Cura and Bambu Studio come from different code families. Cura is UltiMaker's own LGPL-3.0 project, and UltiMaker says its slicing engine was built through years of in-house development and user contributions. Bambu Studio's README says it is based on PrusaSlicer, which in turn comes from Slic3r.
Each slicer is shaped by the company behind it. Cura is set up for UltiMaker printers and adds a Marketplace for plugins and material profiles. Bambu Studio is organized around Bambu Lab hardware, with 3MF project files, multiple plates and automatic mapping of each filament to an AMS slot.
UltiMaker Cura and Bambu Studio side by side
| Feature | UltiMaker Cura | Bambu Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Developer | UltiMaker | Bambu Lab |
| License | LGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 (optional networking plugin uses non-free libraries) |
| Price | Free; paid Cura Enterprise offering for organizations | Free |
| Lineage | UltiMaker's own code base and slicing engine | Based on PrusaSlicer, which derives from Slic3r |
| Operating systems | Windows, macOS (Intel and Apple Silicon), Linux (AppImage); 64-bit only | Windows 10 64-bit or later, macOS 10.15 or later, Linux (AppImage for Ubuntu and Fedora, Flathub) |
| Published system requirements | 4 GB RAM minimum (8 GB recommended), OpenGL 2 graphics (OpenGL 4.1 for 3D layer view), 1.3 GB disk | Not verified |
| Latest stable version | 5.13.0, released May 28, 2026 | 2.8.2.61, released August 21, 2026 |
| Bundled printer profiles | 706 definition files in 5.13.0, none named for a Bambu Lab printer | Bambu Lab plus 11 other vendor folders, including Anycubic, Creality, Elegoo, Prusa and Voron |
| Network printing | Bundled plugins for UltiMaker network printing and USB printing; Digital Factory integration | WAN and LAN printing, control and monitoring through the optional plugin; SD card printing without it |
| Model file formats | Bundled readers for 3MF, AMF, X3D, images and G-code plus a general mesh reader; UltiMaker lists STEP and IGES as compatible | 3MF-based projects; STEP import |
| Painting and color | Bundled paint tool plugin; paint-on supports in the 5.14 beta | Multi-material painting, with each filament mapped automatically to an AMS slot |
| Other documented features | Intent profiles, recommended profiles, Custom mode with more than 400 settings, Marketplace plugins and material profiles | Multiple plates, auto-orient, tree and hybrid supports, arc moves (G2/G3), assembly view, 3D text tool |
Checked November 2, 2026 against UltiMaker Cura 5.13.0 (released May 28, 2026) and Bambu Studio 2.8.2.61 (released August 21, 2026), the latest stable releases on each GitHub release page. Cura 5.14.0-beta.1 (October 15, 2026) and the Bambu Studio 2.8.4 public beta (September 22, 2026) were pre-releases at the time.
Who builds each slicer
UltiMaker develops Cura and calls it free and open-source software; its repository carries the LGPL-3.0. For organizations, UltiMaker sells Cura Enterprise, which it says gets two tested updates a year, 12 months of support per release and an independent vulnerability scan of each release.
Bambu Lab publishes Bambu Studio under the AGPL-3.0. Its README says the optional networking plugin is built on non-free libraries; without the plugin, you can still slice and print from an SD card.
Printers and profiles
Cura 5.13.0 ships 706 printer definition files, some of them shared base definitions, but none is named for a Bambu Lab printer. Using Cura with a Bambu Lab machine would mean building and validating a custom machine profile yourself.
Bambu Studio 2.8.2.61 has a Bambu Lab profile folder plus 11 folders for other brands, such as Anycubic, Creality, Elegoo, Prusa and Voron. If you own a printer from one of those brands, check that your exact model and nozzle are listed before relying on it.
Projects, plates and settings
Bambu Lab describes a project-based workflow on top of the 3MF format, with multiple plates, a project resource manager and an assembly view. Its download page says STEP files keep the assembly relationships between parts and that their accuracy lets the slicer generate many extrusion paths as arcs.
Cura takes a profile-driven approach. UltiMaker describes intent profiles for specific applications, recommended profiles and a Custom mode with more than 400 settings. Version 5.13.0 added Lightning as a support infill option, and the 5.14 beta keeps support settings visible because supports can now be painted onto the model.
Platforms and requirements
UltiMaker says Cura is 64-bit only and lists minimums of 4 GB of RAM, OpenGL 2 graphics (OpenGL 4.1 for the 3D layer view) and 1.3 GB of disk space, with 8 GB of RAM recommended. Downloads cover Windows, Intel and Apple Silicon Macs, and a Linux AppImage.
Bambu Lab's download page lists Windows 10 64-bit or later and macOS 10.15 or later, and points Linux users to GitHub, where 2.8.2.61 ships AppImages for Ubuntu 22.04 and 24.04. A Flathub build is also available. Bambu Lab does not list RAM or graphics minimums on that page.
Which should you choose?
Choose UltiMaker Cura if…
- You print on UltiMaker machines and want UltiMaker's profiles and network printing.
- You want Marketplace plugins or manufacturer material profiles.
- You need a supported enterprise edition for a school or company.
Choose Bambu Studio if…
- You own a Bambu Lab printer, especially with an AMS for multicolor work.
- You want multi-plate 3MF projects with an assembly view.
- You want to send, control and monitor prints over LAN or WAN from the slicer.
Common questions
Can Cura slice for Bambu Lab printers?
Cura 5.13.0 has no printer definition named for a Bambu Lab machine, so you would have to create and test a custom profile. Bambu Studio ships Bambu Lab profiles and handles AMS filament mapping, which makes it the simpler starting point.
Is Bambu Studio based on Cura?
No. Bambu Studio's README says it is based on PrusaSlicer, which comes from Slic3r. Cura is a separate code base developed by UltiMaker.
Which one lists lower hardware requirements?
UltiMaker publishes minimums for Cura of 4 GB of RAM, OpenGL 2 graphics and 1.3 GB of disk space. Bambu Lab lists only operating system versions for Bambu Studio: Windows 10 64-bit or later and macOS 10.15 or later.
Sources
- UltiMaker Cura product page UltiMaker · Checked 2026-11-02
- UltiMaker Cura repository and license UltiMaker on GitHub · Checked 2026-11-02
- Bambu Studio README (features, lineage, license) Bambu Lab on GitHub · Checked 2026-11-02
- Bambu Studio download page (features, supported systems) Bambu Lab · Checked 2026-11-02
- UltiMaker Cura system requirements UltiMaker Support · Checked 2026-11-02
- UltiMaker Cura 5.13.0 release notes UltiMaker on GitHub · Checked 2026-11-02
- Bambu Studio 2.8.2.61 public release notes Bambu Lab on GitHub · Checked 2026-11-02
- UltiMaker Cura printer definitions (5.13.0) UltiMaker on GitHub · Checked 2026-11-02
- Bambu Studio bundled printer profiles (v02.08.02.61) Bambu Lab on GitHub · Checked 2026-11-02
- UltiMaker Cura bundled plugins (5.13.0) UltiMaker on GitHub · Checked 2026-11-02
- UltiMaker Cura 5.14.0-beta.1 release notes UltiMaker on GitHub · Checked 2026-11-02
This comparison summarizes the cited documentation; it is not a lab test. Features and prices change between releases; check the developer’s site for the current version.