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Software · head to head

Mari vs PrusaSlicer

Mari logo

Mari

Software

3D painting for film and games

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
PrusaSlicer logo

PrusaSlicer

Software

Feature-rich 3D printing slicer

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only PrusaSlicer has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Mari the full annual licence is $1,289 paid annually, and a short term quarterly rental is $949 per quarter; PrusaSlicer limited to slicing workflow only; no interactive 3D design capabilities
  • They diverge on capability: Mari covers High-resolution painting, PrusaSlicer covers Automatic supports.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Mari and PrusaSlicer actually diverge.

Attributes where Mari and PrusaSlicer differ
AttributeMariPrusaSlicer
Starting price$29/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionopen-source
Free tierNoYes
Founded19962012

Identical on both: platforms (Windows, MacOS, Linux), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 Mari

  • High-resolution painting
  • UDIM support
  • Procedural layers
  • Baking
  • Node graph
  • Color management
  • Maya
  • Nuke

Only in PrusaSlicer

  • Automatic supports
  • Multi-material
  • Variable layer height
  • Custom G-code
  • Paint-on supports
  • Ironing
  • Prusa printers
  • Most FDM printers

Both cover

  • Windows support
  • MacOS support
  • Linux support

What people use each for

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

Mari

  • Painting textures directly onto high complexity 3D assets for film and gamesnot PrusaSlicer
  • Handling very large multi-UDIM texture sets in a look development pipelinenot PrusaSlicer

PrusaSlicer

  • Preparation of STL models for 3D printingnot Mari
  • Multi-material printing preparationnot Mari
  • G-code generation and customisation via macrosnot Mari

Where each one falls short

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

Mari

  • The full annual licence is $1,289 paid annually, and a short term quarterly rental is $949 per quarter
  • The cheap $299 per year or $35 per month subscription is restricted to a single licence for people working alone or in small companies
  • Node-locked and floating are separate licence types you must choose between
  • All listed prices are before applicable taxes
  • A separate non-commercial licence exists, so commercial use requires a paid tier

PrusaSlicer

  • Limited to slicing workflow only; no interactive 3D design capabilities
  • Designed for RepRap-based printers; compatibility with other printer architectures varies

Pricing, plan by plan

Mari

$29/month
  • Mari$1906/month
    • Full features

PrusaSlicer

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the PrusaSlicer review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Mari if

  • You need high-resolution painting.
  • You work on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
  • You also want udim support.
Mari review

Choose PrusaSlicer if

  • You need automatic supports.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want multi-material.
PrusaSlicer review

Questions people ask

Is Mari or PrusaSlicer better?
Neither clearly leads. Mari starts at $29/month and PrusaSlicer at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Mari or PrusaSlicer?
PrusaSlicer has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $29/month for Mari and Free for PrusaSlicer.
Does Mari or PrusaSlicer run on more platforms?
Mari runs on Windows, MacOS, Linux. PrusaSlicer runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
Can I use PrusaSlicer for free?
Yes. PrusaSlicer has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Mari starts at $29/month.
What is Mari best used for?
Mari is most often used for painting textures directly onto high complexity 3d assets for film and games, handling very large multi-udim texture sets in a look development pipeline. Of those, painting textures directly onto high complexity 3d assets for film and games and handling very large multi-udim texture sets in a look development pipeline are not what PrusaSlicer is typically brought in for.
What can Mari do that PrusaSlicer cannot?
Mari covers High-resolution painting, UDIM support, Procedural layers, Baking. PrusaSlicer covers Automatic supports, Multi-material, Variable layer height, Custom G-code. Both handle Windows support, MacOS support, Linux support.
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