When it comes to the top 3D printing slicer software, two slicers such as PrusaSlicer, and Cura, will definitely hold a big place.
But, when it comes to the ultimate competition of PrusaSlicer vs. Cura, both have pros and cons, making it difficult to decide. So, to solve that problem, we have this article here with the information you’re looking for and can help you decide which one of better for your use.
Scroll through the article to end this war of PrusaSlicer vs. Cura, at least in your opinion.
What’s The Difference Between PrusaSlicer And Ultimaker Cura?
There are quite a few differences between PrusaSlicer and Cura, and it is sorted hereby as per different aspects,
Connectivity
As per the feature of connectivity, Cura on one has the ability to connect to wireless boards, like Duet Wi-Fi and Raspberry Pi, making it easier to upload files to the browser rather than doing it manually every time. PrusaSlicer, on the other hand, connects to more SBC Boards and can connect to FlashAir and AstroBox.
User Interface
For Cura, the user interface is cleaner, neat, and intuitive, with a dark theme and visual queues. It shows the print estimations and preview animations and provides workflow extensions that help the user as it provides more ease and efficiency in working.
PrusaSlicer, on the other hand, has a different setting that helps you focus on the important setting and maintains clutter, along with mart manipulation, which automatically arranges the models saving you time and effort, and also easy command insertions and simple layer adjustments.
SLA Printers Support
In the game of Cura vs. PrusaSlicer, when SLA printers add on as an aspect, PrusaSlicer is on the way to win because where Cura only supports filament 3D printing, PrusaSlicer does both.
Speed
Between both of the software, when it comes to the speed of printing and slicing, PrusaSlicer wins, as its speed is approximately 10 to 30 percent higher, which makes it a big plus point, especially for people on a deadline.
Cura, apart from just slow slicing, is even slower when it comes to previewing the function, too, because even though Cura has a lot of features, it becomes difficult for the user to use them.
Application
Cura’s application is more towards the material that is for industrial applications, like partnering up with large polymer manufacturers and getting into the marketplace. Whereas PrusaSlicer is more for hobbyists and small-scale professionals since it has an easier approach for the makers.
So, Cura is superior to PrusaSlicer in industrial terms and is considered the best slicer for 3D printing in industries.
Experimental/Advanced Settings
In terms of experimental/advanced settings, Cura is winning in this game of Cura vs. PrusaSlicer. Cura has a lot of more advanced settings, and the userbase likes those really well that even currently. There are a few experimental settings like slicing tolerance, enabling draft shield, fuzzy skin, wire printing, using adaptive layers, wiping nozzles between layers, and more.
Edge Finishing
When it comes to the finishing of the edges, like the top and corners, PrusaSlicer provides better finishing to those tops and corners. Even though Cura has far more features and settings, Cura lacks behind here.
Community Support
When it comes to PrusaSlicer vs. Cura, in both cases, company support is pretty disappointing, but community support is what keeps it going. The Prusa support is far better because it has a huge user base that keeps helping each other compared to the Cura Slicer.
Since, PrusaSlicer provides tons of videos about fixes and upgrades and gave time to time upgrades, along with discussions on the community forum, it has a huge edge over Cura.
History
Talking about history, Cura started out around 2011, whereas PrusaSlicer started out around 2014. Both the software grew and gained their user base largely and reached their heights in respective user bases, and are known as the top developed dedicated slicers in the 3D printing industry.
Pro Tips:
The brownie point here is that when talking about Cura vs. PrusaSlicer, even though both of them are open source and free to use. In terms of licensing, both the 3D slicer software will have their differences as per the modifications that are provided by the respective slicer software.
Does Cura Support Prusa?
Yes, Cura supports PrusaSlicer. If you have been using Cura, opting for a new slicing software like PrusaSlicer can be a bit challenging. In fact, you need to do some additional steps to get Cura to work. And not all models are supported. So, using PrusaSlicer to print on a Prusa 3D printer is advisable.
Conclusion
Overall, it is quite evident that PrusaSlicer and Cura have their own features and benefits. But to sum it up, PrusaSlicer is much faster, more lightweight, and faster to operate. Whereas the Cura software works better in terms of large-scale and industrial applications.
So, if you’re a beginner, PrusaSlicer is your way to go, and otherwise, Cura would be a better option for professionals.
Hope this article helped you decide which 3D printing slicer software is for you and that the way of PrusaSlicer vs. Cura has ended.
