Manufacturing · head to head
GrabCAD Print vs Simplify3D
GrabCAD Print
Manufacturing
Stratasys print preparation, free in Standard form and 5,000 US dollars a year for Pro
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Simplify3D
Manufacturing
Paid 3D printing slicer sold as a one-time licence in a market where rivals are free
- From
- $199/one-time
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only GrabCAD Print has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: GrabCAD Print it only drives Stratasys printers, so the free Standard tier is a hardware retention mechanism rather than a portable tool, and prepared jobs do not move to another vendor.; Simplify3D every serious competitor is free, so the $199 has to be justified against Cura, PrusaSlicer, OrcaSlicer and Bambu Studio on support and consistency alone, not on capability.
- They diverge on capability: GrabCAD Print covers Native CAD import, Simplify3D covers Process-based slicing.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which GrabCAD Print and Simplify3D actually diverge.
| Attribute | GrabCAD Print | Simplify3D |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $199/one-time |
| Pricing model | Per user per year | One-time purchase |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Windows, Desktop, Cloud | Windows, macOS, Linux |
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 GrabCAD Print
- Native CAD import
- Multi-technology support
- Tray arrangement and supports
- Nesting (Pro)
- Manufacturing templates (Pro)
- Part labelling (Pro)
- Wall thickness analysis (Pro)
- Cost estimation (Pro)
Only in Simplify3D
- Process-based slicing
- Support generation
- Layer preview
- Floating licences
- Offline licensing
- Wide printer profiles
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
GrabCAD Print
- A service bureau nesting many small parts into a single tray to raise volume utilisation and reduce cost per partnot Simplify3D
- A production department locking validated process parameters into a template so night shift operators cannot change themnot Simplify3D
- A design office running FDM and PolyJet machines and wanting one preparation tool rather than twonot Simplify3D
- An engineering team importing native CAD assemblies directly rather than maintaining an STL export workflownot Simplify3D
Simplify3D
- A print farm running machines from four manufacturers that wants one slicer and one set of profiles rather than fournot GrabCAD Print
- An engineering department on an air-gapped network that cannot use a slicer requiring online activationnot GrabCAD Print
- A team standardising support and infill settings across operators so prints are reproducible between shiftsnot GrabCAD Print
- A shop printing tall parts that need different settings at different heights in a single jobnot GrabCAD Print
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
GrabCAD Print
- It only drives Stratasys printers, so the free Standard tier is a hardware retention mechanism rather than a portable tool, and prepared jobs do not move to another vendor.
- Pro is 5,000 US dollars per named user per year on top of machines that already cost six figures, and there is no floating licence in the standard offer, so shift-based teams buy multiple seats.
- The production features that most justify the spend, nesting and manufacturing templates, are all locked behind Pro, meaning the free tier is not viable for a bureau.
- Stratasys materials are proprietary and cartridge-locked, so the software sits on top of a consumables model where the recurring cost is set entirely by the vendor.
- Support and feature coverage vary by printer family; newer technologies such as SAF and the Neo SLA line have historically lagged FDM in the depth of preparation options exposed.
Simplify3D
- Every serious competitor is free, so the $199 has to be justified against Cura, PrusaSlicer, OrcaSlicer and Bambu Studio on support and consistency alone, not on capability.
- Major version upgrades are chargeable, so the perpetual licence covers a version rather than the product and the cost recurs every few years anyway.
- Development cadence is slower than the open source slicers, and features such as newer tree support algorithms and multi-material handling appear there first.
- Printer profiles for very new machines lag behind the manufacturer's own bundled slicer, so buyers of a brand new printer may get better results from the free tool that shipped with it.
- Standard licences require an internet connection to activate, and the offline option is a separate purchase negotiated with sales rather than a checkbox at checkout.
Pricing, plan by plan
GrabCAD Print
Free- GrabCAD Print StandardFree
- Free for Stratasys printer owners
- Native CAD import and tray arrangement
- Support generation and section tools
- GrabCAD Print Pro$5000/year
- Per named user per year
- Automated build nesting
- Manufacturing templates with locked process parameters
Simplify3D
$199/one-time- Standard licence$199/one-time
- One user, perpetual for that version
- Internet activation required
- Two week money-back guarantee
- Floating licence$undefined/one-time
- Shared activation pool for teams
- Priced on request
- Volume discounts available
- Offline licence$undefined/one-time
- Activation without internet access
- For secure or air-gapped networks
- Priced on request
Which should you pick?
Choose GrabCAD Print if
- You need native cad import.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Desktop, Cloud.
- You also want multi-technology support.
Choose Simplify3D if
- You need process-based slicing.
- You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
- You also want support generation.
Questions people ask
- Is GrabCAD Print or Simplify3D better?
- Neither clearly leads. GrabCAD Print starts at Free and Simplify3D at $199/one-time, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, GrabCAD Print or Simplify3D?
- GrabCAD Print has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for GrabCAD Print and $199/one-time for Simplify3D.
- Does GrabCAD Print or Simplify3D run on more platforms?
- GrabCAD Print runs on Windows, Desktop, Cloud. Simplify3D runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
- Can I use GrabCAD Print for free?
- Yes. GrabCAD Print has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Simplify3D starts at $199/one-time.
- What is GrabCAD Print best used for?
- GrabCAD Print is most often used for a service bureau nesting many small parts into a single tray to raise volume utilisation and reduce cost per part, a production department locking validated process parameters into a template so night shift operators cannot change them, a design office running fdm and polyjet machines and wanting one preparation tool rather than two, an engineering team importing native cad assemblies directly rather than maintaining an stl export workflow. Of those, a service bureau nesting many small parts into a single tray to raise volume utilisation and reduce cost per part and a production department locking validated process parameters into a template so night shift operators cannot change them are not what Simplify3D is typically brought in for.
- What can GrabCAD Print do that Simplify3D cannot?
- GrabCAD Print covers Native CAD import, Multi-technology support, Tray arrangement and supports, Nesting (Pro). Simplify3D covers Process-based slicing, Support generation, Layer preview, Floating licences.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
GrabCAD Print: Is GrabCAD Print free?
GrabCAD Print Standard is free for Stratasys printer owners. GrabCAD Print Pro is 5,000 US dollars per user per year.
Simplify3D: Is Simplify3D a subscription?
No. It is a one-time purchase of $199 per user, but upgrades to future major versions cost extra.
GrabCAD Print: Can it drive a non-Stratasys printer?
No. It is tied to Stratasys hardware.
Simplify3D: Why pay when PrusaSlicer and Cura are free?
For a mixed fleet you get one interface and one profile library across brands, plus a supplier to call. If you run one printer from one vendor, the free slicer is usually the better choice.
GrabCAD Print: What do I actually get for the Pro fee?
Nesting, manufacturing templates, part labelling, wall thickness analysis and build cost estimation. These are production rather than prototyping features.
Simplify3D: Can I install it on more than one computer?
A standard licence is per user with online activation. Teams needing shared or concurrent use buy floating licences, priced on request.
GrabCAD Print: Is there a trial?
Yes, Stratasys has offered 30 and 60 day trials of Pro.
Simplify3D: Can I try it first?
There is a two week money-back guarantee rather than a free trial download.
Related pages
More on GrabCAD Print
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