TexHouse Plain comparisons of 3D printing and maker tools

OrcaSlicer vs UltiMaker Cura in 2026

OrcaSlicer vs UltiMaker Cura compared on purpose, price, platforms and setup, with LunarWerx 3D Print as a free browser option for ironing and more.

By TexHouse ยท

TexHouse is published by the makers of LunarWerx 3D Print, Vector3D and MeshyDL, which are compared here alongside other tools.

OrcaSlicer is a free slicer for FDM 3D printers. [1] UltiMaker Cura is free software. [2] OrcaSlicer lists tests for flow rate, temperature towers and retraction. [1] Cura lists over 400 settings in its Custom mode. [2] LunarWerx 3D Print runs in a web browser, and its tools are free to use. [3] [3]

OptionPricePlatformsStandout listed feature
OrcaSlicerFree [1]Windows, macOS, and Linux [1]Built-in calibration tools [1]
UltiMaker CuraFree [2]not publishedOver 400 settings in Custom mode [2]
LunarWerx 3D PrintFree to use [3]Web browser [3]Ironing settings and 3MF export [3]

The short answer

OrcaSlicer is a free slicer for FDM 3D printers. [1] UltiMaker Cura is free software. [2]

If you want calibration tests such as temperature towers and retraction, OrcaSlicer lists them. [1] If you want support placement help, OrcaSlicer lists smart supports with overhang detection. [1] If you want a large set of settings, Cura says its Custom mode gives over 400 settings for granular control. [2]

LunarWerx 3D Print is a separate, free option for ironing settings. [3]

What OrcaSlicer and UltiMaker Cura are built for

OrcaSlicer. It supports Windows, macOS, and Linux. [1] It can alternate the order of walls and infill for cleaner overhangs. [1] It provides adaptive bed mesh calibration. [1] It provides smart supports with overhang detection. [1] It also lists tests for flow rate, pressure advance, temperature towers, retraction, tolerance, and max volumetric speed. [1]

UltiMaker Cura. Its page lists version 5.13 as the latest stable release. [2] Custom mode offers over 400 settings. [2] Its page describes it as free software. [2]

What LunarWerx 3D Print is built for

LunarWerx 3D Print is made by the team that publishes this site. It works out ironing settings for your printer, material and finish and exports a ready 3MF file. [3] It makes a 9-pad or 16-pad test plate around your settings, and you mark each pad as worked or not. [3] You can click flat top surfaces, and the export adds a modifier part over each picked surface. [3] For an uploaded Bambu or Orca project, it adds per-object ironing settings and keeps the rest of the file unchanged. [3]

One checkbox slows just the first layer to 15 mm/s by default; LunarWerx 3D Print says it then sticks to a clean plate without glue. [3] On load it turns backwards-facing faces of an STL outward and tells you how many it fixed. [3]

It also lays parts out in a box and designs a 3D-printable foam tray and top pad that each part lifts straight out of. [3] The foam insert is split into pieces that each fit your printer's bed. [3] One tool checks whether a part can be made by injection moulding, where plastic is pressed into a mould, using 13 checks, and all numbers are estimates. [3]

Pricing and fees

OrcaSlicer is described as free. [1] UltiMaker Cura is described as free. [2] The tools in LunarWerx 3D Print are free to use. [3]

The sources give no price for Cura Enterprise, so check with UltiMaker if you need it. Neither rival source states a card or payment fee.

Setting it up and printing

OrcaSlicer runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. [1]

UltiMaker Cura 5.13 is listed as the latest stable release for download. [2] Once installed, its Custom mode gives over 400 settings for granular control. [2]

LunarWerx 3D Print runs in a web browser. [3] You use it on its website, which is hosted on Cloudflare. [3] It runs only in your browser; sign in with Connections and your settings, recent test plates and print results follow you to every computer. [3] For an uploaded Bambu or Orca project, it adds per-object ironing settings and keeps the rest of the file unchanged. [3]

Things to check before you choose

How to choose

Frequently asked questions

Is OrcaSlicer free?

OrcaSlicer is described on its page as a free slicer for FDM 3D printers. [1] It is listed for Windows, macOS, and Linux. [1] The sources used here state no paid plan, so check its page if you need more detail about licensing or support before you install it.

Is UltiMaker Cura free?

UltiMaker Cura describes itself as free software. [2] Its page lists version 5.13 as the latest stable release. [2] Pricing for Cura Enterprise is not published in the sources used here, so ask UltiMaker directly.

Which slicer has built-in calibration tests?

OrcaSlicer lists tests for flow rate, pressure advance, temperature towers, retraction, tolerance, and max volumetric speed. [1] The Cura sources used here do not mention calibration tests, so check Cura's own page if you need them.

How many settings does UltiMaker Cura have?

UltiMaker Cura says its Custom mode gives over 400 settings for granular control. [2] Its page lists version 5.13 as the latest stable release. [2] Check the OrcaSlicer page for its own settings list if the number of settings matters to you.

Is LunarWerx 3D Print a slicer?

LunarWerx 3D Print runs in a web browser, and its tools are free to use. [3] [3] It works out ironing settings and exports a ready 3MF file. [3] For an uploaded Bambu or Orca project it adds per-object ironing settings and keeps the rest of the file unchanged. [3] The tools are free to use. [3]

The tools are free to use. [3]

Try LunarWerx 3D Print

Sources

  1. OrcaSlicer, orcaslicer.com, read 2026-10-07
  2. UltiMaker Cura, ultimaker.com/software/ultimaker-cura, read 2026-10-07
  3. LunarWerx 3D Print's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)

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