Flashforge Creator 5 vs Formlabs Form Studio 1
Researched by Riley Hart · prices checked Nov 4, 2026
As of Nov 4, 2026, the Flashforge Creator 5 costs $699 and the Formlabs Form Studio 1 costs $699. The Formlabs Form Studio 1 has a published review score and ranks #10 in our 3D printers ranking; the Flashforge Creator 5 is not scored yet. Pick the Flashforge Creator 5 for low cost multi color PLA and PETG. Pick the Formlabs Form Studio 1 for hobbyists and small studios who want reliable, low mess resin printing. The Flashforge Creator 5 wins 1 of 2 points we can measure (1 tied).
Who wins, point by point
The Flashforge Creator 5 wins 1 of 2 points we can measure (1 tied). Built from today's prices, the specs and independent tests for these two robots.
| Creator 5 | Form Studio 1 | Winner | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price today | $699 | $699 | Tie |
| Build volume | 256 x 256 x 256 mm | 200 x 125 x 235 mm | Creator 5 |
- You care most about build volume (256 x 256 x 256 mm vs 200 x 125 x 235 mm)
- Best for low cost multi color PLA and PETG
- Best for hobbyists and small studios who want reliable, low mess resin printing
- Build volume
- 256 x 256 x 256 mm
- Max speed
- Up to 300 mm/s print
- Multicolor
- 4 independent toolheads
- Enclosure
- No
Cheapest 4 toolhead tool changer for low waste color prints
Full Flashforge Creator 5 review, pros and cons →- Build volume
- 200 x 125 x 235 mm
- Max speed
- Up to 130 mm/h
- Multicolor
- No
- Enclosure
- Yes
Formlabs' lowest priced resin printer, with auto fed resin cartridges
Full Formlabs Form Studio 1 review, pros and cons →Side by side
| Flashforge Creator 5 | Formlabs Form Studio 1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $699 | $699 |
| 3 year cost | $699 | $699 |
| Our score | Not scored yet | 8.0/10 |
| Rank in 3D printers | #46 | #10 |
| Status | on sale | on sale |
| Warranty | n/a | 1 year on Formlabs hardware (Formlabs comparison page) |
| Build volume | 256 x 256 x 256 mm | 200 x 125 x 235 mm, 5.9 L (Formlabs) |
| Print speed | Up to 300 mm/s print, 600 mm/s travel, 30,000 mm/s2 (Flashforge); default profile ran at 160 mm/s in Tom's Hardware testing | Up to 130 mm/h with Alpha Fast Resin at 250 micron layers; about 40 mm/h average across materials (TechRadar) |
| Multi color | 4 independent toolheads; Tom's Hardware got a 44 g purge block on a 33 g PLA bust with default settings | No, resin printer prints one resin at a time |
| Enclosure | No, open frame; the Creator 5 Pro is the enclosed model and there is no upgrade path (Tom's Hardware) | Yes, hood over the print area; Tom's Hardware found the hood mount flimsy |
| Max nozzle temp | 320 C | Not applicable, resin (MSLA) printer with no nozzle |
| Heated bed | Up to 120 C, dual sided PEI plate | No heated bed; heated chamber 25 to 45 C (TechRadar) with conduction resin heating (Tom's Hardware) |
| Filament types | Recommended: PLA, PETG, TPU, PLA-CF, PETG-CF, silk, PVA, BVOH. ABS, ASA and nylon need an enclosure (Flashforge) | Not applicable, uses Formlabs resins (nine validated per TechRadar, no biocompatible ones) plus Open Material Mode for third party resin |
| Camera | Yes, 1280 x 720 at 30 fps | Yes, for live monitoring and timelapse (Tom's Hardware) |
| Noise | Below 55 dB in silent mode (Flashforge claim) | No dB figure; TechRadar described a low, rhythmic background sound |
| Weight | 14 kg net | 14.5 kg; 342 x 315 x 502 mm (Tom's Hardware) |
| Auto leveling | n/a | Level check during onboarding (Tom's Hardware); automatic resin dispensing from cartridges (TechRadar) |
| Connectivity | n/a | Ethernet and Wi-Fi; PreForm and Dashboard software (Tom's Hardware, TechRadar) |
| Assembly | n/a | About 5 minutes to set up (TechRadar) |
| Resolution | n/a | 35 micron XY pixel pitch, 28 LED backlight; layers 30 to 250 microns (Formlabs, TechRadar) |
| Best for | low cost multi color PLA and PETG | hobbyists and small studios who want reliable, low mess resin printing |
| Skip if | you print ABS, ASA or nylon | you want the cheapest resin printer or many third party resins |
Specs are maker claims unless a reviewer is named. Prices from the stores we link, checked daily.
What reviewers found
Flashforge Creator 5
- Tom's Hardware: Called it the least expensive tool changer on the market. A PLA bust took 8 h 28 min; a PETG fidget toy took 2 h 57 min at 120 mm/s. One TPU print failed with a clog. Slicer profiles need work. Source
- 3DWithUs (4.8): Hands on: calibration took 20 to 30 min. A four color Benchy took about 45 min and a four color figure about 6.5 h with low waste. Cons: open frame, no waste bin, no heated chamber. Source
Formlabs Form Studio 1
- Tom's Hardware: Editor's Choice. No print failures in testing. A figure took 10 h 56 min at 0.05 mm layers using 264 ml of resin. Print times felt slow with standard resin. Source
- TechRadar (5/5): Editor's Choice. No failed prints over a month, including a resin swap. A 100 mm model took about 10 hours; a tank model took 2 h 44 min. RFID cartridges were not recognized on beta software. Source
Questions buyers ask
Which is better, the Flashforge Creator 5 or the Formlabs Form Studio 1?
The Formlabs Form Studio 1 has a published review score and ranks #10 in our 3D printers ranking; the Flashforge Creator 5 is not scored yet. Pick the Flashforge Creator 5 for low cost multi color PLA and PETG. Pick the Formlabs Form Studio 1 for hobbyists and small studios who want reliable, low mess resin printing.
What is the difference between the Creator 5 and the Form Studio 1?
Build volume: 256 x 256 x 256 mm on the Creator 5, 200 x 125 x 235 mm, 5.9 L (Formlabs) on the Form Studio 1. Print speed: Up to 300 mm/s print, 600 mm/s travel, 30,000 mm/s2 (Flashforge); default profile ran at… on the Creator 5, Up to 130 mm/h with Alpha Fast Resin at 250 micron layers; about 40 mm/h average across… on the Form Studio 1. Multi color: 4 independent toolheads; Tom's Hardware got a 44 g purge block on a 33 g PLA bust with… on the Creator 5, No, resin printer prints one resin at a time on the Form Studio 1.
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