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3D & CAD · head to head

PrusaSlicer vs Mari

PrusaSlicer logo

PrusaSlicer

3D & CAD

Feature-rich 3D printing slicer

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Mari logo

Mari

3D & CAD

3D painting for film and games

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

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

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which PrusaSlicer and Mari actually diverge.

Attributes where PrusaSlicer and Mari differ
AttributePrusaSlicerMari
Starting priceFree$29/month
Pricing modelopen-sourcesubscription
Free tierYesNo
Founded20121996

Identical on both: platforms (Windows, macOS, Linux), user rating (Not yet rated), category (3D & CAD).

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 PrusaSlicer

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

Only in Mari

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

Both cover

  • Windows support
  • MacOS support
  • Linux support

What people use each for

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

PrusaSlicer

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

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

Where each one falls short

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

PrusaSlicer

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

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

Pricing, plan by plan

PrusaSlicer

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the PrusaSlicer review.

Mari

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

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Mari if

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

Questions people ask

Is PrusaSlicer or Mari better?
Neither clearly leads. PrusaSlicer starts at Free and Mari at $29/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, PrusaSlicer or Mari?
PrusaSlicer has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for PrusaSlicer and $29/month for Mari.
Does PrusaSlicer or Mari run on more platforms?
PrusaSlicer runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. Mari 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 PrusaSlicer best used for?
PrusaSlicer is most often used for preparation of stl models for 3d printing, multi-material printing preparation, g-code generation and customisation via macros. Of those, preparation of stl models for 3d printing and multi-material printing preparation are not what Mari is typically brought in for.
What can PrusaSlicer do that Mari cannot?
PrusaSlicer covers Automatic supports, Multi-material, Variable layer height, Custom G-code. Mari covers High-resolution painting, UDIM support, Procedural layers, Baking. Both handle Windows support, MacOS support, Linux support.
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