The BEST 3D Printers to Buy – Which One Is Right for YOU?

best beginner 3d printers

Buying a 3D printer right now can get confusing really fast. There are a TON of good printers out there, and every company is going to tell you theirs is faster, smarter, easier to use, or somehow completely different from everything else. The problem is that the best 3D printer for me might be completely wrong for what you actually want to do.

I’ve used and reviewed a lot of 3D printers at this point, and one thing I’ve noticed is that print quality isn’t really the huge separator it used to be. Most of the good modern printers can produce really nice prints. Now I’m paying more attention to things like multicolor, multiple toolheads, build size, enclosure, material support, ease of use, and how much filament the printer wastes.

So I’m not going to pretend there’s one single 3D printer that’s best for everybody. I’m going to break this down by what you’re actually looking for and tell you which printer I’d personally be looking at for each situation.

Best 3D Printer for Most People – Flashforge Creator 5

flashforge creator 5

The Flashforge Creator 5 is probably the printer I’d recommend to the most people right now, especially if you want something you can grow into. The biggest reason is the four independent toolheads. Instead of running four colors through one nozzle, each filament can have its own toolhead and the printer physically switches between them.

That might not sound like a huge deal until you’ve done a big multicolor print on a traditional filament-changing system. You can end up with a ridiculous pile of purged filament sitting next to the printer, and every color change takes additional time. The Creator 5 gets around a lot of that by simply parking one toolhead and grabbing another one.

I also like that this isn’t only about printing different colors. Separate toolheads make multi-material printing much more interesting because each toolhead can be set up independently. You can use different materials, support material, different nozzle sizes, and basically start treating the printer like more than just another four-color machine.

The one thing to keep in mind is that the standard Creator 5 is open-frame. There’s also the Creator 5 Pro if you need the enclosed setup for more advanced materials. For most people printing PLA and PETG, though, I think the standard Creator 5 gives you a ton of room to experiment and grow.

► Flashforge Website – https://3dprintdood.com/creator5

Best Cheap 3D Printer – Elegoo Centauri Carbon

centauri carbon 3d printer

It’s kind of crazy what you can get for your money with the Elegoo Centauri Carbon. This is an enclosed CoreXY printer with a 256 x 256 x 256mm build area, automatic calibration, fast printing, a camera, and the ability to handle materials beyond basic PLA.

I’ve used the Centauri Carbon quite a bit, and the thing I keep coming back to is the value. Print quality is right there with much more expensive machines I’ve used, and you aren’t giving up the enclosure just to get the price down.

This is also a printer I’d have no problem recommending to somebody relatively new to 3D printing. You don’t need to know everything about bed leveling and printer calibration before you can start making stuff. It handles a lot of that work for you.

If your main goal is getting the most actual 3D printer for the least amount of money, the original Centauri Carbon is REALLY hard for me to beat.

► Elegoo Webste – https://3dprintdood.com/centauri-carbon2

► View On Amazon – https://amzn.to/4v3niI4

Best Multicolor 3D Printer – Snapmaker U1

Snapmaker U1 3d printer

The Snapmaker U1 is one of the most interesting multicolor 3D printers I’ve used because it fixes one of my biggest complaints about multicolor printing: waste. Just like the Creator 5, the U1 has four independent toolheads instead of constantly feeding four different colors through one nozzle.

Each filament stays loaded in its own toolhead and the printer physically swaps toolheads when it needs another color. That means you’re not constantly unloading filament, loading another color, and purging the old color out of the nozzle. There’s still some waste involved with things like wiping and priming, but it’s WAY different than watching a traditional multicolor printer create a giant pile of purge waste.

The U1 also has a 270 x 270 x 270mm build area, so you’re getting a little more room than the typical 256mm machines. For someone who specifically wants to make a lot of multicolor models, signs, characters, toys, or products to sell, I’d put the U1 very high on the list.

This is also another reason I’m so excited about multi-toolhead printers in general. Once you’ve watched a printer physically swap to another nozzle instead of unloading and purging filament over and over again, traditional multicolor printing starts to feel a little outdated.

➡ Snapmaker Website – https://3dprintdood.com/snapmakerU1

Best Budget Multicolor 3D Printer – Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2

centauri carbon 2

This is where the Centauri Carbon 2 gets REALLY interesting. Elegoo took a lot of what I liked about the original Centauri Carbon and added the ability to use their CANVAS multicolor system.

You still get a 256 x 256 x 256mm build volume, enclosed CoreXY design, automatic calibration, and now a 350°C hardened steel nozzle. The big difference for this category is obviously multicolor. You can buy the Carbon 2 and add CANVAS, or buy it as part of a multicolor setup.

Now, this isn’t the same approach as the Creator 5 or Snapmaker U1. You’re not getting four completely independent toolheads. That’s still why I personally think the tool-changing machines are more interesting long term.

But not everybody wants to spend that kind of money. If you want an enclosed printer AND multicolor printing without jumping into the more expensive tool-changing machines, the Centauri Carbon 2 makes a ton of sense.

► Elegoo dot com – https://3dprintdood.com/centauri-carbon2

► On Amazon – https://amzn.to/4v3niI4

Best Simple 3D Printer – Bambu Lab A1

bambu a1

I still really like the Bambu Lab A1 for someone who just wants to print stuff and doesn’t care about having every new feature. Bambu did a really good job making 3D printing feel more like using a normal consumer product instead of constantly working on a machine.

You get automatic calibration, a 256 x 256 x 256mm build area, good print speeds, really nice print quality, and an ecosystem that’s extremely easy to figure out. You can also add the AMS Lite if you want multicolor printing later.

The biggest limitation for me is that it’s an open bed-slinger, so this isn’t what I’d buy if advanced materials were a major priority. And with machines like the Creator 5, U1 and Carbon 2 hitting the market, there are definitely more interesting printers out there now.

But interesting and simple aren’t always the same thing. If you just want a printer that’s easy to understand, has a huge community around it, and produces really good prints, the A1 is still an easy machine for me to recommend.

➡ Bambu Lab A1 – https://amzn.to/4oWKZih

Best Mini 3D Printer for Small Spaces – Bambu Lab A1 Mini

bambu a1 mini

The A1 Mini is basically what I’d buy if I wanted the Bambu experience but didn’t have much room. It has a 180 x 180 x 180mm build area, which is obviously quite a bit smaller than the full-size A1, but you’d be surprised how much stuff you can actually fit on it.

For toys, little gadgets, organizers, replacement parts, decorations, and just messing around with 3D printing, that smaller bed isn’t necessarily a huge problem. The printer itself takes up much less room, which makes it a really good fit for a desk, bedroom, apartment, or smaller home office.

You can also use the AMS Lite with it if you want multicolor. Just remember that the AMS Lite itself takes up additional space, so the complete multicolor setup isn’t quite as tiny as the printer by itself.

If space is your biggest concern, I wouldn’t buy some giant enclosed CoreXY printer just because it has better specs on paper. The A1 Mini is small, easy to use, and more than enough printer for a lot of people.

➡ A1 Mini Printer – https://amzn.to/4mfOput

Best Enclosed 3D Printer on a Budget – Elegoo Centauri Carbon

centauri carbon 3d printer

I’m giving the Centauri Carbon another spot because cheap and cheap ENClOSED printer aren’t necessarily the same category. There are inexpensive printers everywhere now, but finding an enclosed CoreXY machine this affordable is what makes the Carbon stand out.

An enclosure starts becoming much more important when you move into materials like ABS and ASA. You’re trying to keep the printing environment more stable and avoid big temperature swings and drafts that can cause parts to warp.

Even if you’re only printing PLA today, I like having that option available later. You might get six months into this hobby and decide you want to start making outdoor parts in ASA or experimenting with carbon-fiber-filled materials.

That’s why I think the Centauri Carbon is such a good value. You’re buying a cheap printer without necessarily buying a printer you’re immediately going to outgrow.

► Elegoo Webste – https://3dprintdood.com/centauri-carbon2

► View On Amazon – https://amzn.to/4v3niI4

Best Multi-Toolhead 3D Printer – Flashforge Creator 5

flashforge creator 5

This is probably the category I’m most excited about right now. The Creator 5 has four independent toolheads, and each one can access the full 256 x 256 x 256mm build area.

The printer parks the toolheads it isn’t using and automatically switches between them based on what you’ve set up in the slicer. This means each filament can stay loaded in its own toolhead instead of everything getting routed through one shared nozzle.

What makes the Creator 5 especially interesting to me is that you’re not limited to thinking about this as four-color printing. You could have different materials loaded into different toolheads, use soluble support material, or even set up different nozzle sizes depending on what you’re making.

I really think we’re just starting to see what consumer multi-toolhead printers can do. If I were buying a printer today with the goal of keeping it for years and experimenting with where 3D printing is going next, I’d want multiple toolheads.

► Flashforge Website – https://3dprintdood.com/creator5

Best 3D Printer for Kids and Families – Bambu Lab A1

bambu a1

For a family printer, I actually like the full-size A1 more than the Mini. You get more room to print bigger toys, school projects, decorations, random stuff around the house, and all the crazy things kids suddenly decide they NEED you to print.

The other reason is ease of use. When I’m printing something with my daughter, I don’t want the whole experience to turn into troubleshooting a printer for three hours. The A1 takes care of a lot of the calibration automatically and makes it pretty easy to go from finding a model to actually printing it.

The AMS Lite is also really fun for families because kids obviously love colorful prints. Characters, signs, toys and decorations get a lot more interesting when you aren’t limited to one color.

Obviously, a 3D printer isn’t a toy. The nozzle and bed get hot and younger kids should be supervised around it. But as something a family can use together, the A1 is one of my favorite choices.

➡ Bambu Lab A1 – https://amzn.to/4oWKZih

Best 3D Printer for a Small Business – Flashforge Creator 5

If you’re making products to sell, the way you look at a 3D printer starts changing. Saving a few dollars on the printer isn’t nearly as important when you’re thinking about print time, filament waste, failed prints, and how many products you can actually get out the door.

That’s another reason I like the Creator 5. If you’re selling multicolor products, constantly purging filament isn’t just annoying anymore. That’s material you’re paying for and throwing away.

The four toolheads also give you some really interesting options for products that combine different materials or use dedicated support material. And because each toolhead can be set up independently, there’s a lot more room to build a workflow around whatever you’re actually selling.

I wouldn’t tell somebody starting an Etsy shop that they NEED an expensive printer. Sometimes buying two cheaper printers makes more business sense than buying one expensive one. But if your products benefit from multicolor or multi-material printing, the Creator 5 is one I’d seriously consider.

► Flashforge Website – https://3dprintdood.com/creator5

Best 3D Printer for ABS and ASA – Elegoo Centauri Carbon

For ABS and ASA, I want an enclosed printer. That’s really the biggest reason the Centauri Carbon wins this category for me when you factor in price.

ABS and ASA can be more sensitive to temperature changes than PLA, and larger parts especially can start warping when the printing environment isn’t stable. Having that enclosed chamber makes these materials much easier to work with than trying to run them on an open bed-slinger.

The Carbon also has a high-temperature hotend and was built with more advanced materials in mind, so you’re not buying a printer that’s really designed around PLA and then trying to force it into doing something else.

If ABS, ASA, carbon-fiber-filled filaments, or functional parts are a big reason you’re getting into 3D printing, I’d take the Centauri Carbon over something like an A1.

► Elegoo Webste – https://3dprintdood.com/centauri-carbon2

► View On Amazon – https://amzn.to/4v3niI4

Best 3D Printer for Multicolor Without Tons of Waste – Snapmaker U1

This is basically THE reason I’d buy the U1. Snapmaker says its tool-changing system can reduce filament waste by up to 85% compared with shared-nozzle multicolor printing, depending on the model and settings.

Instead of feeding all four filaments through one hotend, the U1 keeps each material loaded into a separate toolhead. When it needs the next color, it swaps toolheads. There’s still some material used for things like wiping and priming, so I wouldn’t call it magically waste-free, but it attacks the biggest source of waste in traditional multicolor printing.

This becomes even more important when you’re printing something with hundreds or thousands of color changes. A traditional multicolor printer might spend a ridiculous amount of time switching filament and purging between colors.

If you’re the person who sees those giant piles of purge poop next to a printer and thinks there HAS to be a better way, this is the kind of machine I’d be looking at.

➡ Snapmaker Website – https://3dprintdood.com/snapmakerU1

Best 3D Printer Under $500 – Elegoo Centauri Carbon or Centauri Carbon 2

This one is going to depend on pricing because 3D printer prices change constantly, but the Centauri Carbon family is where I’d look first if I were trying to stay under $500.

The original Carbon is still an amazing value if you don’t care about multicolor. You’re getting an enclosed CoreXY machine, a good-sized build area, automatic calibration, a camera, fast printing, and support for a pretty wide range of materials.

If the Centauri Carbon 2 with CANVAS fits within your budget when you’re buying, though, that’s probably where I’d lean. You’re getting the newer platform and the option for multicolor printing without jumping all the way up into the price range of the tool-changing machines.

I wouldn’t obsess over saving $30 or $50 between these two. I’d decide whether you actually want multicolor. If you don’t, grab whichever Carbon gives you the best deal. If you do, I’d spend the extra money on the Carbon 2 setup.

► Elegoo Webste – https://3dprintdood.com/centauri-carbon2

► View On Amazon – https://amzn.to/4v3niI4

Best 3D Printer for Multi-Material Printing – Flashforge Creator 5

Multi-material printing is where I think separate toolheads might become even more important than multicolor. Printing four different colors of PLA is cool, but combining materials that actually behave differently opens up a completely different world of possibilities.

You could have regular PLA or PETG in one toolhead and soluble support material like PVA in another. You could experiment with flexible materials, different nozzle sizes, or dedicate individual toolheads to specific materials without constantly unloading everything.

Because each toolhead is separate, you also don’t have the same amount of material mixing inside one nozzle. That’s really important when you’re trying to combine materials instead of just switching between different colors of the same PLA.

We’re still pretty early in this whole generation of affordable multi-toolhead machines, but this is probably the part I’m most interested in watching over the next few years.

► Flashforge Website – https://3dprintdood.com/creator5

Is Multicolor 3D Printing Worth It?

For me, yes, but it depends entirely on what you print. If you’re making toys, characters, signs, decorations, logos, models or products you’re selling, multicolor can completely change what comes off your printer.

If you’re mostly printing brackets and functional parts that nobody is ever going to see, paying extra for four colors might be completely pointless. I’d rather put that money toward a bigger build volume, enclosure, or just buy more filament.

The other thing I’d think about is how MUCH multicolor printing you plan on doing. If you’re only going to make a multicolor model once a month, something like the Carbon 2 or A1 with a filament-changing system could make perfect sense. If multicolor is going to be most of what you print, that’s where I’d seriously start thinking about a multi-toolhead machine.

Do You Need an Enclosed 3D Printer?

For normal PLA printing, I don’t think everybody needs an enclosure. The A1, A1 Mini, Creator 5, and tons of other open printers can make amazing PLA prints.

Where an enclosure becomes much more important is when you start printing materials like ABS and ASA. Keeping the environment around the model more stable helps with warping and makes these materials much easier to work with.

This is something I’d think about BEFORE buying your printer. Maybe you don’t care about ABS today, but if your goal is eventually making functional outdoor parts, automotive stuff, or more advanced projects, spending a little more on an enclosed printer now might save you from buying another machine later.

How Much Should You Spend on a 3D Printer?

This is one of those hobbies where you can spend basically whatever you want, but I don’t think most people need to spend thousands of dollars anymore. The cheaper machines have gotten REALLY good.

If your budget is a few hundred dollars, I’d be looking at the Centauri Carbon, Carbon 2, A1 or A1 Mini depending on what you want to print. These aren’t junk printers you’re buying just to learn on. You could legitimately use them for years.

Once you start spending more, I want to see something that actually changes what the printer can do. That’s why machines like the Creator 5 and U1 make more sense to me. You’re not just paying more for slightly better print quality. You’re paying for an entirely different tool-changing system.

That’s how I’d look at your budget. Don’t spend more money just because one printer is considered more premium. Spend more when the extra money gets you something you’re actually going to use.

What 3D Printer Would I Buy Right Now?

If you made me choose ONE printer from this entire page right now, I’d probably buy the Flashforge Creator 5. Not because it’s the cheapest printer or because every single person needs four toolheads, but because I think it gives you the most room to grow and represents where I think 3D printing is headed.

If I wanted to spend as little as possible, I’d grab the Centauri Carbon. If I wanted affordable multicolor, I’d move up to the Centauri Carbon 2. If multicolor was my main priority and I wanted to avoid as much purge waste as possible, the Snapmaker U1 would be extremely high on my list.

For somebody who just wants simple, I’d still have no problem recommending the Bambu Lab A1. If I barely had any room, I’d get the A1 Mini. And if I knew I was going to make bigger parts, I’d probably step up to the Creality K2 Pro.

That’s really the point of this entire list. There isn’t one 3D printer that’s perfect for everybody anymore, and I actually think that’s a good thing. Figure out what YOU want to print, how much room you have, whether you care about multicolor, and how much you want to spend. Once you answer those questions, picking the right 3D printer gets a whole lot easier.