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Manufacturing · head to head

Formlabs PreForm vs MachineMetrics

Formlabs PreForm logo

Formlabs PreForm

Manufacturing

Free print preparation software that only drives Formlabs printers, because the money is in hardware and resin

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
MachineMetrics logo

MachineMetrics

Manufacturing

Collect, monitor, analyze and drive action with machine data

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Formlabs PreForm has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Formlabs PreForm preForm only drives Formlabs printers, so the free software is really an entry cost to a closed hardware and resin ecosystem rather than a tool you can keep if you change machines.; MachineMetrics no specific pricing published; vendor uses volume-based subscription model requiring sales contact
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Formlabs PreForm and MachineMetrics actually diverge.

Attributes where Formlabs PreForm and MachineMetrics differ
AttributeFormlabs PreFormMachineMetrics
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelFree with a Formlabs printerquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, macOSWeb

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Manufacturing).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Formlabs PreForm

  • Automatic orientation
  • Support generation
  • One-click print
  • Material presets
  • Dashboard
  • Fleet Control

Only in MachineMetrics

Nothing recorded that Formlabs PreForm does not also cover.

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Formlabs PreForm

  • A dental laboratory preparing surgical guides on a validated resin and printer combinationnot MachineMetrics
  • A prototyping team running several Form printers that needs job queueing and usage trackingnot MachineMetrics
  • A jewellery workshop laying out castable patterns to maximise parts per buildnot MachineMetrics
  • An education lab that needs software with no per-student licence costnot MachineMetrics

MachineMetrics

  • Tracking real-time machine performance and outputnot Formlabs PreForm
  • Identifying and analyzing production downtime causesnot Formlabs PreForm
  • Detecting equipment issues before failures happennot Formlabs PreForm
  • Managing job scheduling with drag-and-drop toolsnot Formlabs PreForm
  • Syncing shop floor data to ERP automaticallynot Formlabs PreForm

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Formlabs PreForm

  • PreForm only drives Formlabs printers, so the free software is really an entry cost to a closed hardware and resin ecosystem rather than a tool you can keep if you change machines.
  • Formlabs resin is sold in proprietary cartridges, and the ongoing consumable cost over a printer's life dwarfs anything a paid slicer would have charged.
  • Third-party resins can be used only through open material settings that step outside validated profiles, which affects print reliability and the comfort of warranty support.
  • Parameter-level control is deliberately limited compared with open slicers, so advanced users cannot tune exposure and layer behaviour the way they can on an open platform.
  • It is Windows and macOS only with no Linux build, which is awkward for research groups and labs standardised on Linux workstations.

MachineMetrics

  • No specific pricing published; vendor uses volume-based subscription model requiring sales contact
  • Costs scale with number of connected machines; exact rates not disclosed publicly
  • Customers must book demo or request quote to receive pricing

Pricing, plan by plan

Formlabs PreForm

Free
  • PreFormFree
    • Free download with no licence fee or subscription
    • No installation or seat limit
    • Works only with Formlabs printers

MachineMetrics

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the MachineMetrics review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Formlabs PreForm if

  • You need automatic orientation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS.
  • You also want support generation.
Formlabs PreForm review

Choose MachineMetrics if

Nothing in the data separates MachineMetrics from Formlabs PreForm on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

MachineMetrics review

Questions people ask

Is Formlabs PreForm or MachineMetrics better?
Neither clearly leads. Formlabs PreForm starts at Free and MachineMetrics at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Formlabs PreForm or MachineMetrics?
Formlabs PreForm has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Formlabs PreForm and On request for MachineMetrics.
Does Formlabs PreForm or MachineMetrics run on more platforms?
Formlabs PreForm runs on Windows, macOS. MachineMetrics runs on Web.
Can I use Formlabs PreForm for free?
Yes. Formlabs PreForm has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. MachineMetrics starts at On request.
What is Formlabs PreForm best used for?
Formlabs PreForm is most often used for a dental laboratory preparing surgical guides on a validated resin and printer combination, a prototyping team running several form printers that needs job queueing and usage tracking, a jewellery workshop laying out castable patterns to maximise parts per build, an education lab that needs software with no per-student licence cost. Of those, a dental laboratory preparing surgical guides on a validated resin and printer combination and a prototyping team running several form printers that needs job queueing and usage tracking are not what MachineMetrics is typically brought in for.
What can Formlabs PreForm do that MachineMetrics cannot?
Formlabs PreForm covers Automatic orientation, Support generation, One-click print, Material presets.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Formlabs PreForm: Is PreForm free?

Yes, with no licence fee, subscription or installation limit. It is free because it only prepares jobs for Formlabs printers.

MachineMetrics: How much does MachineMetrics cost?

MachineMetrics does not publish specific pricing rates on its website. The company uses a volume-based subscription model where the more machines you connect, the less it costs per machine. Exact pricing requires contacting the company for a custom quote or booking a demo.

Source
Formlabs PreForm: Can PreForm drive a non-Formlabs printer?

No, and it never will. It is the front end for Formlabs hardware, which is where the revenue is.

MachineMetrics: What are MachineMetrics' pricing tiers?

MachineMetrics offers three tiers: Core Platform for entry-level machine connectivity, Intelligent MES for mid-tier with ERP integration, and Enterprise for multi-site support with business intelligence. Exact pricing is based on machine count and requires a quote.

Source
Formlabs PreForm: Can I use third-party resin?

Only via open material settings, which take you outside validated profiles and the reliability those profiles are tuned for.

MachineMetrics: What support is included with MachineMetrics plans?

All MachineMetrics plans include customer support with unlimited remote assistance and training, regardless of tier selection.

Source
Formlabs PreForm: Does it run on Linux?

No. Builds are provided for Windows and macOS only.

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