5 Feb 2026
Tips & Insights
In the fast-evolving world of digital manufacturing and 3D printing, nowadays you don't need to own a 3D printer or have a team of engineers to bring your ideas to life. There are plenty of 3D printing service providers out there online, catering to hobbyists, designers, entrepreneurs and businesses alike. They can offer on-demand production of custom parts and even MVP-type prototypes. These services handle all the technical heavy lifting, leaving you only to upload a 3D model and receive a finished product. But who are the best in the business when it comes to this? We compiled a list of the TOP 5 brands in the 3D printing service space.
JLC3DP – Fast Manufacturing & Accessible Pricing
If we had to name a rising star in the industry, the title would likely go to JLC3DP. It's backed by the JLC Group, founded in 2006 and is integrated into the JLC one-stop production ecosystem. In addition to fast production and accessible prices (usually starting at around $0.30 per piece), JLC3DP can offer a lot of added-value services. These include SLA, SLS, SLM, MJF, Binder Jetting, FDM and even a specialised White Jet Process (WJP) for resin prints in full colour.
However, these may not even be JLC3DP's biggest competitive advantage. It's speed and scale of manufacturing that really sets them apart. The company boasts a whopping 140,000 m² facility with more than 1,000 industrial-grade 3D printers ready to fulfil orders.
JLC3DP cares about the customer experience, too. The company can move from quote to production in lightning-fast times. Users can get quotes in under a minute, and production can start within 24 hours of ordering. As of 2026, JLC3DP claims that over 10,000 engineers trust their reliability and quality while praising ultra-fast turnaround.
Craftcloud – Innovative Global Marketplace
Craftcloud isn't strictly a manufacturer per se. It's an innovative online marketplace that connects customers and engineers with a global network of 3D printing service providers. Launched in 2016, Craftcloud doesn't operate its own printers. Instead, it can aggregate quotes for you from 180+ partners in worldwide locations. Users only need to
- Upload a CAD model
- Specify their desired 3D printing technology (e.g. FDM, SLS, SLA, MJF, DMLS/SLM, etc.)
- Pick a material (they offer 100+ options, ranging from basic plastics like PLA/ABS to advanced nylon composites and metals)
- Select a finish
Then, Craftcloud should automatically compare pricesfrom pre-vetted providers and detail the availability of your options. The main draws are ease of use and flexibility to choose exactly what you want and get the best rates at the same time. Craftcloud will handle the payment processing and order fulfilment for you. This means that you only need a CAD file and rough specs to get going. It's also worth mentioning that Craftcloud can provide additional services like CNC machining, laser cutting and others, also through their broad list of partners.
FAMA 3D – High Quality Printing From the EU
AMA 3D offers an A-list range of online 3D printing services. Based in Italy, FAMA 3D is run by a precision-mechanics company with over 140 years of engineering heritage. Such a long history of activity shows that this company has consistently emphasised quality, precision, and innovation. Currently, they have around 20 industrial-grade 3D printers in-house. One of the top traits of FAMA 3D is that there are no intermediaries, so prices remain competitive and turnaround times suit most needs.
This provider supports a wide array of materials and can meet even advanced tech needs. FAMA 3D lists over 100 combos of materials and finishes, ranging from common picks to engineering metals or resins. Their main areas of expertise seem to be
- HP Multi Jet Fusion, perfect for full-colour printing and strong nylon parts
- SLA high-detail resin printing
- LPBF metal 3D printing
- Direct extrusion (FDM)
One of their biggest pros for detail-oriented consumers is ISO 9001 certification. Finally, if you return to them as a customer, you can opt for FAMA Shared® – a subscription-based program that lets customers essentially "own" a share of an industrial 3D printer.
IN3DTEC – One Stop Shop for Industrial Printing
After starting their operations in 2014, this Chinese outfit quickly grew into a global digital manufacturing powerhouse. While they offer 3D printing, it's actually just one of the many services that you can get. IN3DTEC prides itself on being a one-stop production partner capable of handling both early prototyping and low- to medium-volume production of finished products.
In addition to 3D printing, customers can get CNC machining, vacuum casting, sheet metal fabrication, 3D scanning and other goodies, all through a singular digital platform. This means you can develop a prototype and scale it seamlessly to production. IN3DTEC offers instant quoting and manufacturability feedback, helping refine designs. Finally, this provider holds ISO quality certifications and is noted for their excellent quality and customer service in the B2B segment.
Shapeways – a Pioneer With Global Fulfilment Capabilities
No list of top 3D online printing service providers would be complete without Shapeways. This company is a true pioneer that made 3D printing widely available to many designers and engineers. Over the past decade plus, Shapeways has manufactured and shipped millions of parts to customers in over 100 countries & territories worldwide.
As a Shapeways user, you can upload a 3D model and have it printed according to your desired specs. Choose from a wide range of plastics, resins or metals, your preferred tech, including Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), Multi Jet Fusion, Stereolithography or plenty of others. They will arrange production either in-house or via their range of trusted partners. A great addition to their service is that Shapeways can do post-processing, like smooth polishing or dyeing.
Keep in mind that it's a marketplace, rather than just a 3D printing service provider.
Before You Get Started!
The first thing you need to take care of is to have a quality 3D model. You can find thousands of ready-to-print designs at CGTrader's 3D print model marketplace. Find what you need to kickstart the project.
You can find ready-made models or choose Modelry or 3D Projects services to have something completely unique designed for you. Clear licensing terms and easy asset sharing across teams will help with later production goals and streamline quality control, respectively.
Check out our marketplace to find exactly what you're looking for!
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