The 10 Best 3D Printers Under $300

The Anycubic Kobra 2 3D printer is all about speed. It’s the newest model in Kobra’s line of printers, and it comes equipped with some very fast improvements.

The Kobra 2 prints faster than its predecessor, the Kobra, with Anycubic claiming speeds of up to 250 mm/s. It’s, however, wise to take this speed with a grain of salt. As it’s a bed slinger 3D printer, it’s easy to lose out on print quality as you increase the print speed.

Anycubic has added its upgraded LeviQ leveling system, which now uses a sensor to fine-tune the Z-offset. No more fiddling with finding the perfect clearance. This new method for automatic print bed leveling helps make sure that the first layer is always smooth.

Another improvement over its predecessor, the Kobra 2 has new metal rails and wheels on the X and Y axes. They are a mix of the Ender 3’s V-slot wheels and the Prusa printers’ linear rods. These metal components are more durable than the plastic wheels you see on most 3D printers, and won’t wear out as easily.

One shortcoming is that the printer does not have the input shaper set up by default. This would make a big difference in the quality of the print and cut down on ringing and ghosting due to the vibrations during the printing process.

Overall, the Kobra 2 is more than a decent printer for this price. In fact, no other 3D printer under $300 has as good of a feature set. If you don’t have a lot to spend but need a fast 3D printer that meets the standards of 2023, this is the one you want.

Voxelab’s Aquila X2 is a budget-friendly 3D printer rising in popularity. This printer is perfect for a beginner who wants to get into 3D printing but is on a tight budget.

The build size of the X2 is 220 x 220 x 250 mm. This is enough to print most decently-sized toys, tools, and figurines. To help give these things a clean finish underneath, the machine comes with a smooth glass print bed.

Voxelab uses a big LCD color screen and TMC 2208 stepper drivers for a silent printing experience. Most 3D printers with a price between $200 and $300 have these features. Finding them on a printer that costs less than $200 is nothing but impressive!

Small things like XY belt tensioners, a handle at the top, and a filament run-out monitor are also nice additions. These things help make the printer much easier to use.

To keep the price low, the X2 does cut some corners. Having to manually level the bed, listening to loud cooling fans, and an elaborate manual assembly process are the costs you’ll have to pay.

Despite this, the Aquila X2 offers a lot of value for the money. For under $200, you can purchase a 3D printer that is easy to use, delivers adequate print quality, and has everything you need to get started with 3D printing.

Resin 3D printers are getting cheaper nowadays, and Anycubic’s Mono 3D printers are a good example of this. Anycubic’s most recent offering in their affordable resin 3D printing line is the Photon Mono 2.

The Mono 2 is poised to replace the older Photon Mono 4K printer. The Mono 2 has a screen resolution of more than 4K (4096 x 2560) and an almost 20% larger print volume. Since there is more room for your print, you can create more elaborate models, and the crisper LCD means you can see every last detail.

Out of the box, the machine comes with a screen protector. It’s a good feature to have on a cheap 3D printer, as it will help keep you from breaking the screen by mistake. The newer light grid and laser-engraved build plate are also good upgrades that increase the print quality and user experience.

The Mono 2 still doesn’t have a WiFi connection, and the USB port is still on the side. So when you stack 3D printers side by side, the USB cable gets in the way. It’s something that we always find annoying when we test 3D printers.

In general, the Mono 2 is an excellent entry-level resin 3D printer. If you are interested in 3D printing (D&D) minis and figurines, you are well off with this machine. It’s one of the best low-cost options available in the market today.

Design-wise, the Ender 3 V2 Neo is quite identical to the original Ender 3, although with a few key upgrades. The V2 Neo is a dream for people who like to tinker with their printers, as it retains the original Ender’s modding features.

The V2 Neo is a good improvement over the previous Ender 3 V2 3D printer. For example, a CR-Touch leveling probe is added to the Neo to provide automated bed leveling.

The new PC spring steel sheet used as the build plate now allows for better print adhesion and simpler print removal.

Belt tensioners, a filament feeding knob, an all-metal extruder, and a handy toolbox at the base all contribute to a more satisfying printing experience. Furthermore, you can discover a plethora of upgrades and extras for the printer on the internet, allowing you to customize the machine to your specific needs.

In our review of the V2 Neo, we noted that there is no filament run-out sensor and only one lead screw for the Z axis as opposed to two. It would have been nice to see these features improved, but they are things that you can upgrade yourself later.

The Ender 3 V2 Neo fits nicely between the Original Ender 3 line and the Ender 3 S1 printers. The V2 Neo gives you a lot of choices if you like to make changes to your 3D printers and make them fit your needs. It has widespread user support, and you’ll always have plenty of options when it comes to expanding its abilities.

Being the sixth iteration in the SV series, the Sovol S06 packs a rich set of features that provide excellent utility under $300. It’s strikingly similar to the Prusa i3 printers and follows a similar design philosophy in its offerings.

The dual Z-axis design on the SV06 neatly fits a modest build area of 220 x 220 x 250 mm, which is adequate for printing most 3D printing models with ease. The PEI metal build plate has excellent print adhesion and goes well with the included inductive auto-bed leveling sensor on the SV06.

Sovol has integrated a high-temperature hot end and coupled it with a planetary gear direct extruder. The all-metal hot end can reach temperatures up to 300 °C, while the planetary gear arrangement exerts a high force on the filament, leading to good grip and improved extrusion performance.

However, the machine is not without its faults. In our SV06 review, we found the default part cooling on the printer is slightly weak. Furthermore, the build quality of the SV06 leaves some to be desired.

If you can put aside these minor shortcomings, the Sovol SV06 is one of the best budget 3D printers with many valuable features. It offers good print quality and, for the price, certainly makes a good choice for beginners, hobbyists, and first-time 3D printer users.

The Flashforge Finder is a plug-and-play kind of 3D printer. It takes less than maybe 30 minutes to set it up and start 3D printing. The features and ease of use make the Finder a great fit for beginners in 3D printing.

The Finder has a closed frame with a sturdy build, which gives it a nice boxy look. The filament spool is neatly tucked inside the printer body. This makes it an ideal 3D printer to use in a classroom setting and as a printer to carry around anywhere with ease.

This 3D printer under 300 comes with a user-friendly touch screen with a neatly laid-out interface. It makes it easy to control the printer and is especially easy for kids and people with disabilities to use.

One limitation of the Flashforge Finder is that it uses its proprietary slicing software – Flashprint – for preparing models. However, this software is finely tuned to the Finder and optimized so that it’s easy to use. In it, you can find preloaded profiles to prepare a file, or you can fine-tune some of the major settings to your needs. Flashforge has optimized the entire user experience of the Finder for people who are just getting started with 3D printing.

While the Ender 3 V2 is still a good contender for the best 3D printer under $300, its predecessor, the Creality Ender 3, is a great budget 3D printer in this price class. Even though it’s several years since it was first released, the Ender 3 remains a popular choice.

The Ender 3 has all the functionalities that you would expect from a basic 3D printer. It comes with a build volume of 220x220x250mm and a heated print bed with a sticky Buildtak-like printing surface. It is beginner-friendly and provides decent printing quality from the start.

Since it is a popular 3D printer, there are tons of user guides, tutorials, and community forums for the Ender 3. There are many mods and upgrades available for the Ender 3, which makes it a versatile option.

If you’re on a budget, want a good 3D printer, and are open to fiddling a little to get good results, the Ender 3 is a great choice for you.

The Sovol SV01 is probably the 3D printer under 300 that comes with the largest build volume: 280x240x300 mm. This allows you to print large-size objects in one go, without having to split them into multiple parts. For 3D printing things like cosplay props, this is ideal.

A neat feature is that the Sovol SV01 has a direct drive Titan-style extruder that makes 3D printing flexible filaments a breeze. It also has a dual Z-axis setup with a sturdy and solid aluminum frame for maximum stability during the 3D printing process. This extra stability is useful on larger 3D printers, which can get unstable. But it also helps you increase the maximum printing speed to get your parts printed more quickly without visual artifacts.

And to top it off, there are some neat safety and quality-of-life features built in the SV01, like filament detection, a resume printing function for protection against a power outage, and thermal runaway protection.

It comes partially assembled (~95% done), making it fairly easy in terms of getting it up and running. This comes in contrast to some other 3D printers under 300 that come as a kit that needs to be fully assembled.

The large print volume of the Sovol SV01 might not be for everyone. But if you 3D print helmets, 3D print armor, or other cosplay props, the SV01 offers you plenty of build volume at an affordable price.

The Artillery Genius is arguably the most silent 3D printer under $300. It comes with an MKS Gen L V1.0 motherboard along with a set of proprietary stepper motor drivers. This makes it one of the quietest 3D printers on the market. This means that you can easily use it in your workspace without being disturbed by the constant noise of the stepper motors. For small business owners, this is ideal.

Asides from offering quiet operation, the Artillery Genius comes with several other neat features. It has a proprietary Z-nut coupler that reduces layer artifacts on 3D-printed parts. The cable management on the Genius is also unique. Instead of the wires flying around, all cables are neatly tucked inside a flex cable for added safety and aesthetics.

The sturdy aluminum body comes with a solid base that is easy to put together. You get a color TFT touchscreen for easy navigation through the various functions. Although the print quality is not amazing right out of the box, with some fine-tuning you will have a high-quality printing experience on a sub-$300 budget.

It can be tricky to find 3D printers under $300 that offer a high print speed and come with features like automatic leveling of its heated bed, and Wi-Fi connectivity. The Monoprice Mini Delta V2, however, is one of the few options that give you just that. The Mini Delta V2 is the successor to the original Mini Delta and one of the most versatile printers under $300 with a small form factor.

The Delta V2 comes with an updated color touchscreen, with a new look and a neatly designed user interface. This upgraded version offers automatic bed leveling to make your first layers stick perfectly to the build platform. On the connectivity side of things, it has a USB port, SD card slot, and inbuilt Wi-Fi to let you control your 3D printer remotely from your smartphone.

The self-diagnostic features are also unique to see in this category. The Delta mini runs an extruder heat check and checks the movement of all three axes when you turn it on. This helps prevent failed prints and wasting valuable filament.

A major downside of the Delta V2 is the small printing area and slightly reduced print quality because of the higher print speed. This is circumventable by turning the print speed down, but that does mean your 3D prints take longer.

Ultimately, the Delta V2 is an excellent beginner Delta 3D printer in a compact package at an attractive price.