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Best multi-colour and multi-material 3D printers

Updated 18 September 2026 路 Live prices on every page load from United Kingdom marketplaces

AMS, ACE, MMU, toolchangers - the printers that swap filament mid-print without hand intervention. For anyone printing minis, display pieces, or parts with soluble supports.

  1. #1
    Creality K2 Pro
    Creality
    K2 Pro
    拢692 CoreXY 路 270.0 L 路 300掳C 路 Smart Auto Leveling
  2. #2
    ANYCUBIC Color Engine Pro
    ANYCUBIC
    Color Engine Pro
    拢230 Bedslinger 路 88.2 L 路 300掳C 路 LeviQ 3.0
  3. #3
    QIDI TECH QIDI MAX4
    QIDI TECH
    QIDI MAX4
    拢1029 CoreXY 路 heated chamber 路 51.7 L 路 370掳C 路 Loadcell Sensor Integrated int
  4. #4
    FLASHFORGE Creator 5
    FLASHFORGE
    Creator 5
    拢619 CoreXY 路 16.8 L 路 320掳C 路 Fully Automatic Calibration &
  5. #5
    FLASHFORGE Creator 5 Pro
    FLASHFORGE
    Creator 5 Pro
    拢749 CoreXY 路 heated chamber 路 16.8 L 路 320掳C 路 Fully Automatic Calibration &
  6. #6
    Creality CFS - Filament System
    Creality
    CFS - Filament System
    拢289 Cartesian 路 42.9 L 路 350掳C 路 Automatic leveling
  7. #7
    Creality K2 Plus Multi 16 Colors Printing
    Creality
    K2 Plus Multi 16 Colors Printing
    拢700 CoreXY 路 42.9 L 路 350掳C 路 Strain gauge
  8. #8
    ORIGINAL PRUSA XL 2-Toolhead - Large-Format Professional
    ORIGINAL PRUSA
    XL 2-Toolhead - Large-Format Professional
    拢1999 CoreXY 路 46.7 L 路 290掳C 路 Loadcell sensor
  9. #9
    QIDI TECH QIDI Plus5 Multi-Color
    QIDI TECH
    QIDI Plus5 Multi-Color
    拢769 CoreXY 路 heated chamber 路 30.7 L 路 370掳C 路 Loadcell
  10. #10
    Creality Ender PLA Filament 1.75mm
    Creality
    Ender PLA Filament 1.75mm
    拢117 Bedslinger 路 20.3 L 路 300掳C 路 Auto Leveling

Matt's take

Multi-colour looks fantastic in marketing and less fantastic in the filament-waste bin. An AMS-style printer purges filament between every colour change, which means a 4-colour Benchy uses three times the filament of a single-colour one. Real uses are narrower than YouTube suggests: soluble supports (valuable), matte-and-gloss two-tone (valuable), full rainbow benchies (expensive novelty). If you never print with supports and never print multi-colour visual parts, save the money.

Frequently asked

Is multi-colour 3D printing actually worth it? +

For soluble supports and two-tone display parts, yes. For four-plus colour decorative prints, usually no - the purge waste per colour change is 3-8 g, which multiplies fast. Most owners use their AMS a lot in the first month then switch back to single-colour.

How much extra does multi-colour cost? +

The AMS / ACE / MMU unit typically adds $250-500 to the system price. Then budget 30-50 % more filament per print because of colour-change purges. Toolchangers avoid the purge problem but cost $1,500+.

Can any printer be upgraded to multi-colour? +

In theory yes with DIY MMU kits, in practice the first-party AMS systems (Bambu, Creality) are worth the premium for how much tuning they avoid. Retrofit kits work on a Prusa or Voron but need firmware flashing and tuning time most hobbyists will not enjoy.

Other shortlists
for ABS, ASA and nylon large-format 3D printers CoreXY 3D printers for beginners Quietest 3D printers - flat and studio friendly for tabletop miniatures for schools and classrooms with remote monitoring Fastest 3D printers (by real volumetric flow) with high-temp heated beds compact 3D printers (small desks, small spaces) for cosplay and props

Related reading

Long readFDM vs resin 3D printingWhen each process wins, where each fails, and why most beginners should start with FDM.Read →Long readHow to pick your first 3D printerSpec by spec, what actually matters on a first printer and what the marketing hopes you will not question.Read →

Ranking is spec-driven. It favours printers that objectively have the capabilities this shortlist targets. Firmware, support quality and long-term reliability aren't on the spec sheet - read the full printer page and owner reports before committing.