Cura Vs Simplify3D – Which is Better for 3D Printing?

Cura and Simplify3D are popular slicers for 3D printing, but users wonder which is better. I have written an article to help answer your question about which slicer is the best for you.

Cura and Simplify3D are great options for 3D printing, and it’s hard to say which slicer is better. However, Cura is the slightly better option since it is free and provides more features for 3D printing.

It mainly depends on user preference because both are excellent choices and can do what most users require from a slicer.

This is a simplified answer, but the article goes into detail and presents more information on each slicer. So, keep reading to find out.

What are the Main Differences Between Cura and Simplify3D?

Here are some of the differences that exist between the two slicers:

• Cura is Free to Download and Use
• Simplify3D Provides a Better Surface Finish
• Cura has More Tools and Features
• Simplify3D Slices and Prints Faster
• Cura Gets Regular Updates and Improvements
• Simplify3D is More Flexible When Adjusting a Model’s Settings
• Simplify3D has Better Control over Custom Supports
• Cura Provides a Tree Supports Feature
• Simplify3D has a Better Workflow
• Cura has a Better User Interface
• User Preference

Cura is Free to Download and Use

One of the fundamental differences between Cura and Simplify3D is their cost. Cura is absolutely free to download and use, while Simplify3D has no free tier.

The Simplify3D slicer will set you back $199.99 if you are a new user. For old users looking to upgrade to the new version 5 released in December 2022, the price is $59.99.

Simplify3D also made another change with their latest update. They changed their policy from two machines to one per license, which isn’t going well with many in their community.

A user said 3D printing is already a semi-expensive hobby. So, they recommended starting with Cura to get familiar with the hobby before considering purchasing Simplify3D.

Another user mentioned that if it were a few years ago, it would have been worth the cost. However, the free slicers available today have caught up with Simplify3D, and it isn’t really worth it anymore.

Lastly, another user said they don’t know why people think free means cheap or poorly written. According to them, Cura puts in more development efforts than Simplify3D, and their $0 price tag should make them the top choice.

Simplify3D Provides a Better Print Finish

Another difference and cause for argument within the 3D printing community is the print finish of Simplify3D being the best. Simplify3D usually has a finer and more refined print finish compared to Cura.

Many users believe Simplify3D has a superior finish, and that’s what matters. Simplify3D’s default printer profiles often produce a better finish on prints.

One user who sliced airplane models with default settings on both slicers found that printing with Simplify3D produced better results than when they used Cura.

The model sliced with Cura on the right had a rougher finish with a warped surface and stringing.

However, as the user mentioned, most people do not use stock settings when printing. They tune and adjust them to get the best result.

Another user who did the Benchy print test for Cura and Simplify3D found that Simplify3D came out better. The user mentioned using similar settings but got two completely different results.

Check out this video by Doug DeMako, where he shows the difference in print quality between Cura and Simplify3D on his RC airplane parts.

Cura has More Tools and Features

An important difference between Cura and Simplify3D is the features and tools available on both Slicers. Cura, being an open-source slicer, has many more features and tools users can utilize when 3D printing.

The tree support, automatic scaling, and alternate wall feature, amongst other new features, provide simple one-click solutions to many 3D hobbyists.

Additionally, you can add many new features and tools through plugins downloaded from Cura’s marketplace. Also, you can write custom printing scripts and import them into Cura.

One user said he started with Cura, switched to PrusaSlicer but is back with Cura and loves it because of their plugins. My favorite Cura plugins include the Settings Guide, Mesh Tools, and Calibration Shapes plugins.

Check out this video by 3D Musketeers, where he explores different plugin features on Cura.

Simplify3D Slices and Prints Faster

One clear difference between Simplify3D and Cura is Simplify3D’s faster slice and print time. Simplify3D does a better job of estimating and printing models faster than Cura. It also slices quicker than Cura.

One user sliced a toy nail for his son using both Simplify3D and Cura. It took Simplify3D 2 hours and 30 minutes to print, while the same print took Cura 3 hours.

He believes Simplify3D has a more efficient routing path compared to Cura. The user also mentioned that the Simplify3D model had a better finish when compared to the Cura.

Remember that this experience was two years ago, so there would have been plenty of changes to Cura during this period.

Another user, who sliced a full-size transmission housing with tree supports using Cura, mentioned it took 20 minutes. Also, it kept on crashing and freezing while slicing the model.

However, another commenter advised them to open a support ticket in GitHub as this was far from normal.

It does seem that Cura is catching up in this department. Several people say they get a faster time on Cura.

One user sliced plastic parts of a toy gun in both slicers. The Cura model took 22 hours to print, while the Simplify3D model took 33.47 hours to complete!

The user also mentioned that the Cura model had a better print finish. However, they mentioned they weren’t used to Simplify3D and that others might have better results.

Cura Gets Regular Updates and Improvements

Cura is one of the most competitive slicers today because of the efforts put into the software to improve it continuously. Simplify3D, on the other hand, doesn’t update its slicer frequently.

Users of the slicer had to wait many years for the latest update. This has caused users to try other free slicers, and many believe free slicers have caught up to Simplify3D – which many regarded as the undisputed best at one point.

A user mentioned he was disappointed with Simplify3D’s lack of communication and updates, but he still uses it as he gets good prints. It was also faster than Cura for him at the time.

Another user said he was willing to purchase the Simplify3D slicer, but the lack of development made him stay with Cura.

To summarize online opinions, most users believe Cura’s continuous updates and improvements make it a better slicer option.

Simplify3D is More Flexible When Adjusting a Model’s Settings

One feature Simplify3D has over Cura is the details you can access when customizing your model’s print settings.

One user mentioned she easily switches settings at a particular layer, so if her model needs one set of settings on the lower half and different ones on the upper half, she can do that without difficulty.

A user who feels Cura is catching up in this department also said there are now modifier meshes on Cura which have such features and are as powerful. He also specified that these modifiers aren’t limited to layer heights.

Simplify3D also allows users to give different instructions to different models on the print bed. This is a useful feature to have if you’re printing multiple parts on a single print bed.

This video by TheFirstLayer details everything you need to know using Simplify3D.

Although the video is old, it’s only missing the latest features and tools from the newly released version 5.

Simplify3D has Better Control over Custom Supports

Simplify3D has the win when it comes to placing custom supports. Many users identify this as one of the major reasons they still use Simplify3D to print.

While Cura has custom supports and can even block supports, it’s not as clean and easy as the Simplify3D slicer.

One user mentioned that the only reason he didn’t dump Simplify3D was because of the custom add/remove support feature. Another user mentioned that although Cura has the custom support plugin, it isn’t as polished as Simplify3D’s.

Cura Provides a Tree Supports Feature

Cura tree support is one reason many users who aren’t fond of Cura still use it. The tree supports wrap around and support the model like a tree trunk.

These supports use less material, print faster and leave the material with a clean surface finish. As a result, they are perfect for prints with complex features and overhangs.

One user said he gets his best prints from Simplify3D, but Cura helps when he needs variable infill on an angle or support complex models with tree supports.

Simplify3D Has Better Workflow

Most users seem to agree Simplify3D has a better workflow and is the ideal slicer if producing to sell your prints.

One user mentioned Cura was great if you wanted to dig into the material properties but preferred Simplify3D’s workflow printing parts from his multiple printers.

Another user who uses Cura described the workflow as weird and said it was easier to manage print profiles and projects on Simplify3D.

He gave an example and mentioned he could save a “factory file,” which contains all models on the build plate and the print settings on Simplify3D.

On Cura, he could do the same. However, when he loaded the file back on Cura, it created a new print profile for him with new settings. In some situations, Cura overwrites his profile with new print instructions but keeps the same saved name.

However, some users of Cura have said they have no issues with the workflow. They even use Cura for their commercial 3D printing needs.

For example, one user prints his robot parts using Cura without issue with his workflow or finish. He mentioned he prints to sell to customers.

Cura has A Better User Interface

Cura’s user interface is modern and clean when you compare it to that of Simplify3D. Many users believe Cura is easier on the eyes for first-timers, and they won’t get overwhelmed by the UI.

On the other hand, some say Simplify3D is a matter of getting used to, and with practice and use, one becomes familiar with the interface.

Many non-Cura users complain about Cura’s dropdown menu. So, it’s more of a preference thing here.

Here is what the user interface of Cura looks like:

User Preference

One user mentioned he uses Cura when he wants to test a new style of extruder or material, then takes his findings and dumps them into the script tab of Simplify3D to create material and quality profiles.

He concluded by saying there is strength in having both, and he has both installed on his PC.

Another user mentioned he uses both, and it comes down to your preference in the end.

Most people prefer one over the other, but some keep both slicers to complement each other’s strengths and cover their weaknesses.

Check out this video by Uncle Jessy, who does a good work showing off the latest version of Simplify3D and compares it with other slicers.

Cura Vs Simplify3D – Features

Here is a rundown of some of the features Cura and Simplify3D offer their users:

Cura

• Free & Open Source
• Customizable Settings and Scripts
• Experimental Settings
• Cura Marketplace for Plugins
• Multiple Preview Options
• Over 400 Settings to Adjust
• Regularly Updates
• Many Material Profiles
• Different themes (Light, Dark, Colorblind Assist)
• Layer Preview Animations

Simplify3D

• Adaptive Layer Height
• 3D Infill Patterns
• Automated Seam Hiding
• Dynamic Infill Density
• Support Infill Patterns
• Detailed Customization Options
• Custom Support Shapes
• Accurate Time Estimates
• New Coloring Modes
• Detailed Preview Statistics

Cura Vs Simplify3D – Pros & Cons

To round off the article, here are some of the pros and cons of both slicers. Take a look at them and see if they factor into your decision.

Cura Pros

• Free to use and update
• Frequently updated with new features and tools to improve the printing experience.
• Has tree support to help with complex prints.
• Has a big, supportive community and many tutorials available to help with any trouble.
• One of the most widely used slicers in the 3D community.
• Supports different 3D file formats like STL, OBJ, X3D, and 3MF.
• Has customizable settings and scripts for its users.

Cura Cons

• Searching for settings can be tedious, though you can create a custom view.
• Plugin features use up a lot of memory on your computer.
• Can be slow when it comes to printing models
• Print finish isn’t always satisfactory
• Print and material profiles can be easily overwritten or lost when working.

Simplify 3D Pros

• Compatible with many 3D printers, including some locally produced ones.
• Users can change or set the smallest details, giving them more control over their print settings.
• Support manual placement tool is easy to use and effective in placing supports on models.
• It uses little RAM (2GB max), which is impressive for such a powerful and functional slicer.

Simplify 3D Cons

• No free tier
• Doesn’t get updated regularly and has a recent paid update.
• Doesn’t provide tree supports for supporting complex prints
• Minimal communication and support by the developers
• Doesn’t support a wide range of file formats.
• Clunky navigation on the user interface

So, Which One is The Best?

Cura and Simplify3D are great slicers, and you can’t go wrong with either. If you’re a beginner and you do not have $200 for a Simplify3D license, then Cura should be more than enough.

If you’re an advanced user and need powerful features and a better workflow, then you can splurge on Simplify 3D.

Good Luck and Happy Printing!