Best Cheap and Budget 3D Printers

3D printers are no less than magic. They create interesting three-dimensional models out of a variety of filaments. These employ a technique where successive layering is used to print, rather create objects. It is a step away from traditional manufacturing. Where molds were used to create objects.

It all started as a technique for industrial use. Around the 1990s,  it came to be used for manufacturing aesthetic prototypes. However, slowly they entered homes. Now, the kind of precision and technology evolved is unbelievable. It can make very complex objects with much more precision.

Our Pick

Artillery Sidewinder X1 3D Printer

BEST OVERALL

This one can give you large print sizes with great stability and also rescue you from power failures and filament runouts.

Two types of technologies are used in these printers. The one commonly used is FDM or fused deposition modeling. Here, the filament is heated and shaped into creating prototypes. Another kind is Stereolithography or SLA. This technology shapes materials using UV radiation. While the former is inexpensive, the latter is expensive.

Now, we know that you are looking for the best budget 3D printers. We have included options as varied as possible, but those within your price range.

High-end product

4.6/5

Artillery Sidewinder X1 3D Printer

  • AC heated belt
  • Quiet working
  • Colored touch screen

CUTE AND EFFECTIVE PRINTER

4.2/5

QIDI Technology High-end 3D Printer

  • 3.5 touch screen
  • Camera enabled printing 
  • Safety due to power failures

LITTLE BOMB IN THE BUDGET

3.9/5

Mini 3D Printer, LABISTS

  • Unique orange color
  • Budget product
  • Great after-sales service

How was this list made?

We ran across various sites. Researching, analyzing and narrowing down options. We found that the assembled printers were quite expensive. So, for budget-friendly printers, we looked at some options in pre-assembled printers. These were checked for quality and expertise. Their reviews on Amazon were compared and noted. Hence giving you a foolproof decision.

What to look for?

Printers below are compared for various features. The kind of technology they use. What kind of filament can you use in these? What are the selling points? Some features such as size, looks, the material of the print tray were given importance. So, look forth with a keen eye and find the best fit.

Best Cheap and Budget 3D Printers

1. Artillery Sidewinder X1 3D Printer

High-end product with a large build volume

Pros
  • AC heated belt
  • Quiet working
  • Colored touch screen
Cons
  • High on budget

Our first option for you is a printer that will make printing much easier and hassle-free. It comes pre-assembled, up to 95%. So, your hard work is restricted to just 5%. After that, you may start experiencing some wonderful features of this machine.

This one is equipped with a colored touchscreen to make your work more efficient. It can give you a print size of around 300x3003x400mm. That too with much stability. 3 sensors could automatically calibrate the printing. Even when you are printing at a higher speed. Also, you may not fear any kind of disruption while you print. This is so because even when the power goes off, you can resume from the same moment.  It also notifies you when filament runs out. But gives you the liberty to start from where you left.

If you ever suffered because of a heated-up print tray, this one will save you from it. It has built-in heat protection that saves any kind of overheating. Nonetheless, it also ensures a faster heating time. As fast as 2 minutes.

It is not only quick but quiet too. It has some exclusive drivers that help reduce the noise of the machine. Moreover, the lead screws are replaced with a system driven by belts, hence speeding up the process.

Pros

  • AC heated belt
  • Quiet working
  • Colored touch screen
  • Big print size
  • Pre-assembled and easy to use 

Cons

  • High on budget

Verdict

If you are considering buying a 3D printer with the best of features, Artillery Sidewinder X1 3D Printer is the way to go. This one can give you large print sizes with great stability. It saves you from any mishaps due to the overheating of the print tray. Moreover, it can also rescue you from power failures and filament runouts.

2. QIDI Technology High-end 3D Printer

A cute and effective printer: All-arounder product

Pros
  • 3.5 touch screen
  • Camera enabled printing 
  • Safety due to power failures
Cons
  • Made up of plastic
  • Small print size

Looking for a cute-looking, box-shaped, enclosed printer? That too with some of the best features? Meet this one by Qidi Technology. If you need it for research or educational purpose, this one will serve you the best. Because it also comes with unique educational software and a textbook too.

The most interesting feature is the built-in camera. So, for those who want real-time surveillance of your print, you can do so here. Using your mobile phone, you can monitor the progress of your print. Anything from PLA, ABS, TPU, PETG filament can be used. Though the print size is smallish. It is around 170x150x160mm.

With a 3.5-inch touch screen, you can view your prints. And also, access the machine effectively. Like others before, this one too has a “breakpoint printing” function. That helps you resume work after power failures. Another interesting feature is the hot plate. It can be bent, for easy removal of your specimen. Hence, protecting your print from breakage. And help you get a cleaner print.

All this is backed by a great after-sales service. You can contact these people. Whenever you want and they will assist you. 

Pros

  • 3.5 touch screen
  • Camera enabled printing 
  • Safety due to power failures
  • A unique, enclosed shape

Cons

  • Made up of plastic
  • Small print size

Verdict

For those of you who need a unique-looking, smart 3d printer, choose this one. The Qidi Technology High-end 3D Printer has some unique looking features. That too, in an affordable price bracket. The built-in camera and the bendable print tray are some of the best features. Not to forget, safety in case of power failures. It is specially designed for educational and professional purposes. The smaller print size and plastic body are but minor flaws. Hence, you can overlook these and look at the larger pictur

3. Mini 3D Printer, LABISTS

A little bomb in the budget: Best product in budget

Pros
  • Unique orange color
  • Budget product
  • Great after-sales service
Cons
  • Smaller prints

This one is for those who are low on space. And, are low on a budget too. Because the Mini printer by Labists is portable and small. It is lightweight too. Moreover, comes in vibrant orange color. So, carry it wherever you want to. And that too with pride. 

You might be afraid to assemble it at first. But it is easy. You will need just 10 minutes of learning and assembling thereafter. Even if you are a professional or a newbie, you can work with this one. 

Because it is small, it gives smaller prints. The print dimension is 100x100x100mm.                                                       The print nozzle is 0.4mm in size. And is made up of aluminum. The heating time is around 3 mins. So, you can start working in no time. It also has a removable magnetic plate. Hence ensuring a clean print.It also has a unique power-saving feature. This is because it consumes electricity under 30W.                                    

 The machine works with a low sound. So if your child is sleeping while you work. You would not have a problem working with this. The service support of Labists is the best so far. They promise you lifetime assistance. Moreover, they call it “friendly support”. What more do you think you need??

Pros

  • Unique orange color
  • Budget product
  • Great after-sales service
  • Easy assembly and use
  • Small and compatible

Cons

  • Smaller prints

Verdict

For a clean and compact look, consider Mini 3D Printer by Labists. This comes in vibrant orange color and is portable too. The assembling is easy and quick. The working noise is too low. The magnetic plate ensures a clean print. You can be a professional or a newbie and still work on it. Altogether, this one is the cheapest 3D printer, so far. Cheap and best too

4.ANYCUBIC Photon UV LCD 3D Printer

A high-quality resin printer for small complex prints: Best in the resin printer category

Pros
  • Uses resin printing
  • Is too precise
  • Great built quality
Cons
  • Doesn’t use filaments
  • Small print dimension

A unique feature that separates this printer is resin printing. Unlike other printers that use FDM technology, this one uses resin printing using UV light. FDM stands for Fused Deposition Modelling. It uses a filament that is heated. Upon melting, it is used to create the desired shape. While resin printing uses a more refined resin material. It is polymerized using UV radiation. Hence, creating interesting shapes. This technology is called DLP or Direct Light Processing. Hence giving it an incredible printing quality. 

With an ability to print about 25 microns. The print size is somewhere around 115x65x155mm. This printer ensures a very fine detail. To enable this, it has a 2k LCD screen. It helps you print with more precision. So, if you have an eye for detail. This function would be quite helpful for you. You can print small, complex objects, with this one.

Coming to the built quality. The built quality is great. It is made up of metal, with a satin finish. So it gives you a sense of overall quality.  You also have a mini screen to operate the machine. All this at a very affordable price. 

This one too is backed by an incredible service team. So feel free to contact them whenever you need any kind of assistance.

Pros

  • Uses resin printing
  • Is too precise
  • Great for small, complex object printing
  • Great built quality

Cons 

  • Doesn’t use filaments
  • Small print dimension

Verdict

If you need a printer for small, complex objects. Those that need precision. Think no more and buy the Anycubic Photon UV LCD 3D Printer. This one uses resin technology. With a 2k LCD screen for precision. And has a higher print quality than FDM enabled printers. The built is good and will last long. However, the print size is small. This is because it is meant for small objects. So, buy it and try it.

5. Comgrow Creality Ender 3 3D Printer

A handy and easy to use printer: Best branded product

Pros
  • Noise-free printer
  • Easy platform leveling
Cons
  • Slow heating time

Comgrow is one of the most trusted brands in 3D printers. It is also the first one to sell Creality products on Amazon. One such product to prove this is the Creality Ender 3 3D printer. This one needs an assembly time of 20 mins. And you can start working with it.

It has a comparatively large built. And has a start time of 5 mins. Though, this feature makes the printer slower than the products discussed so far. But, it still gives great print quality. You can use a wide range of filaments like nylon, ABS, flexible filaments, and many more.

The extruder is built in a way to reduce any sort of plugging risk. It also helps you with a seamless extraction. It has a display screen of about 45 degrees. So you can manage your prints with it. This one too belongs to the category of noise-free printers. It also shares the ability to resume print, after power failure.

 When you work with it, you realize how smooth it is. You can level the print platform using the screw. It is big and handy. Thus, adjusting the platform is very easy. 

Pros

  • Noise-free printer
  • Handy screw enables easy platform leveling

Cons

  • Slow heating time as compared to others

Verdict

Creality Ender 3 is backed by the technology and expertise of Comgrow. It has a simple design and is simple to use. Assembling this product doesn’t take much time. Though some consumers did take 2 hours to assemble it. Nevertheless, it works well with FDM technology. Has a display screen to help you preview your images. Together put, makes an excellent choice.

Buying Guide: What to Look for in a Cheap 3D Printer

Technology used

There are two main types. So, which one is more suitable for you??

FDM or fused deposition modeling is the most common one. It uses filaments which when heated produce prototypes. Most printers use this technology. It is easy to use and reliable. On top of all, it is inexpensive.

With that said, we recommend you check out: Best 3D Printers for Cosplay

Stereolithography or SLA is the second type. This one uses UV rays to create polymers out of materials. Thereby creating prototypes. Rarely, printers use this technology. The reason being, it is expensive. However, it provides much more finish and precision. 

Filament Compatibility

Printers use various kinds of filaments. These can be Nylon, wood, ABS, PLA, Flexible filaments, etc. While ABS and PLA are common kinds. Chose a printer according to the kind of filament you want to use.

Print Dimension

3D printers can produce various print sizes. Small ones usually produce around 100mm. While some can even produce up to 400mm. The price range will go up according to the print size. While some may even give the big print size at many affordable prices. So, choose a printer accordingly.

Noise-Free or not?

Noisy printers can cause a nuisance to some. Especially if you have children or the elderly around. While others may not be bothered by it. It is a subjective idea. Some printers have come up with noise-reduction technology. It helps when you work for longer hours. Noisy printers can get to your nerves. Hence, it is better to get one with less noise. So that you could work in peace.

Print Tray

The print tray is the most important part of a 3D printer. A bad quality tray can ruin your prints. Or else, give you a hard time getting a smooth finish. So what can be done?

Some 3D printers use magnetic stickers. These help your print glide away, without much problem. While many of these use trays that can be bent. This again helps remove the object with much more care. Some of these also use glass trays. These are tempered. 

Experts are divided on this issue. So, you can choose whatever 3D Printers you like. But make sure, the plate is of superior quality.

Conclusion

We have seen some of the most interesting printers. With the best features in variable prices. Finding the best of all worlds was not an easy task. But we had to pick one. So, our pick is QIDI Technology High-end 3D Printer. It is a smart-looking compact machine. It comes with the best features. Notably, the built-in camera and a bendable print tray. It has a touch screen and a user-friendly interface. You can use it for your educational or professional purposes. It also comes with a promise of great after-sales service. So, make the best use of it, without any fear. Thus, making it the best amongst cheap and budget 3D printers.