Updated October 1, 2026 · GizmoCue Editorial Team
Formlabs vs SOVOL
Where Formlabs and SOVOL differ
| Compare | Formlabs ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | SOVOL ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $2,625 | $89Lower |
| Largest build size (mm) | 565Higher | 500 |
| Multi-colour printing | No | YesHas it |
| Markets | US, CA, AT, BE, BG, HR, CY, CZ, DK, EE, FI, FR, DE, GR, HU, IE, IT, LV, LI, LT, LU, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, SK, SI, ES, SE, CH, GB | US, CA, GB, AU, NZ, SG, JP, PH, TH, KR, MY, HK, TW, CN, EU |
| Warranty | 1 year | Not confirmed |
| Top print speed (mm/s) | Not confirmed | 1,200 |
| Laser power (W) | 120 | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Enclosed models (Yes).
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Key differences
- SOVOL scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 8.9.
- Price from is lower at SOVOL: $89 vs $2,625.
- Largest build size (mm) is higher at Formlabs: 565 vs 500.
- Multi-colour printing: only SOVOL.
- Support channels: only Formlabs offers Phone.
- Founded is lower at Formlabs: 2011 vs 2018.
- SOVOL is available in 8 more countries.
- Products: only Formlabs offers Resin printer.
- Products: only SOVOL offers Fdm printer.
- Markets: only Formlabs offers AT, BE, BG.
Our verdict on each
Formlabs
Formlabs suits makers and small studios who need clean, accurate resin parts rather than fast plastic prototypes. Entry sits at fees of $2,625 for the Formlabs complete package, a resin-only range with a build size of 565 mm and support on email, phone and help centre.
SOVOL
SOVOL suits buyers starting out with desktop FDM printing or replacing a machine, with printers from $89 and free delivery on every order. Enclosed models and multi colour printing cover the usual hobby needs, and returns run for 14 days.
Score breakdown
| Area | Formlabs | SOVOL |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.0Entry at $2,625 ranks 27 of 27, with cover of 1 year at the category median. | 10.0HigherEntry at $89 with free delivery at a $0 minimum order value keeps the first purchase cheap. |
| Offer | 9.2Resin only across resin printer, an enclosed chassis and a build size of 565 mm above the 350 median. | 9.3HigherMulti colour and enclosed models are offered alongside 1,200 mm/s print speed at the entry price of $89. |
| Trust | 9.9HigherUS base in US, operating since 2011, with phone and help centre among email, phone and help centre. | 8.2Returns run for 14 days and support runs on email, help centre and community, so cover is written rather than voice based. |
By the numbers
| Fact | Formlabs | SOVOL |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $2,625 | $89 |
| Largest build size (mm) | 565 | 500 |
Choosing between them
Pick Formlabs if largest build size (mm) matter most.
Pick SOVOL if cost, price from, and multi-colour printing matter most.
How they place
| Ranking | Formlabs | SOVOL |
|---|---|---|
| 3D printers | 32 of 39 | 25 of 39 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Formlabs | SOVOL |
|---|---|---|
| Products | Resin printer | Fdm printer |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | SOVOL TECHNOLOGY CO., LIMITED |
| Headquarters | United States | Hong Kong |
| Founded | 2011Lower | 2018 |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre, CommunityCovers more | Email, Help centre, Community |
Electronics stores
| Fact | Formlabs | SOVOL |
|---|---|---|
| Departments | Not confirmed | Refurbished |
| Free delivery threshold | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Return window | Not confirmed | 14 days |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Formlabs | SOVOL | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $2,625highest quarter | $89lowest quarter | $224 |
| Largest build size (mm) | 565highest quarter | 500above the median | 390 |
| Warranty | 1 yearat the median | Not confirmed | 1 year |
| Top print speed (mm/s) | Not confirmed | 1,200highest quarter | 600 |
| Laser power (W) | 120highest quarter | Not confirmed | 60 |
Median across 23 listed brands.
Pros and cons
Formlabs
Pros
- Resin only focus, so the range is resin printer with no filament machines to sort through
- A build size of 565 mm that sits above the category median of 350
- Support runs on email, phone and help centre, including the phone and help centre options most rivals in the ranking skip
Cons
- Entry price of $2,625 puts it at 27 of 27 brands ranked on price from
- Multi colour is a no, so parts come off the machine one colour at a time
- Warranty of 1 year matches the category median of 1 and ranks at 5 of 20
SOVOL
Pros
- Entry pricing of $89 puts Sovol first of 27 brands on price from.
- Free delivery on every order because the spend threshold is $0.
- Multi colour printing is supported and enclosed models sit in the range, so multi material work and higher temperature materials have an option.
Cons
- Support runs on email, help centre and community, with no phone line or live chat in that list.
- A 14 day return window is a short commitment for a hardware order.
- The range is FDM only, where MatterHackers covers fdm printer, resin printer and 3d scanner.
Who each suits
Formlabs
Who it suits
- Makers printing fine resin detail where a build size of 565 mm is enough for the parts they need
- Studios that want phone and help centre support on email, phone and help centre
- Buyers in the US or Europe, since delivery covers US, CA and AT
Who should look elsewhere
- Multi colour work, since multi colour is a no here
- Hobbyists after filament machines, where SOVOL lists fdm printer
- Shoppers who need a broad one basket range, since Formlabs covers resin printer
SOVOL
Who it suits
- First time buyers who want a filament machine without a distributor sized catalogue, priced from $89 with free delivery.
- Hobbyists who need multi colour printing or an enclosed chamber, both listed in the range.
- Shoppers in the listed shipping markets, US, CA and GB, who are content with written support on email, help centre and community.
Who should look elsewhere
- Resin, laser or cutting machine shoppers, since MatterHackers covers fdm printer, resin printer and 3d scanner on one site.
- Buyers who want resin or laser hardware from a maker brand, which LONGER covers with fdm printer, resin printer and laser engraver.
- Anyone planning to add a scanner to the same basket, since Farnell lists fdm printer and 3d scanner.
Country by country
| Country | Formlabs | SOVOL |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | No | Yes |
| China | No | Yes |
| Hong Kong | No | Yes |
| Japan | No | Yes |
| Liechtenstein | Yes | No |
| Malaysia | No | Yes |
| New Zealand | No | Yes |
| Norway | Yes | No |
8 of 44 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
Formlabs
What does a Formlabs printer cost to buy?+
Entry is fees of $2,625 for the Formlabs complete package, which is the figure that sets the starting budget. That places Formlabs at 27 of 27 brands ranked on price from, so buyers should treat it as one of the higher entries in the category rather than a budget machine.
How big a build volume can I get?+
The build size is 565 mm, which ranks 5 of 23 on size across the category. For scale, the median machine in this ranking manages 350 and the largest reaches 1,800.
SOVOL
How much does a Sovol printer cost to start with?+
Sovol lists FDM printers from $89, and that entry figure places it first of 27 brands in our comparison. Enclosed models and multi colour printing are part of the range, so the entry machine sits below the larger machines that carry those features.
Which countries does Sovol ship to?+
Sovol ships across US, CA and GB, so the store serves North America, Europe and much of Asia Pacific rather than one home market alone. Support for those orders comes through email, help centre and community, and returns are handled under the same 14 day window.