Local vs. Cloud-Based 3D Printing: Which Solution Fits Your Workflow?


Should you manage your 3D printers locally or move to the cloud?
This debate is common among manufacturers, labs, and schools adopting digital fabrication at scale.
Here’s a detailed look at local vs. cloud-based 3D printing — and why more organizations are choosing 3DPrinterOS to streamline operations.
Pros:
Cons:
Local setups work fine for hobbyists, but quickly break down at scale.
Cloud 3D printing allows users to upload, slice, and print remotely from any browser.
Teams can collaborate, share models, and monitor jobs globally.
3DPrinterOS delivers this power through a secure, scalable platform that supports hybrid environments — both cloud and local network printers.
Unlike local systems, 3DPrinterOS stores all print data safely in the cloud with enterprise-grade encryption and user access controls.
You can manage one printer or 500 without infrastructure strain.
Local printing may offer simplicity, but cloud-based printing is the future.
With 3DPrinterOS, you get the best of both worlds: flexibility, control, and security.
Learn more about 3DPrinterOS - the most trusted 3D printing management software for Higher Education, Enterprises and OEMs. Fill out this form to get in touch with our experts.
Manage the workflow and permissions for your users
Share files and 3D printers to groups of users
Control your 3D printer fleet through a browser
Cloud slicer and toolpath viewer
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