Elegoo is a Chinese 3D printer and educational electronics manufacturer founded in 2015 in Shenzhen. The company started as an educational starter kits brand (Arduino-compatible) and moved into 3D printing in 2018. Today Elegoo is known primarily for the Mars series MSLA, the cheapest path to quality resin print for hobbyists. Saturn series expands to larger format. Neptune FDM line rounds out the offering. Elegoo directly competes with Anycubic in the budget segment and often wins on cost/capability ratio. This guide, the range, when Elegoo is a better choice than Anycubic, and what to expect from the brand in pros and cons.
Elegoo founded 2015 in Shenzhen by owner Tony Bai. Originally educational distributor, Arduino starter kits, sensor modules, motors. Entered 3D printing 2018 with Mars MSLA printer at €270, disruptor when formlabs Form 2 was €3500.
MSLA Printers:
Mars 5 Ultra (€280), 12K display, 143×89×165mm build, auto-leveling, monochrome LCD. The entry-level standard.
Mars 5 Pro (€340), adds dual cooling fans, slightly larger build 153×77×175. Recommended for people who'll batch-print.
Saturn 3 Ultra (€402), 12K display, 218×123×260mm build, much larger format. Recommended for gaming miniature batches.
Saturn 4 Ultra (€499), newest 2024, integrated wash & cure dryer on printer, 219×123×260mm. Premium choice.
Mars 4 DLP (€499), DLP technology, smaller build 132×74×155mm, higher light durability. Specialty pick for production of small parts.
FDM Printers:
Neptune 3 Pro (€250), entry-level FDM, 225×225×280mm build, direct drive extruder. Recommended for beginners on budget < €300.
Neptune 4 (€300), Klipper-based firmware, up to 500 mm/s speed claims (realistic 200-300). Competent against Bambu A1.
Neptune 4 Plus (€420), larger build 320×320×385mm.
Neptune 4 Max (€600), flagship FDM, 420×420×480mm large format.
Accessories:
Mercury Plus 2-in-1 Wash & Cure (€100), best-in-class budget wash + cure station for MSLA post-process.
Voxeldance Slicer, Elegoo's branded slicer, fork of ChiTuBox. Functional but most users prefer Lychee Slicer or ChiTuBox directly.
Elegoo Slicer (FDM), Cura-based fork. OK but not better than PrusaSlicer.
Direct competitor is Anycubic. Very similar product range, similar pricing.
We recommend Elegoo when:
1. Absolute budget MSLA entry, Mars 5 Ultra (€280) is unmatched on cost/capability.
2. Batch miniature printing, Saturn 3 Ultra (€402) largest platform in budget tier.
3. Cost-conscious production studio, multiple Saturn 3 Ultras at €402 each = army-scale production at fraction of Phrozen Sonic Mega cost (€1499).
4. Plant-Based resin requirements, Elegoo's bio resin formula is unique in budget tier.
Not recommended when:
1. Auto-resin-feed convenience, Anycubic M5s.
2. DLP technology (long-term durability), Anycubic Photon D2 or Phrozen.
3. Industrial-grade SLS workflow, Formlabs Fuse 1+ (€10,000+).
4. Educational MSLA in Bulgaria without support, Anycubic EU warehouse is stable, Elegoo EU warehouse newer but improving.
Value proposition:Elegoo is best price/print quality in MSLA segment under €500. Above that, Phrozen or Anycubic give specialized advantages.
Dozens of tools used by professional 3D shops, inside your EduFacturing dashboard. Some are free with an account; the rest are part of the Pro plan.
Configurator across dozens of filaments and resins with live AWIN data. Find the right one by application, tech and properties.
Configurator over thousands of models: hobby to industrial. Recommendation matching your budget, with live AWIN pricing.
Technology selector: FDM, SLA, SLS, MJF, SLM… Recommendation based on part, batch size and quality you need.
These tools cross-check the recommendations on this page against your specific budget, printer and material.
Calculate 3D print cost, material, power, depreciation.
Compare printers, materials and technologies side-by-side.
Personal guide, pick a technology based on your profile.
Find solutions to print defects, symptom, cause, fix.
Glossary of 3D printing and additive manufacturing terms.
Mars 5 (€280, build 143×89), for minis, fewer-at-once. Saturn 3 (€402, build 218×123), for batch printing 12-18 minis at once. For hobby level, Mars 5 is enough. For miniature painter with inventory of 50+ models, Saturn 3 saves time.
Yes for display minis (don't handle), but fragile for gaming use. For gaming minis:Elegoo ABS-like 2.0 (€22/liter) impact-resistant, or premium Siraya Tech Tenacious (€45/liter) extra-tough. Standard is a good beginner, upgrade when miniatures move to active table use.
Mercury Plus (€100) is the standard pick. Spare carbon filter (€15) replace every 6 months hobby usage. UV LED replacement (€25) not needed for 5+ years normal use.
Bambu A1 mini (€280) winner on firmware quality + ecosystem. Neptune 4 (€300) and Kobra 2 (€280) are same tier, Bambu by software is significantly more polished. Neptune 4 or Kobra 2 only if you need directly accessible firmware for tinkering or non-Bambu ecosystem reason.
With an account: save guides, track price changes on your shortlisted printers, get tailored material recommendations.
