OrcaSlicer

Open source alternative to Simplify3D

16.1K stars
AGPL-3.0
Active this week
Last commit today

Last verified Oct 24, 2026

Generate G-code for FDM 3D printers with built-in calibration tools, per-feature overrides, and tuned profiles for Bambu, Prusa, Creality, and more.

Visit website GitHub16.1K Deploy on Hostinger

Read the full breakdownWho it is for, how it works, trade-offs, the quick start and the FAQ

who it's for

Who OrcaSlicer is for#

Makers tuning a new printer or filament brand

The built-in calibration suite cuts the tuning time for a new machine or unfamiliar filament from several print sessions to one. Flow rate, pressure advance, temperature, and retraction tests run in sequence, each producing a G-code file the slicer generates directly without any external downloads.

Skip if:

Your printer and filament are already well-calibrated with an existing slicer and you have no reason to migrate profiles. Switching slicers to access a calibration suite you do not need adds friction without payoff.

Engineers printing precision mechanical parts

Per-feature overrides let you set outer wall speed and temperature independently from infill, which matters when dimensional accuracy on external surfaces is more important than print time. Scarf seam control removes the visible seam artifact from cylindrical and round parts. Polyholes correct circular holes to printed dimensions.

Skip if:

Your parts tolerate standard slicer defaults and do not require per-feature tuning. Basic prints with no dimensional tolerance requirements do not benefit from the additional configuration.

Print farm operators using Klipper or PrusaLink

Network printing support sends jobs directly to printers running Klipper, PrusaLink, or OctoPrint without a manual file transfer. A slicer that integrates with the firmware's own pressure and volumetric controls reduces the number of steps in the queue workflow.

Skip if:

Your printers use proprietary firmware without Klipper, PrusaLink, or OctoPrint support. SD card or USB transfer workflows get no benefit from the network integration features.

Makers running belt, conveyor, or IDEX printers

Belt and conveyor printers have dedicated support including belt-aware supports and a tilted-bed preview. IDEX and IQEX machines support parallel printing modes per plate, with nozzle clearance zones shown on the bed. These are hardware categories most slicers do not address with specific toolpaths.

Skip if:

You run a standard cartesian or CoreXY printer without belt or dual-carriage hardware. The belt and IDEX features are irrelevant for the majority of common printer configurations.

the problem

The problem it solves#

Calibrating a 3D printer for consistent dimensional accuracy is a slow, iterative process. The standard workflow is external: download community test STLs, print them, measure manually, adjust one parameter at a time, and repeat from the beginning. Flow rate, pressure advance, temperature, and retraction all interact, so correcting one parameter often shifts another.

Most slicer software treats calibration as an afterthought. Settings appear as a long flat list with no structured test workflow attached, and learning how each parameter affects a specific printer requires reading forum threads and watching community videos. For printers running Klipper, PrusaLink, or OctoPrint over a local network, the problem compounds when the slicer lacks native network printing support, adding a manual file transfer step to every test cycle. Paid commercial slicers like Simplify3D charge per license but still push calibration outside the application.

how OrcaSlicer solves it

How it solves it#

Built-in calibration suite

Generates flow rate, pressure advance, temperature tower, retraction, tolerance, and max volumetric speed tests from inside the slicer, with no external test STL downloads required. Each test produces a G-code job you send directly to the printer, and results feed back into the active profile.

Per-feature print overrides

Speed, layer height, pressure, and temperature can be set independently for outer walls, inner walls, infill, supports, and bridging. This goes beyond a global quality setting and lets you tune the tradeoffs that matter for each part of the print without creating a separate profile for every variation.

Adaptive bed mesh

Probes only the footprint of the active print rather than the full build plate, so first layers stay accurate on large beds without the time cost of a full mesh level on every job. Works with standard BLTouch and probe hardware.

Network printer integration

Sends jobs to and monitors printers running Klipper, PrusaLink, and OctoPrint over the local network. Eliminates the SD card or USB transfer step for users on these firmware systems, keeping the tuning loop entirely inside the slicer.

Wall and seam control

Outer wall spacing and scarf seam placement are independently adjustable. Scarf seams distribute the layer start point along the perimeter rather than concentrating it at one spot, reducing the visible seam line on finished parts.

Smart supports and sandwich mode

Overhang detection places supports where geometry requires them, with controls for density, interface layers, and snap-off gap. Sandwich mode alternates wall and infill order for cleaner overhang surfaces on interior layers. Polyholes correct circular features so printed holes measure what the CAD file specifies.

strengths · trade-offs

Strengths and trade-offs#

Strengths

Calibration built into the slicer, not the forumEvery calibration test OrcaSlicer generates ships as a G-code job the slicer itself produces. There is no dependency on community-maintained test STL files that may not match the current firmware. For a new printer or filament, the full tuning cycle runs in one print session.
AGPL-3.0 with no account and no telemetryFree to download, run, and modify. No account creation, no telemetry, and no locked features. The source is on GitHub under AGPL-3.0, so every build can be inspected and reproduced. Simplify3D is a proprietary closed-source tool with no equivalent transparency.
Active development with over 16,000 GitHub starsThe repo has been pushed to as recently as October 2026 and has 3,309 forks, indicating a large, active contributor base. Features such as belt and conveyor printer support and IDEX parallel printing were contributed by community members and merged into the main project.
Hardware coverage including belt and IDEX printersCommunity-maintained profiles cover Bambu Lab, Prusa, Creality, Voron, VzBot, RatRig, and hundreds of other machines. Belt and conveyor printers and IDEX or IQEX parallel printing configurations are supported natively, covering hardware categories most slicers do not address.

Trade-offs

-AGPL-3.0 requires source disclosure for modified networked deploymentsAGPL-3.0 permits personal use, internal print farm use, and commercial internal use without restriction. The obligation arises only if you distribute a modified version or offer it as a networked service to others; in that case you must make your source changes available. Most self-hosters and makers are not affected.
-2,783 open issues reflects fast-moving development with known edge casesA large open issue count is normal for a project supporting hundreds of printer profiles, but it means users will encounter known bugs on specific hardware. The Bambu networking plugin relies on non-free BambuLab libraries, which is a dependency outside OrcaSlicer's own license terms and is an optional component.

versus alternatives

OrcaSlicer vs alternatives#

OrcaSlicer vs Simplify3D

Simplify3D is the primary paid commercial slicer OrcaSlicer replaces for most users. Both produce G-code for FDM printers and support a range of hardware profiles, but they differ on cost, licensing, and where calibration lives in the workflow.

Feature	OrcaSlicer	Simplify3D
License	AGPL-3.0	Proprietary
Cost	Free	Paid commercial license
Source code	Open, on GitHub	Closed source
Platforms	Windows, macOS, Linux	Windows, macOS
Calibration tools	Built-in suite	External test files
Network printing	Klipper, PrusaLink, OctoPrint	Not available

OrcaSlicer is the stronger choice for users who calibrate frequently, use Klipper or OctoPrint, or want an actively developed community project at no licensing cost. The built-in calibration suite is a practical advantage: generating a pressure advance tower or flow rate test is a menu action rather than a file download and manual import into the slicer.

Simplify3D may still be the right fit for users who have invested significant time in an existing profile library and rely on its specific post-processing script system. For new setups without that investment, OrcaSlicer covers the same hardware compatibility and print quality ground under an open license at no cost.

install · quick start

Quick start#

bash

Install from a package manager or download signed installers from GitHub Releases.
```bash
# macOS
brew install --cask orcaslicer

# Windows
winget install --id=SoftFever.OrcaSlicer -e

# Linux (Flatpak)
flatpak install flathub com.orcaslicer.OrcaSlicer
```

tech stack · detected from GitHub

What it's built on#

Languages: CC++JavaScriptPython

frequently asked

FAQ#

Is OrcaSlicer free to use?

Yes. OrcaSlicer is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and free to download, install, and use on Windows, macOS, and Linux. There is no paid tier, no account required, and no feature gating. Downloads are published on GitHub Releases and linked from the official site at orcaslicer.com.

What 3D printers does OrcaSlicer support?

OrcaSlicer ships with community-maintained profiles for Bambu Lab, Prusa, Creality, Voron, VzBot, RatRig, and hundreds of other FDM printers. Belt and conveyor printers and IDEX dual-carriage machines are also supported. If your printer is not in the profile library, you can configure it manually using the printer wizard.

How does OrcaSlicer compare to Simplify3D?

OrcaSlicer is free and AGPL-3.0 licensed; Simplify3D is a paid commercial slicer. OrcaSlicer includes a built-in calibration suite that generates test prints without external files, per-feature overrides for granular print control, and native network printing for Klipper, PrusaLink, and OctoPrint. Simplify3D may suit users with an established profile library who prefer not to migrate; for new setups, OrcaSlicer covers the same ground at no cost.

Can I use OrcaSlicer with Klipper?

Yes. OrcaSlicer supports network printing to Klipper printers. You can send sliced jobs directly from the slicer to your Klipper machine and monitor print status without a separate file transfer. The README includes a recommended printer.cfg snippet that enables object exclusion and arc support for better results with OrcaSlicer-generated G-code.

What does the AGPL-3.0 license mean for self-hosters?

AGPL-3.0 permits running OrcaSlicer for personal, team, and commercial internal use without any licensing obligation. You can modify it and use it in your own print farm. The AGPL obligation applies only if you distribute a modified version or offer it as a networked service to others; in that case you must make your source changes available. Personal and internal commercial use has no such requirement.

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OrcaSlicer vs Simplify3D

Feature	OrcaSlicer	Simplify3D
License	AGPL-3.0	Proprietary
Cost	Free	Paid commercial license
Source code	Open, on GitHub	Closed source
Platforms	Windows, macOS, Linux	Windows, macOS
Calibration tools	Built-in suite	External test files
Network printing	Klipper, PrusaLink, OctoPrint	Not available