UltiMaker Cura: the classic slicer explained
are explained briefly when you hover over or tap them.
UltiMaker Cura is one of the oldest and best-known slicers. It is free, open source and developed by UltiMaker. Unlike PrusaSlicer, Bambu Studio and OrcaSlicer, Cura is a development of its own and does not belong to the Slic3r family.
At a glance
| Developer | UltiMaker |
| Cost | free |
| Licence | Open source (LGPL-3.0) |
| Systems | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Origin | own development |
Who is Cura suited to?
- Owners of UltiMaker printers: full integration with their own devices
- Owners of older or less common printers: Cura has a very large database of printer profiles, including for older models
- Anyone who likes extensions: plugins can be installed via the Marketplace, for example for calibration shapes or additional functions
What sets Cura apart
- Two views: “Recommended” with a few controls and “Custom” with several hundred settings
- Tree supports that are easy to remove
- Marketplace with plugins and material profiles
- Large community with many guides, because Cura was the standard slicer for a long time
Limits
- Newer high-speed printers from many manufacturers are often better supported in OrcaSlicer or in the manufacturer’s own slicer.
- Bambu Lab printers cannot be controlled directly from Cura.
- Fewer built-in calibration tests, much of it runs via plugins.
Alternatives
If you have a current printer from a particular manufacturer, you will usually do better starting with its slicer or with OrcaSlicer. An overview is given in the slicer comparison.