Top 10 Best 3D Pens 2023

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Technology has come a long way in the past couple of decades. Indeed, think back to the last few years of the 20^th century: could you have imagined the sheer capability of the smartphone you now use? Your home computer back then most likely had less computing power, and your laptop was probably a few inches thick! It’s different now with ultra-thin devices that are cheap to buy and that do quite amazing things, and there’s more.

What about your television? Just a few years ago you probably watched a large box, whereas now you may have a very slim TV hanging on a wall. In the world of commerce and industry there have been astonishing advances, too; every office used to have a photocopier, now every office probably has a colour copier and a variety of scanners, plus various other peripheral items too.

One of the most fascinating inventions of late has been the 3D printer. This promises to change the way manufacturing is going in more than one way. It’s still in its early days, but even now the ability to actually make an object in three dimensions, with a relatively small machine, is something that is possible, and that is happening all over the world. That this technology is now filtering through into the everyday world, in the form of 3D pens, is exciting! We’ve taken a look at the top 10 3D pens on the market for you, but before we look at those in detail, here’s a little more about what they are, and why you might want one.

The Top 10

1: Polaroid 3D Play

You will know the Polaroid brand from its many photographic and office ranges, and this 3D pen is its foray into the new market. It uses the PLA method so is environmentally friendly, and is a very neat little pen that has some very satisfied artists as users. It is easy to handle, compact and simple to use, and you can ‘stencilize’ photographs to turn them into 3D representations with a simple button that does the trick for you.

This one works with apps that can be Android or iPhone compatible, and it’s easy to practise and get to use this pen – we recommend you spend some time playing with any 3D pen before you start to create! It has an auto on and off feature, and you can choose from four different delivery speeds, plus it uses Polaroid’s own special PLA tips. The basic pen is very well priced, and you can choose from more advanced versions if you wish. A good place to start your 3D art adventure!

2: Aerb Intelligent Pen

If the above model is the basic and simple starter 3D pen, this one takes things a little bit further in being rather more sophisticated. It’s specially designed to be ergonomically comfortable to hold and use, and it is made to a high level of quality. This one can use either the PLA or ABS methods, so you can pick and choose which one you prefer, and comes with many more impressive attributes, including an OLED display screen so you have no need for backlighting.

It’s a very nice model indeed and we like the way it can auto-load refills, and it is clever enough to know which level of heat is required. It has 8 speed settings for greater accuracy, and is easy to learn with, too. This one is very light – just 55g – and can be used with a wide variety of filaments, and it has a nozzle that can be changed very quickly. Be aware that it comes with two loops of filament in random colours, so you may want to purchase some more before you start. It’s more expensive than the above model by some margin, but it’s worth it.

3: Techboss Intelligent

This is another of the more sophisticated models, and comes with many of the features mentioned above. It’s specially designed to be ergonomically comfortable to hold and use, and it is made to a high level of quality. This one can use either the PLA or ABS methods, so you can pick and choose which one you prefer, and comes with many more impressive attributes, including a display screen so you know the temperature.

It’s a very nice model indeed and we like the way it can auto-load refills, and it is clever enough to know which level of heat is required. It has 8 speed settings for greater accuracy, and is easy to learn with, too. This one is very light – just 55g – and can be used with a wide variety of filaments, and it has a nozzle that can be changed very quickly. Be aware that it comes with two loops of filament in random colours, so you may want to purchase some more before you start. It’s more expensive than the above model by some margin, but it’s worth it.

4: DEWANG 3D Magic Printer Pen

The next on our list is the awesome 3D magic printer pen from DEWANG. Like the others, you should obviously supervise your children when using it, but to make it even safer to use, the temperature and speed can be easily adjusted, which is clearly displayed on the onboard LCD screen. There are also what are known as finger stalls to wear while using it to help protect you or your little one’s hands against the heat. To give children and adults alike the versatility and choice, it is supplied with 12 colours including 3 random colours and 2 special glow colours.

This is a comprehensive pack that comes with just about everything you need to get started and designing those amazing 3D pictures and models. Along with the 3D printing pen itself, it comes with the colours as outlined above, a mains power adaptor, pen holder, finger stalls and user manual. There are definitely a few 3D pens out there that are cheaper, but for the price tag you get all those great colours. As parents, we feel the most attractive thing about this model is the control your children can have to help them create those gorgeous designs safely.

5: Soyan Intelligent 3D Pen

Of course, if you do want to buy one of these for your kids – and we think it would be a great advantage for them to learn how to use a 3D pen at an early age – we are sure you are sensible enough to keep them out of danger, and we also think that this model is a great choice for the younger user or the beginner. It’s a simple design ad uses ABS filaments – of which one is supplied with the package – so you need to make sure you have a well-ventilated space in which to use it.

This one is designed to be comfortable to hold, is ready to use in 30 seconds and – as with all of these – cools down very quickly for added safety. It comes with 5 templates so you can start painting right away, and is very easy to set up and get going. This is a good design and one that is very much in line with the standard form of 3D pen, and at the price is competitive in this company.

6: Dikale 3D Pen

The cute design of this pen – the top has a cat’s face on it – highlights that it is one intended for kids. The supplier states that it is safe for kids of 5 years and up, but also recommends that they are supervised. It does have a quick cool function for added safety. The pen itself is nothing special in this company – it has all the usual attributes including easy load and simple systems to switch filaments – but what you get as part of the package singles it out.

To begin with, it’s a PLA pen – that’s the more eco-friendly filament – and you get 20 templates that you can begin drawing with, which is a bonus. A further bonus is that you get 16 different colours of filament, a total of 320ft in length, as part of the deal. That means you’re pretty much ready to start your art career when it arrives! The downside is that you pay for the package, as it’s around twice as much as some of the above, but for the extras it may be cost-effective.

7: Nulaxy Robot 3D Drawing Pen

In many ways, number seven on our list is very much like all the others on the market. It is compatible with both ABS and PLA, has a variety of different power options, including a USB interface, power bank socket and is supplied with a mains power adaptor. The thing that makes it a little different though is the first on the market with voice commands. This, plus the different robot eye light indicators make it incredibly easy and safe to use, as well as a whole lot of fun.

In terms of extras, the Nulaxy 3D Robot Pen comes with six PLA colour filaments, small shovel finger protectors, pen holder and 3D drawing stencils. As is now becoming standard, there are three plastic extrusion settings to help make using it as safe as possible for little and big hands alike. We really like the fact it has just two buttons, as this makes it less complicated to use and means you can get creating plastic designs almost as soon as you take it out of the box. While it may be a little on the pricey side, the design and useful extras this pen has makes it more than worth the investment.

8: 3D Pen Filament Refills

As you will be seriously impressed when you start using your 3D pen, it’s worth looking at this item, which is a refill pack of coloured filaments. Most of those on our list of 10 come with two or three filaments supplied, usually in random colours, so this is a pack worth looking at if you want to be ready to use more colours. This one is PLA filament so is eco-friendly, and it’s a pack of 24 different colours so is pretty comprehensive.

The filament is the 1.75mm diameter which is the standard thickness, and each colour is supplied as a 10-foot length so you have a total of 240feet of filament to begin with. As a beginner, you will get through a lot of filament on wasted attempts, so it is certainly worth checking out this set. The colours are great, it’s quality stuff and we strongly recommend this as an essential purchase!

9: 3Doodler Create

This one is made by the manufacturer that effectively invented the 3D pen, and it’s a very nice model indeed. It comes highly recommended by a wealth of satisfied users, and is the one that you would choose if you were to use a 3D pen professionally. It’s called a ‘doodler’ and that is the name that is often used to refer to 3D pens, and to the users of 3D pens too, and it’s neat, simple, but very capable.

It is nicely made with removable tips for access, and you can download hundred of free templates to use with this one. It has the required safety features and is very light, and can be used with both types of plastic filament. It comes with a pack of filaments – 50 strands in fact – in various types and colours, and is supplied with everything you need to start your artwork straight away. The only thing we will say in warning is that it is considerably more expensive than some on here, but it’s worth checking out.

10: Parner Doodler 3D

This is another model aimed at kids and young adults, so once again, it is always wise to supervise younger children if they are using a 3D pen. This is a very neat and tidy model of the more basic variety – and at an excellent price that makes it ideal as a gift – and it can be used with PLA or ABS, and comes pre-packaged with 12 colours of the environmentally friendly PLA filaments that are becoming the preferred choice.

It has a neat screen that tells you temperature, set itself up for use in 30 seconds and can auto-load filaments. It also features and automatic cut out after 5 minutes of non-use, and is supplied with 2 random colours to begin with. As with most of these, it’s worth knowing for future reference that the filament to use is the 1.75mm version, as that is what the pen is designed for. At the price, a good basic model for beginners or experienced artists.

That’s our list of the top 10 3D pens for you, so which one should you buy? It’s a good question as there are plenty to choose from, so before we try and give you a verdict, here’s a quick look at some of the features you need to consider.

How It Works

It is quite difficult to describe what a 3D pen does, but we’ll give it a go! Put simply, you draw with a 3D pen as you would a normal pen, but instead of ink onto paper, the pen extrudes a molten plastic. Hence, you are creating a 3D picture out of hot plastic. It takes some getting used to, but it is great fun and you can get surprisingly creative. Now, bear in mind these things are very new to the market, and that means there are different types competing for your attention.

Also, as they operate at very high temperatures, these are not recommended for children, and younger people must always be supervised. There are two types of plastic that 3D pens use: ABS and PLA. ABS – it has a complex full name that we won’t trouble you with – is popularly used in many applications, and you likely have products made from it. The advantage in 3D pens is that it is easy to manipulate, although it does need a higher temperature and emits certain fumes, so needs to be used in a ventilated area.

PLA is Poly Lactic Acid, and is made from regular food products and is environmentally friendly, so is popular for that reason. It has a lower melting point, the fumes are harmless, and it is forecast to become the most popular form of plastic in 3D pens as the technology develops.

So, there you have it. A budding 3D artist simply needs a 3D pen, so let’s have a look at the top 10 on the market right now.

Important Features to Consider

The 3D pen is a relatively new item and is set to be one of the great gift ideas for the next few years, so what do you look for when you are choosing one of these? As most are very similar we would say that – apart from cost – there are a couple of factors to think about, the main ones being:

PLA or ABS – most of those we have featured can be used with either of the filament types, and it is recommended that you choose the PLA option as it is the most eco-friendly and safer for kids.

Package – what do you get with the 3D pen you are interested in? Some come with plenty of colours and filament, some with just a random couple of filaments to get started with, and others with various accessories such as templates, so check them out carefully.

Safety Features – if it’s for the kids, please make sure they are supervised, and all of the above come with quick cool and auto-off functions for added safety.

That’s really the basics, so is there one that we think is for you? Let’s see if we can wrap it up!

Let’s Wrap it Up!

3D pens are an exciting innovation and will certainly become more popular as people get to know about them. The ten we have listed are among the best sellers, so is there one here for you? There is bound to be, but it’s difficult for us to recommend just one, as what you want will be down to personal choice.

What we will say is there are two ways to go about this: one is to buy one of the packages that includes both the pen and a sensible amount of filament; the other is to buy a cheaper pen-only pack, and also buy the package of filament that we have included at no.8 on our list. This method may actually work out cheaper.

So, if you want to buy an all-in package, we recommend that you choose either the Doodler Create, at number 9 – the original model and with plenty of filament but at quite a high price – or the last ne on our list which comes with 12 colours, and is more affordable.

Alternatively, you could buy one of the cheaper pens as they all do pretty much the same – you will find them around the £20 mark – and also the pack of filaments we mentioned, and save money in the process. Be warned, these pens are great fun, so you might want to buy a couple of packs of filament in the first instance.

Either way we know that you and your kids are going to be hooked on 3D pens, so read through again and make your choice, and buy a gift that will give hours of pleasure and creativity!