Alternatives to Simplify3D
Prepare and preview print jobs with a commercial 3D slicer. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
Simplify3D
Prepare and preview print jobs with a commercial 3D slicer.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as Simplify3D.
UltiMaker Cura
The most widely used free slicer for filament 3D printers, with profiles for hundreds of machines.
UltiMaker Cura is free and open source under LGPL-3.0, with profiles for hundreds of printers and a plugin marketplace, removing the need for a paid license.
PrusaSlicer
Prusa Research's slicer, based on Slic3r, for both filament and resin printers and no account required.
PrusaSlicer is free and open source under AGPL-3.0, needs no account, and handles both filament and resin printers with painted supports and seams.
OrcaSlicer
A slicer built around calibration, with temperature towers and flow tests you run from inside the program.
OrcaSlicer is free and open source under AGPL-3.0, with built-in calibration tests for temperature, flow, retraction and pressure advance and many printer profiles.
Bambu Studio
Bambu Lab's slicer, built on PrusaSlicer, with project-based workflows, multi-material painting and remote printer monitoring.
Bambu Studio is free and open source with multi-material painting and remote monitoring, but it is built around Bambu Lab hardware and other printers need manual profiles.
SuperSlicer
A PrusaSlicer fork with extra fine-tuning settings, generated calibration tests and better thin-wall handling.
SuperSlicer is a free AGPL-3.0 PrusaSlicer fork with fine-grained surface settings and generated calibration prints, maintained by one person, with its last stable release in 2024.
ideaMaker
Prepare 3D models for printing with Raise3D's slicer.
ideaMaker is free but closed source, from Raise3D, and its printer profiles and advanced features depend on supported hardware.
KISSlicer
Fast, compact slicer that converts STL models into G-code for filament printers.
KISSlicer offers a free closed-source version that is quick and simple but single-extruder only, with multi-extruder printing in paid Pro or Premium licences.
IceSL
Slicer with built-in modelling that turns STL files into printer-ready G-code.
IceSL is free but closed source, adds a scriptable modeller for procedural geometry, and has thinner documentation and printer profiles.
Also worth comparing
These listings name Simplify3D as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
Creality Print
Creality's official slicer for preparing models and sending prints to its FDM 3D printers.
Simplify3D is a paid, closed-source commercial slicer with configurable slicing processes and support controls, requiring a license and a suitable printer profile.
ElegooSlicer
ELEGOO's open-source FDM slicer, based on OrcaSlicer, for Centauri, Neptune and other FDM printers.
Simplify3D is a commercial closed-source slicer that requires a paid license, with configurable slicing processes and support-generation controls.
GrabCAD Print
Stratasys print-preparation software that slices CAD files and sends them to Stratasys 3D printers.
Simplify3D is a paid commercial slicer for Windows, macOS and Linux with support-generation and toolpath controls, needing a matching printer profile instead of Stratasys integration.
Orca-Flashforge
Flashforge's slicer based on OrcaSlicer, tuned for its Adventurer and AD5X 3D printers.
Simplify3D is a closed-source commercial slicer that requires a paid license and an appropriate printer profile, with configurable processes and support controls.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
Teaching Tech 3D Printer Calibration
Web-based 3D printer calibration walkthrough with a gcode generator for custom test towers and prints.
OctoPrint
Control and monitor a 3D printer from a browser.
Repetier-Host
Desktop host software that places, slices, previews and prints models on FDM 3D printers.
MatterControl
Open-source desktop app for designing, slicing and controlling 3D prints on Windows, Mac and Linux.
