KISSlicer

KISSlicer converts STL models into printer-ready G-code, with guided setup and paid upgrades for multi-extruder printing and additional tools. It is best suited to makers who want to manage print profiles and settings; its main limitation is that it prepares files rather than controlling a printer.

Overview

Four Profile Wizards organize setup around the printer, material, print style and supports, giving new users a practical starting point without removing the need to choose settings. KISSlicer also supports automatic support generation, variable layer height and resin slicing. Its workflow takes STL files and produces G-code or SVG.

The key choice is whether one extruder per print is enough. Free works with multi-extruder printers, but only lets users select one extruder for a print. Pro unlocks multi-material printing and lets users assign extruders to the raft, supports, model and sub-meshes. KISSlicer is not a printer-control app, so it is not a complete print-operation solution on its own.

Key features

• Profile management: Users can share profiles, save print settings in a Project File and manage them with a version-control system of their choice. Contributed printer profiles and the community forum provide ways to exchange settings; archiving and version control are useful for keeping a record of configurations.
• Multi-material assignments: Pro supports multiple extruders and allows separate assignments for the raft, supports, model and sub-meshes. This makes it the relevant tier for jobs that need different extruders to handle different parts of a print, while Free remains limited to one selected extruder per job.
• Premium tools: Premium adds colorized meshes, texturing, dynamic density and gyroid infill, warp compensation and curved surfaces. Those features offer more ways to shape a print, but users who only need multi-material capability can stop at Pro.
• Licensing and help: The maker says there is no phone-home licensing, and keys must not be shared. License terms allow commercial use and installation on multiple personal computers, with no time limit or model-size limit; reverse engineering is prohibited. Users can ask other users or the author on the community-run KISSlicer Talk forum, or contact the maker by form or email.

Pricing

KISSlicer has a free plan and one-time paid licenses, rather than recurring charges. The Free plan costs nothing and supports multi-extruder printers, but only one extruder can be selected per print. It is the sensible starting point for single-extruder jobs; multi-material work requires an upgrade.

• Free — free: Single extruder for all functions. Multi-extruder printers can be used, but only one extruder can be selected per print.
• Pro — $42, paid once: Unlocks multi-material prints, with no time limit or model-size limit. Commercial use and installation on multiple personal computers are permitted.
• Premium — $82, paid once: Includes all Pro functionality and the Premium features described above. It has no time limit or model-size limit, and permits commercial use and installation on multiple personal computers. The maker describes this as an early adopter price.
• Premium Upgrade — $40, paid once: Upgrades to Premium and requires a current KISSlicer PRO Key, making it the route for existing Pro users rather than a standalone purchase.

The maker says purchased keys are emailed to the PayPal account email within 48 hours. The one-time terms and lack of a model-size cap suit users who want a continuing license, while the Free plan's single-extruder-per-print ceiling rules it out for multi-material jobs.

Platforms

KISSlicer supports Windows, macOS and Linux. The download page also lists versions for FreeBSD and Raspberry Pi. Its desktop focus will suit users preparing files on a computer, but it does not replace software for controlling the printer.

Who it's for

KISSlicer is a strong fit for makers who want structured setup, profile portability and control over multi-extruder assignments, especially when commercial use or installation on several personal computers matters. Free is appropriate for single-extruder-per-print workflows; Pro is the practical step up for multi-material printing, and Premium is for users who specifically want its added mesh, infill and surface tools. Look elsewhere if printer operation in the same app is essential.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Pro assigns extruders separately across the raft, supports, model and sub-meshes, giving multi-material users more control over a job.
• Pro: Project Files, shareable profiles and user-chosen version control help preserve and exchange print settings.
• Pro: The paid licenses allow commercial use and multiple personal-computer installations without time or model-size limits.
• Con: Free permits only one selected extruder per print, so multi-material work requires payment.
• Con: KISSlicer does not control printers, leaving operation to another app or workflow.

Alternatives

For a free, open-source slicer, choose PrusaSlicer instead. Eiger is another option if a free cloud-based platform for Markforged devices suits your setup; its Offline Eiger plan is a paid subscription with quarterly updates. Choose GrabCAD Print if you need its free annual Standard plan, which is per user and supports Stratasys printers, or its paid Pro tier.

Kiri:Moto is a free web app alternative. Orca-Flashforge offers a free desktop option for supported Flashforge printers. QIDI Slicer is free for listed QIDI models and requires firmware V4.0.0 or above. UltiMaker Cura is a free, open-source desktop slicer. Bambu Studio is a free slicer with optional networking and SD-card printing without the plugin.

Browse 3D Slicer Software or 3D Printing Software for more options.

Verdict

KISSlicer is a good choice for makers who want profile control and, with Pro, detailed multi-extruder assignments under a one-time license. Its free tier is useful for single-extruder-per-print work, but the paid step is necessary for multi-material jobs. Choose another app if printer control is part of the workflow you need.