA, TPU, Nylon, and others.
The X-Pro has a 3.5-inch color touch screen, which allows for easy control of the printer and real-time monitoring of the print status. It also has a filament run-out sensor which pauses the print when the filament runs out, preventing waste. The printer is equipped with a power-loss recovery function, which allows it to resume printing after a power outage.
Features:
- Fully enclosed design
- Filament run-out sensor
- Power-loss recovery function
- Large print volume
- Can print with a variety of materials
Benefits:
- High-quality prints
- Stable printing environment
- Easy to use
- Great value for money
Pricing:
The QIDI TECH X-Pro is priced at around $450
7. Geeetech A20
The Geeetech A20 is a budget-friendly 3D printer that offers a solid build quality and a large print volume. It has a build volume of 220 x 220 x 260mm, which is great for printing medium-sized objects.
It can print with a variety of materials such as ABS, PLA, TPU, Nylon, and others. The printer has a filament run-out sensor and a power-loss recovery function, which ensures that the print job can be resumed after a power failure.
It also has a 3.5-inch color touch screen, which allows for easy control of the printer and real-time monitoring of the print status. It comes with a filament holder, a tool kit and detailed assembly instructions, making it easy for anyone to assemble the printer.
Features:
- Filament run-out sensor
- Power-loss recovery function
- Large print volume
- Can print with a variety of materials
Benefits:
- High-quality prints
- Easy to use
- Great value for money
- Easy assembly
Pricing:
The Geeetech A20 is priced at around $400
8. Creality Ender 5 Plus
The Creality Ender 5 Plus is a budget-friendly 3D printer that offers a solid build quality and a large print volume. It has a build volume of 350 x 350 x 400mm, which is great for printing large objects.
It can print with a variety of materials such as ABS, PLA, TPU, Nylon, and others. The printer has a filament run-out sensor and a power-loss recovery function, which ensures that the print job can be resumed after a power failure.
It also has a 4.3-inch color touch screen, which allows for easy control of the printer and real-time monitoring of the print status. It has a MeanWell power supply which provides a more stable and consistent power supply to the printer, and also has a V-slot bearing which makes the moving parts of the printer more stable and durable.
Features:
- Filament run-out sensor
- Power-loss recovery function
- Large print volume
- Can print with a variety of materials
- MeanWell power supply
Benefits:
- High-quality prints
- Easy to use
- Great value for money
- Stable and consistent power supply
- Durable moving parts
Pricing:
The Creality Ender 5 Plus is priced at around $500
Having looked at the best 3D printers under $500, it’s also important to have a look at the best 3D modeling and 3D printing software. There are a lot of them available, but we recommend using SelfCAD. SelfCAD is one of the easiest 3D design program that you can get started easily without taking a lot of time to learn. In addition to having tools for creating 3D models from scratch, you can also import files and modify them based on your requirements. For example, you can import an STL file and simplify it, as shown in the video below.
After creating your designs, you don’t need to switch to a different software to slice them. You can use the in-built online slicer of SelfCAD to do so. The video below shows how to slice designs in SelfCAD.
Conclusion
There are a variety of options available for those looking for a 3D printer under $500. We have highlighted the top 3D printers in this price range, including their key features, benefits, and limitations.
With the right research and consideration, you can find a 3D printer that fits your needs and budget. It is important to remember that 3D printing technology is continuously evolving and new models will come out, so it is always a good idea to stay updated on the latest options available.
If you have any questions or problems then please let us know we will respond as soon as possible.
