5 Best 3D Printers Under $500 for Work and Play

Considering how 3D printers remain a technology that’s still not mainstream, it may be difficult to accept that one can buy good 3D printers under $500. However, the reality is quite different. There are a number of good 3D printers one can buy within this budget. Today, we bring to you a list of the best 3D printers under $500.

3D printing is a technique that’s quickly picking pace and over the past year or so, we’ve seen more and more color 3D printers being made available at cheap and affordable price points. From architects to schools, 3D printers are being used in a variety of ways.

But before we get to the list of the best 3d printers under $500, we recommend checking out some of our other posts as well.

• Want to print from anywhere in the house? A wireless printer for your Mac or Windows PC is what you need.
• If you print a lot of colored documents and photos, consider getting a color laser printer for your home or office.
• Running a business? Pick up a thermal printer for shipping labels.

1. Entina Mini 3D Printer

This mini printer promises speedy printing performance and is easy to use as it doesn’t require a complex setup. Much like above, some of the other options on this list, this one too does not need manual leveling as it comes with an intelligent auto-leveling feature. There’s also a removable magnetic build plate which you can remove easily to take out printed models.

While it’s a desktop 3D printer for beginners, it can also double up as and for children and can also operate as precise mini printing equipment for small businesses as well. User reviews on Amazon specifically talk about just how compact the printer is. However, some reviews do note that it’s a little difficult to connect this 3D printer with a MacBook.

2. Comgrow Creality Ender 3

Even if you’re getting this as a gift for children, the Comgrow Creality Ender 3 is a good buy. This semi-assembled kit 3D printer can also allow children to learn about the basic construction of 3D printers.

Ender 3 offers some interesting features, including the ability to resume printing even after a power outage or lapse occurs. Apart from this, it also comes with an upgraded extruder which reduces plugging risk and bad extrustion.

Overall, it’s a decent product for the price. This view is also echoed by a majority of the almost 15,000 user reviews of the device on Amazon.

3. Elegoo Neptune 3 Pro

Another feature that helps the Elgoo Neptunee 3 Pro stand out from the crowd is the fact that it offers rather silent operation. The whole machine adopts STM 32-bit motherboard silent drivers and a more reasonable nozzle heat dissipation structure, reducing the noise down to 50db.

While it’s not exactly a 3D printer for professional use, it can definitely qualify as a good option for beginners and entry-level 3D printing needs. With an average rating of 4.5 and over 500 reviews, the Elgoo Neptune 3 Pro is recommended.

4. FlashForge Finder 3

It uses an integrated structure design with no assembly required and can be used directly once it’s unboxed. It comes with a glass platform which provides a strong adhesion, to ensure the printed model does not become warped.

There’s also a PEI magnetic steel plate platform with anti-warping edges and magnetic stickers for users who may not want to use the glass platform. Both the plates can be easily removed and swapped to meet individual printing needs.

Apart from this, one of the printer’s standout features includes an added thermal protection function that monitors the extruder’s temperature to ensure smooth, safe, and generally flawless 3D printing. And yes, did we mention there’s an in-house driver chip-on-board to improve the precision of printing.

5. Aoseed X-Maker 3D Printer

It also offers high-speed printing which doesn’t come at the cost of precision, as the printer generally outputs accurate 3D designs. The 3D printer is designed with a safe and round styling that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. There’s also a transparent multi-angle window that allows you to observe the printing process.

We also get support for the Automatic Leveling System, which again improves the printing performance — both in speed and precision. Overall, these combined make it a good option for not just children, but also small businesses and architects.

Choose Only the Best!

With many options available under the $500 mark, the 3D printers market is definitely not easy to choose from. But if you’re someone who has embarked on the journey to find the best 3D printers under $500 for your needs, then we hope our list of best budget 3D printers helped.