This page contains affiliate links: if you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How we choose.
Print Per Gram is meant to be paid through affiliate links: if you buy through a link to Elegoo, Anycubic, Creality, Snapmaker or Bambu Lab, we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. No program has accepted the site yet, links to Shop3D Universe and Flashforge earn us nothing (no program found or joined), and a commission never decides a pick. How we choose.
Filament (FDM) printers push melted plastic through a nozzle; resin (MSLA) printers cure liquid resin with light through an LCD screen, one layer at a time, and pull the part up out of the vat. They solve different problems, and the published numbers show how.
The numbers side by side
| In our check (Nov 7, 2026) | Filament (FDM) | Resin (MSLA) |
|---|---|---|
| Printers read | 57 | 15 |
| Lowest and median price [calc] | $199, $449 | $184, $429 |
| Median build volume [calc] | 17.2 L | 6.5 L |
| Largest build volume | 640 L (Elegoo OrangeStorm Giga) | 18.3 L (Photon P1 Max) |
| Cheapest material per kg in our check | $13.49 (PLA) | $13.33 (resin) |
| Material for a 50 g part [calc] | $0.67 | $0.67 |
| Median published power [calc] | 450 W max (45 of 57 publish it) | 144 W (15 of 15) |
| Speed unit the makers use | mm/s of toolhead travel | mm/h of height, any number of parts on the plate |
How we compare: criteria, sources and dates
The 15 resin printers we read
Elegoo and Anycubic, on their own U.S. stores, November 7, 2026. Power is the supply rating; for Elegoo's Mars and Saturn printers the page gives only the supply's volts and amps, which we multiply [calc].
| Resin printer | Price (store) | Build volume | Volume [calc] | Max speed | Power | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elegoo Mars 5 Resin (MSLA) | $184 Elegoo US store | 5.6 x 3.5 x 5.9 in (143.43 x 89.6 x 150 mm) | 1.9 L | 70 mm/h max | 72 W (power supply V x A) [calc] | 14.6 lb (6.6 kg) |
| Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra Resin (MSLA) | $284 Elegoo US store | 6 x 3.1 x 6.5 in (153.36 x 77.76 x 165 mm) | 2 L | 150 mm/h max | 72 W (power supply V x A) [calc] | 19.4 lb (8.8 kg) |
| Anycubic Photon Mono 4 Ultra Resin (MSLA) | $299 Anycubic store | 6 x 3.4 x 6.5 in (153.4 x 87 x 165 mm) | 2.2 L | 80 mm/h max | 66 W (power supply) | 11 lb (5 kg) |
| Elegoo Saturn 3 Ultra Resin (MSLA) | $309 Elegoo US store | 8.6 x 4.8 x 10.2 in (218.88 x 122.88 x 260 mm) | 7 L | 150 mm/h max | 180 W (power supply V x A) [calc] | 26.5 lb (12 kg) |
| Elegoo Mars 4 Ultra Resin (MSLA) | $309.99 Elegoo US store | 6 x 3.1 x 6.5 in (153.36 x 77.76 x 165 mm) | 2 L | 150 mm/h max | 72 W (power supply V x A) [calc] | 14.3 lb (6.5 kg) |
| Elegoo Saturn 4 Resin (MSLA) | $324 Elegoo US store | 8.6 x 4.8 x 8.7 in (218.88 x 122.88 x 220 mm) | 5.9 L | 70 mm/h max | 144 W (power supply V x A) [calc] | 29.8 lb (13.5 kg) |
| Elegoo Saturn 3 Resin (MSLA) | $369.99 Elegoo US store | 8.6 x 4.8 x 9.8 in (218.88 x 122.88 x 250 mm) | 6.7 L | 70 mm/h max | 96 W (power supply V x A) [calc] | 24.3 lb (11 kg) |
| Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Resin (MSLA) | $429 Anycubic store | 8.8 x 5 x 9.1 in (223 x 126 x 230 mm) | 6.5 L | 90 mm/h max | 135 W (power supply) | 26.5 lb (12 kg) |
| Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Pro Resin (MSLA) | $489 Anycubic store | 8.8 x 5 x 9.1 in (223 x 126 x 230 mm) | 6.5 L | 130 mm/h max | 240 W (power supply) | 28.2 lb (12.8 kg) |
| Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra Resin (MSLA) | $593.99 Elegoo US store | 8.6 x 4.8 x 8.7 in (218.88 x 122.88 x 220 mm) | 5.9 L | 150 mm/h max | 144 W (power supply V x A) [calc] | 32 lb (14.5 kg) |
| Anycubic Photon P1 Resin (MSLA) | $599 Anycubic store | 8.8 x 5 x 9.1 in (223 x 126 x 230 mm) | 6.5 L | 25-35 mm/h at 0.05 mm layers | 215 W (power supply) | 30 lb (13.6 kg) |
| Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra 16K Resin (MSLA) | $649.99 Elegoo US store | 8.3 x 4.7 x 8.7 in (211.68 x 118.37 x 220 mm) | 5.5 L | 150 mm/h max | 144 W (power supply V x A) [calc] | 35.5 lb (16.1 kg) |
| Anycubic Photon Mono M7 Max Resin (MSLA) | $749 Anycubic store | 11.7 x 6.5 x 11.8 in (298 x 164 x 300 mm) | 14.7 L | 63 mm/h max | 180 W (power supply) | 52.9 lb (24 kg) |
| Anycubic Photon P1 Max Resin (MSLA) | $959 Anycubic store | 11.2 x 8.4 x 11.8 in (285.5 x 214 x 300 mm) | 18.3 L | 15-25 mm/h at 0.05 mm layers | 296 W (power supply) | 50.9 lb (23.1 kg) |
| Elegoo Jupiter 2 Resin (MSLA) | $1,299.99 Elegoo US store | 11.9 x 6.4 x 11.8 in (302 x 162 x 300 mm) | 14.7 L | 90 mm/h max | 300 W (power supply) | 63.7 lb (28.9 kg) |
How we compare: criteria, sources and dates
What the numbers leave out
- Post-processing: resin parts are washed and cured after printing; Elegoo and Anycubic sell wash-and-cure stations (Mercury, Wash & Cure) separately.
- Speed: resin speed is height per hour, whatever the number of parts on the plate; filament speed is toolhead travel per second. They cannot be compared directly.
- Detail: resin makers publish XY pixel sizes; filament makers publish nozzle diameters (0.4 mm standard). We have not compared prints.
Price a resin part in mL with the cost calculator, or check its size with Will it print? (choose Resin).
Frequently asked questions
Is resin or FDM cheaper per part?
Per gram, about the same at the bottom of the market in our check: $13.49 per kg for the cheapest PLA and $13.33 for resin in a 12 kg box (Elegoo), so 67 cents for a 50 g part either way [calc]. Resin also needs isopropyl alcohol or water for washing, depending on the resin, which we did not price.
Is resin or FDM better for miniatures?
Resin printers are sold for fine detail: the makers publish pixel sizes down to 14 x 19 microns (Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra 16K). Filament printers are sold for bigger, functional parts. We have not tested print quality.
Do resin printers use more electricity?
Less, on paper: the median resin printer in our check publishes a 144 W power supply, against a 450 W maximum for the median filament printer [calc]. Resin prints often run longer, though, because speed is measured in height per hour.