Best Formlabs PreForm Alternatives in 2026
The top Formlabs PreForm alternatives are Bambu Studio, OrcaSlicer and Slic3r: 15 3D printing software our editors would look at instead of Formlabs PreForm, in our ranking order.
Formlabs PreForm: A focused, free choice for Formlabs teams preparing and sending SLA or SLS jobs. Where it falls short: formlabs-centered workflows limit its fit with other printer ecosystems.
Switching from Formlabs PreForm? For most 3d printing software buyers the best Formlabs PreForm alternative is Bambu Studio, built for bambu users needing free multi-material workflows.
Why People Look for a Formlabs PreForm Alternative
- Formlabs-centered workflows limit its fit with other printer ecosystems
- Available only for Windows and macOS
- Print monitoring is handled through Dashboard rather than PreForm
- No print monitoring — 9 of the alternatives below have it
- No cloud slicing — 3 of the alternatives below have it
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallBambu Studio9.4
Bambu users needing free multi-material workflows
Visit Bambu Studio - Best free optionBambu Studio9.4
Has a free plan
Visit Bambu Studio - Best for print monitoringBambu Studio9.4
Print monitoring (Formlabs PreForm: no)
Visit Bambu Studio
All 15 Formlabs PreForm Alternatives, Ranked
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
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Best forBambu users needing free multi-material workflows
- Better than Formlabs PreForm:
- Print monitoring
- Editor score 9.4 vs 8.8
A free, open-source desktop suite for slicing, multi-material preparation, and Bambu printer control.
- Auto supports
- Multi-material tools
- Print monitoring
9.4/10★★★★★Visit Bambu Studio -
Best forAdvanced FDM users who want free calibration control
- Better than Formlabs PreForm:
- Print monitoring
- Editor score 9.0 vs 8.8
A calibration-focused FDM slicer with broad printer-host integrations.
- Model repair
- Auto supports
- Multi-material tools
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit OrcaSlicer -
Best forEstablished free FDM slicing
- Better than Formlabs PreForm:
- Editor score 9.0 vs 8.8
A mature free slicer with multi-material tools, printer control, and OctoPrint integration.
- Model repair
- Auto supports
- Multi-material tools
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit Slic3r -
Best forIndustrial additive manufacturing preparation
A deep Windows workflow for engineers preparing complex additive manufacturing jobs.
- Model repair
- Auto supports
- Multi-material tools
8.6/10★★★★☆Try Autodesk Netfabb -
Best forProcedural and experimental print generation
- Better than Formlabs PreForm:
- Cloud slicing
A specialized free tool for procedural models, advanced slicing, and varied output workflows.
- Cloud slicing
- Auto supports
- Multi-material tools
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit IceSL -
Best forFree self-hosted printer control and monitoring
- Better than Formlabs PreForm:
- Print monitoring
A free, open-source control hub for monitoring and managing compatible 3D printers.
- Print monitoring
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit OctoPrint -
Best forFree multi-material slicing with automation options
- Better than Formlabs PreForm:
- Print monitoring
A capable local slicer for multi-material preparation, automation, and detailed print control.
- Model repair
- Auto supports
- Multi-material tools
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit PrusaSlicer -
Best forUsers switching between resin and filament printing
- Better than Formlabs PreForm:
- Print monitoring
A cross-platform slicer with strong support tools for resin and filament workflows.
- Model repair
- Auto supports
- Multi-material tools
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit Lychee Slicer -
Best forFree users wanting mature, configurable FDM slicing
- Better than Formlabs PreForm:
- Print monitoring
A configurable, cross-platform FDM slicer with profiles, supports, adaptive layers, and network printing.
- Auto supports
- Multi-material tools
- Print monitoring
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit UltiMaker Cura -
Best forMixed-brand teams managing shared printer fleets
- Better than Formlabs PreForm:
- Print monitoring
- Cloud slicing
An all-in-one cloud platform for slicing, printer control, monitoring, queues, and models.
- Cloud slicing
- Model repair
- Auto supports
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit Polar Cloud -
Best forSmall teams wanting cloud queues and monitoring
- Better than Formlabs PreForm:
- Print monitoring
- Cloud slicing
A cloud 3D printing hub with queues, monitoring, analytics, and remote control.
- Cloud slicing
- Print monitoring
7.5/10★★★★☆Visit AstroPrint -
Best forFlexible multi-printer slicing
A capable multi-printer slicer with free core tools and paid productivity features.
- Auto supports
- Multi-material tools
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit Craftware Pro -
Best forRaise3D users needing modeling and remote workflows
A free, broad slicer for Raise3D users who need modeling and remote workflows.
- Auto supports
- Multi-material tools
7.3/10★★★★☆Visit Raise3D -
Best forZortrax users managing multiple printers
- Better than Formlabs PreForm:
- Print monitoring
A free, Zortrax-focused workspace for slicing, printer control, and farm monitoring.
- Model repair
- Auto supports
- Multi-material tools
7.2/10★★★★☆Visit Z-SUITE -
Best forPower users focused on calibration and custom G-code
A free, open-source slicer for calibration-focused users who want custom G-code control.
- Model repair
- Auto supports
- Multi-material tools
7.1/10★★★★☆Visit SuperSlicer
Formlabs PreForm Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Formlabs PreForm?
Bambu Studio: #1 in our 3D Printing Software ranking, with an editor score of 9.4 out of 10. A free, open-source desktop suite for slicing, multi-material preparation, and Bambu printer control.
Is there a free alternative to Formlabs PreForm?
Yes. Bambu Studio, OrcaSlicer, Slic3r, Autodesk Netfabb and IceSL have a free plan or a free tier (15 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
Why do people look for Formlabs PreForm alternatives?
Formlabs-centered workflows limit its fit with other printer ecosystems; Available only for Windows and macOS; Print monitoring is handled through Dashboard rather than PreForm.
How do I switch from Formlabs PreForm?
Export your data from Formlabs PreForm (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Formlabs PreForm.
How to Switch from Formlabs PreForm
- Export your data from Formlabs PreForm (most tools have an export in their settings).
- Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
- Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
- Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Formlabs PreForm.
Formlabs PreForm vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Auto supports | Printer control | Print monitoring | Cloud slicing | Multi-material tools | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Formlabs PreForm | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | No | No | 8.8 | |
| 1 | Bambu Studio | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.4 | |
| 2 | OrcaSlicer | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | 9.0 |
| 3 | Slic3r | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | 9.0 | ||
| 4 | Autodesk Netfabb | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | 8.6 | ||
| 5 | IceSL | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8.3 | |
| 6 | OctoPrint | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | No | No | 7.8 | |
| 7 | PrusaSlicer | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | 7.7 |
| 8 | Lychee Slicer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.7 | ||
| 9 | UltiMaker Cura | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | 7.6 |
| 10 | Polar Cloud | Yes | $79/yr | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.6 | |
| 11 | AstroPrint | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.5 | |||
| 12 | Craftware Pro | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7.4 | |||
| 13 | ideaMaker | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | 7.3 |
| 14 | Z-SUITE | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | 7.2 |
| 15 | SuperSlicer | Yes | Free | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | 7.1 |
Head-to-Head
- Formlabs PreForm vs Bambu Studio
- Formlabs PreForm vs OrcaSlicer
- Formlabs PreForm vs Slic3r
- Formlabs PreForm vs Autodesk Netfabb
- Formlabs PreForm vs IceSL
- Formlabs PreForm vs OctoPrint
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update