Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

AstroPrint VS Blender

Compare AstroPrint VS Blender and see what are their differences

AstroPrint logo AstroPrint

Slice, Store, and Print your 3D files from any web enabled device.

Blender logo Blender

Blender is the open source, cross platform suite of tools for 3D creation.
  • AstroPrint Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-27
  • Blender Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-13

AstroPrint features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    AstroPrint provides an intuitive and easy-to-use interface that is suitable for both beginners and advanced users in 3D printing. Its dashboard simplifies print management, making it accessible for users of all experience levels.
  • Cloud-Based Management
    With cloud-based functionality, users can manage and monitor their 3D printers remotely, even from mobile devices. This allows for increased flexibility and convenience, as you can start, stop, and adjust prints from anywhere with an internet connection.
  • Multiple Printer Support
    AstroPrint supports multiple printers simultaneously, making it a great choice for users who need to manage more than one 3D printer at a time. This is particularly beneficial for small businesses and educational institutions.
  • Comprehensive Monitoring Features
    AstroPrint offers robust monitoring features, including live streaming and status updates. This ensures that users are always informed about the status of their print jobs and can intervene if necessary.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    The platform is compatible with a wide range of devices and operating systems, enabling users to access AstroPrint from desktops, tablets, and smartphones. This versatility enhances user accessibility and convenience.

Possible disadvantages of AstroPrint

  • Limited Free Plan
    While AstroPrint offers a free plan, it comes with limitations such as fewer features and potential usage restrictions. Users looking for extensive capabilities may need to subscribe to a paid plan.
  • Internet Dependency
    As a cloud-based service, AstroPrint requires a reliable internet connection for optimal performance. Connectivity issues could impact the ability to manage or monitor print jobs effectively.
  • Potential Security Concerns
    Storing 3D printing files on the cloud could raise security concerns. Sensitive or proprietary designs may be at risk if adequate precautions and encryption are not implemented.
  • Device Compatibility Limitations
    Although AstroPrint is compatible with many 3D printers, some specific models or proprietary printing systems may not be supported, limiting its usability for certain users.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While the basic functionalities are user-friendly, some of the more advanced features might have a learning curve, particularly for users who are not familiar with certain aspects of 3D printing technology.

Blender features and specs

  • Free and Open Source
    Blender is completely free to use, which makes it accessible for anyone. Its open-source nature allows for extensive customization and community-driven development.
  • Comprehensive Toolset
    Blender offers a full suite of tools for 3D modeling, animation, rendering, compositing, video editing, and more, making it a versatile tool for various creative projects.
  • Active Community
    Blender has a large, very active community that supports beginners and veterans alike through forums, tutorials, and a plethora of shared resources.
  • Cross-Platform
    Blender runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, ensuring that it can be used by people on different operating systems without any problem.
  • Regular Updates
    The Blender Foundation frequently releases updates and new versions, ensuring that users have access to the latest features and improvements.

Possible disadvantages of Blender

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Blender can be difficult to learn, especially for beginners who are not familiar with 3D modeling and animation software.
  • Complex User Interface
    The user interface can feel overwhelming due to the wide range of available features and tools, making it less intuitive compared to some other 3D software.
  • Performance Issues
    Blender may struggle with performance issues when handling very complex scenes or high-poly models, especially on less powerful hardware.
  • Limited Industry Adoption
    While Blender is growing in popularity, it is still not as widely adopted in certain industries like film and AAA game development, where proprietary software like Maya and 3ds Max are more commonly used.
  • Lack of Official Support
    Given its open-source nature, Blender does not have the same level of official technical support that paid software solutions offer, relying instead on community support.

Analysis of Blender

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Blender is considered a good choice for anyone interested in 3D creation. It provides robust features and flexibility at no cost, making it an attractive option for learning and professional projects.

Why this product is good

  • Blender is an open-source 3D creation suite that is highly regarded for its versatility and capabilities. It offers a comprehensive set of tools for modeling, sculpting, texturing, animating, rendering, and compositing. As a free platform, it democratizes access to professional-grade tools, making it accessible to both hobbyists and professionals alike. The active community and frequent updates ensure that it remains at the forefront of industry standards.

Recommended for

  • 3D artists and animators
  • Game developers
  • Visual effects artists
  • Architectural visualization professionals
  • Film makers and animators
  • 3D printing enthusiasts
  • Hobbyists exploring 3D design

AstroPrint videos

Astroprint 3.0 Best 3d Printer Software for Beginners

More videos:

  • Review - The Best Octoprint Plugin! Astroprint!

Blender videos

blender

More videos:

  • Review - blender vs zbrush
  • Review - blender vs substance painter

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to AstroPrint and Blender)
3D
4 4%
96% 96
Architecture
100 100%
0% 0
3D Modeling
0 0%
100% 100
Photos & Graphics
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare AstroPrint and Blender

AstroPrint Reviews

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Blender Reviews

Top 13 Picks for Maxon Cinema 4D Alternatives in 2024
Blender is a robust, free, and open-source 3D computer graphics software toolset. Engineered by Dutch animation studio NeoGeo, its core development was helmed by Ton Roosendaal, and it’s supported on various platforms including Linux, macOS, Windows, BSD, and Haiku.
Source: aircada.com
10 Best Cinema 4D Alternatives for 3D Animation in 2024
Blender is a free software program suite that allows you to create good 3-D content. It has enough tools for each person interested in 3-D modelling, 3-D Animation, visual results, motion graphics, and even video enhancement. Blender is considered a good alternative to Cinema 4D.
10 Best Blender Alternatives: An Overview
While Blender is a fantastic tool with a vast community and resource pool, these 10 Blender Alternatives bring something unique to the table. Depending on your needs, project demands, and preferred workflow, you might find one of these options a more suitable fit. Whether you're after detailed sculpting, architectural visualisation, or intricate simulations, there's a...
Top 10 Best VTuber Maker Software (2023)
Blender is a free, comprehensive, open-source 3D modelling software that is guaranteed to give you a professional-looking avatar. Admittedly Blender does require a great deal of skill and learning. But the level of customisation that Blender offers is exactly what any high-quality 3D avatar needs.
Source: vtuberart.com
10 Best V-Ray Alternative Software for Rendering
Some of the pros of Blender include that it is free to use, it has a built-in game engine, and it supports a wide range of file formats. However, some cons include that it can be difficult to learn and use; there is no official support from Blender Foundation. Overall, Blender is still considered a powerful 3D rendering software.
Source: foyr.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Blender seems to be a lot more popular than AstroPrint. While we know about 137 links to Blender, we've tracked only 4 mentions of AstroPrint. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

AstroPrint mentions (4)

  • Sloppy Prints
    Use astroprint.com, I get good prints from the default profile using this. Tweak to your liking. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Ender 3 Z axis hell
    Thats what my dad did and it worked for me, my printer had another 3 days of work before its first print, also to get your prints to stick to the plate (if you have this problem) put some painters tape over the deck and put spray adhesive over the tape, wait for it to dry, and print. For software to use on windows (or mac) download cura (its free) and for chrome (or if you dont want to download/ have a slow... Source: over 2 years ago
  • Do I need a pc to 3d print?
    I'd certainly reccomend it since you need to convert the 3d model into gcode that the printer can process, but there are a handful of web based slicers like these: realvisiononline.com astroprint.com grid.space/kiri/. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Octoprint: Rasberry Pi Hardware
    That should get OctoPrint up and running! Now as for slicing, I use Astroprint! It’s pretty easy to add the Astroprint plug-in to OctoPrint, and works like a charm! With my Ender 3 it uses Cura 3.6.0 as the default slicer, and I’ve not had any issues with it so far. (Outside the normal growing pains of learning to 3D print, anyway.) Astroprint is free for a normal account, so you can be up and running quickly and... Source: over 4 years ago

Blender mentions (137)

  • Why am getting chinese text when i download blender?
    Update, I just downloaded 3.6 LTS from the blender.org official site, they are asking for donations. This time, the URL stayed. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Why am getting chinese text when i download blender?
    Hold up. When I go to blender.org then add the /thanks to the URL, it goes to that page, then immediately goes to a 404 right after. Interesting.... Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Wanting to download blender 3.6 is the site hacked ?
    This is oddly strange its the usual go to for me to download blender updates (i google blender and click the usual blender.org strange..). Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Why am getting chinese text when i download blender?
    If this is any other site than blender.org, you're at the wrong place. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Women who run their own businesses, please share some tips/strategies that helped you
    Can't say much, here. But I use this to deliver what my clients need. Before you ask why I can't tell - anonymity through obscurity. Source: about 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing AstroPrint and Blender, you can also consider the following products

nanoDLP - NanoDLP is a host and control software for SLA / DLP 3D printers.

Unity - The multiplatform game creation tools for everyone.

OctoPrint - OctoPrint is the snappy web interface for your 3D printer that allows you to control and monitor all aspects of your printer and print jobs, right from your browser.

Cinema 4D - Cinema 4D is a 3D modeling, animation, motion graphics and rendering application.

Lychee Slicer - A POWERFUL AND VERSATILE SLICER FOR SLA RESIN 3D PRINTERS With Lychee, prepare your 3D models for 3D printing: define the best orientation, create supports automatically, or manually, preview before sending them to your 3D printer.

Autodesk 3DS Max - 3ds Max is software for 3D modeling, animation, rendering, and visualization. Create stunning game enrivonments, design visualizations, and virtual reality experiences.