Best 3D Printers Under $200

1. Monoprice Select Mini V2

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Editor’s Rating: 4.4/5

For a budget 3D printer, the Monoprice Select Mini V2 sure brings a lot to the table, even outworking some of the more expensive 3D printers out on the market. It’s designed for desktop use and comes in a sort of semi-enclosed profile (partly covered with exposed build plate and print head).

The machine arrives fully assembled. Couple that with the relatively easy initial setup and you have a 3D printer that lets you start printing in no time. Though the knob-operated interface feels rather outdated in a tech world dominated by touchscreens, the Monoprice Select Mini V2 is nevertheless easy to operate. It’s beginner-friendly and includes straightforward settings.

The heated build plate is what sets this 3D printer apart from other products in the same price point. It allows the machine to process filaments other than ABS and PLA. But for consistent results, we recommend sticking to those two basic filaments and save the experimentation for when you buy a more capable 3D printer.

Compared to other cheap 3D printers, the Monoprice Select Mini V2 comes with a very limited build size, which means you’re stuck with small projects. It’s why we were leaning heavily toward making the XYZprinting da Vinci Mini, which boasts a larger build volume, our top pick on this list. But in the end, the slightly better print quality and heated build plate of the Monoprice Select Mini V2 sealed the deal for us.

All in all, the Monoprice Select Mini V2 is the best product you can get right now if you’re strictly sticking to a $200 budget for your first ever 3D printer. It’s not the easiest to manually calibrate, and the customer support is spotty at best. But for just $200, you get a 3D printer that’s reliable, easy to operate, and, most notably, includes a heated build plate.

2. CoLiDo DIY

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Editor’s Rating: 4.1/5

If you’re hungry for more build volume, check out the CoLiDo DIY. It’s an economic 3D printer that offers a significantly larger build volume than that of our top pick, the Monoprice Select Mini V2. Even more impressive? It’s actually cheaper, going for about $20 less.

The caveat? Well, the product name says it all. The CoLiDo DIY is a DIY 3D printer that you need to manually put together first after unboxing it, so you don’t get to start printing right away. The good news is that the assembly and initial setup process isn’t too hard, even though the instruction manual isn’t the most detailed document. Expect to invest around 45 minutes to one hour to get the printer properly set up and ready to go.

Once you get the CoLiDo DIY up and running, everything is smooth sailing from that point. It’s easy to operate and connects quickly to any compatible computer. Filament loading and unloading aren’t too complicated, and removing a finished project is a straightforward process. In other words, total newbies won’t have too much trouble operating the machine.

In terms of print quality, the CoLiDo DIY will definitely surprise you. It’s one of those budget 3D printers that punch above their weight, so to speak. The print quality is accurate and comes with a level of smoothness not commonly seen in cheap 3D printers. But the large build volume is obviously the main attraction here. With this 3D printer, you can go for more ambitious projects.

Though limited to PLA filaments, the CoLiDo DIY is an excellent entry-level 3D printer under $200 that you should definitely consider. It’s made of sturdy materials and can reliably work on numerous projects with minimal issues other than user-generated ones. It’s ideal for both beginners and hobbyists.

3. XYZprinting da Vinci Mini

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Editor’s Rating: 4.0/5

The XYZprinting da Vinci Mini is a cheap 3D printer that comes with a relatively large build volume and includes an auto-calibration feature. It’s enclosed and supports wireless connectivity. Basically, it’s the wireless version of the da Vinci miniMaker.

For an entry-level 3D printer, the da Vinci Mini is a decent pick-up. However, it needs a lot of patience in the beginning. The initial setup can take more than an hour – but not because the printer demands intensive physical labor (i.e. putting together parts).

No, the problem lies in the crappy instruction manual. It’s so poorly done we wondered why the manufacturer even bothered to include it in the first place. Seriously, don’t even bother with the instruction manual. Just go online and look up videos and guides on how to set up the da Vinci Mini.

The da Vinci Mini is similar to the da Vinci miniMaker in almost every way. The print quality is surprisingly good for a cheap 3D printer. It’s accurate and detailed and is actually comparable to the print quality of 3D printers twice the price. In fact, the da Vinci Mini could easily pass for a $500 3D printer.

The wireless connection is a nice added convenience. However, consumers have been divided when it comes to it. For some, it worked just fine and presented minimal issues. For others, it doesn’t work at all, so don’t take it too hard if it doesn’t work for you as well.

Like other 3D printers from XYZprinting, the da Vinci Mini forces you to buy proprietary filament, which is not cool no matter how you look at it. But overall, the da Vinci Mini is a solid product that would do well as a starter 3D printer. It’s easy to use once you get the hang of the software and can endure daily use, only needing occasional maintenance.

4. XYZprinting da Vinci miniMaker

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Editor’s Rating: 3.9/5

The XYZprinting da Vinci miniMaker is a cheap 3D printer intended for educational use. More specifically, it’s made for teaching kids about the ins and outs of 3D printing. But it’s also a good starter machine for adults who want to get into 3D printing, although the LEGO-like look might be a turn-off for some.

Featuring a single extruder, the da Vinci miniMaker is an enclosed 3D printer, making it perfectly safe for kids. However, adult supervision is still recommended because kids have a tendency to stick their nose where it doesn’t belong.

The da Vinci miniMaker was designed with ease-of-use in mind. It includes an auto-calibration feature and arrives in a plug-and-play setup. Going through the initial setup shouldn’t take more than one hour, though things could have been easier if only XYZprinting cared to write a more detailed instruction manual.

The print quality is good. It’s obviously not in the same league as 3D printers in the $1000 range. But for a $200 3D printer made for educational use, it exceeds expectations, producing items with a level of accuracy that would make other cheap 3D printers jealous. The generous maximum build volume is also a big plus, allowing you to take on projects not possible with the Monoprice Select Mini V2.

Our biggest gripe about the da Vinci miniMaker is that it’s limited to filaments manufactured by XYZprinting. It’s a caveat that could have been easier to swallow if only the proprietary filaments weren’t significantly more expensive than third-party materials. Sadly, there’s no reliable way to make the da Vinci miniMaker support filaments from Hatchbox and other popular brands.

If you want a solid entry-level 3D printer and don’t mind buying proprietary filament, the da Vinci miniMaker is a good choice. It’s easy to use, includes a beginner-friendly software, and boasts a better-than-expected print quality.

5. Instone Easier Mini 3D Printer

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Editor’s Rating: 3.8/5

The Instone Easier Mini 3D Printer is a nice little machine designed for kids and 3D printing beginners. It’s a basic 3D printer, so don’t expect too much in terms of print quality and features.

The printer arrives fully assembled and ready to go. In less than 30 minutes, you can already start printing your first project. It’s a plug-and-play 3D printer that requires minimal tweaking to get started. The initial setup is easy enough, even though the included instruction manual is next to worthless.

Lightweight and compact enough for desktop use, the Instone Easier Mini 3D Printer is easy to operate, which is critical for beginners. The included custom software isn’t too complicated, with straightforward settings that should be easy enough to understand even for non-techies. The removable build plate also makes removing finished items hassle-free.

In regard to print quality, the Instone Easier Mini 3D Printer isn’t the most impressive, which isn’t really surprising considering it’s a cheap 3D printer. The print quality is decent. It’s good enough to impress kids and beginners who are doing 3D printing for the first time. The machine runs relatively quiet, which is another reason why it makes for a good desktop 3D printer.

It’s really important that you understand what you’re going to get when you buy this mini 3D printer. It’s limited to PLA filaments since there’s no heated build plate. It’s not the sturdiest in terms of construction. It’s a slow worker and has Mac compatibility issues.

But if you’re okay with all the downsides, feel free to make the Instone Easier Mini 3D Printer your starter machine. It’s a 3D printer that allows you to get acquainted with the basics of 3D printing. Once you’re ready to get serious, you can simply replace it with a higher-end 3D printer.

6. Geeetech Pro W

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Editor’s Rating: 4.0/5

The Geeetech Pro W is a Prusa i3 clone. It’s a cheap 3D printer that works well as a starter machine for those who want to dip their toes into the world of 3D printing.

Like the CoLiDo DIY, the Geeetech Pro W is a DIY 3D printer that needs to be assembled from top to bottom. The assembly and calibration process can take about an hour or two, depending on how good you are at following instructions and putting things together. Detailed instructions can be found on the internet, so don’t worry about getting lost during the assembly process.

The quality of construction isn’t the best out there. It’s made of wood – yes, wood – instead of metal. But on the bright side, the printer stays stable once you manage to put it together. The machine is steady while printing, which means fewer instances of messed-up projects.

Speaking of quality, the print quality of the Geeetech Pro W is about what you would expect from a $200 cheap 3D printer. It’s not the smoothest nor the most detailed, but you can rely on the printer to produce non-functional items that should be good enough for beginners and educators. The large build volume is also nice. It allows you to take on larger, more ambitious projects once you’re familiar with 3D printing basics.

Backed by a helpful customer support service, the Geeetech Pro W is a reliable starter 3D printer that simply gets the job done with minimal issues. It supports standalone printing, includes a starter spool of PLA filament, and is relatively easy to put together. It’s stable, boasts a large build plate, and even offers a wireless module option (sold separately).