Elegoo vs Anycubic Resin: Which One Should You Take Home for Your 3D Prints? 🧐

Let's get our hands resin-y, makers! Today we're settling one of the biggest debates in the 3D printing world: Elegoo vs Anycubic resin. If you want the short answer: in my experience, Elegoo tends to be the go-to for achieving incredible detail on miniatures, while Anycubic often wins on strength-to-price ratio for functional parts.

But there's a lot more to it than that. The perfect resin for you depends on what you're printing, your budget, and even how much cleanup you're willing to deal with. Don't worry though — that's exactly what I'm here for!

Elegoo vs Anycubic: Quick Recommendation

I know your time is valuable and sometimes you just need a quick guide to get printing. As Mr. Resin, I've tested a whole arsenal of 3D printer resins and put together this handy table to cut straight to the chase.

Think of this as a shortcut to point you in the right direction before we dive into the full breakdown.

Elegoo vs Anycubic: Quick Recommendation

A quick guide to help you decide which brand best suits your main needs.

This table gives you a solid starting point, but the real insight comes from understanding each resin family in depth. So if you've already got a general idea of where you're headed, keep reading to find out exactly which bottle you actually need.

Standard Resins for Everyday Printing: Full Breakdown

Here's where it gets good, makers. We're going head-to-head with the standard resins from Elegoo and Anycubic — the ones most of us reach for when printing quick prototypes, paintable figures, and everyday parts. These are the true workhorses of the workshop.

From personal experience, I've burned through liters of both Elegoo Standard Resin 2.0 and Anycubic Standard Resin+. So this isn't just label-reading — here's how they actually perform in the real world.

Hardness and Detail in the Ring

The first thing you notice when curing these resins is how they behave mechanically. The main difference between Anycubic and Elegoo standard resin comes down to brittleness. Anycubic tends to be slightly less brittle, which makes it ideal for parts that will take some punishment — like wargame miniatures you're constantly picking up and handling.

Elegoo resin, on the other hand, has almost always given me slightly sharper edge definition and crisper fine detail. It's my go-to when printing a bust or miniature where every tiny engraved line matters.

It's no surprise that Elegoo Standard 2.0 has become one of the most popular resins on the market. It dominated sales throughout 2024, with a 15% increase over the previous year. Its low viscosity is a key factor — it allows for faster prints and makes cleaning the VAT much easier.

Smell and Ease of Cleaning

Let's be honest — smell matters, and it matters a lot. Both brands have made significant improvements to their formulas to reduce volatile organic compounds (VOCs), but neither is odourless. In my experience, Anycubic Standard Resin+ has a slightly less pungent smell than Elegoo.

When it comes to cleanup, Elegoo's lower viscosity is a real advantage — isopropyl alcohol (IPA) rinses away uncured resin residue more easily. That said, both clean up beautifully with a solid washing protocol.

If you want to dive deeper into resin properties in general, I'd recommend checking out this complete consumer resin guide I put together a while back.

Specialty Resin Comparison by Use Case

Not everything in life is printing standard parts, right? Sometimes you need something more — bombproof durability, jaw-dropping detail, or simply a hassle-free post-processing workflow. This is where Elegoo and Anycubic bring out the big guns with their specialty resins, and things get really interesting.

Let me dig into the three categories I get asked about most.

Water-Washable Resins: Goodbye, Alcohol! 👋

For a lot of people, the biggest pain point with resin printing is having to handle isopropyl alcohol to clean their prints. That's exactly why water-washable resins are such a game-changer. I've worked extensively with both Elegoo Water Washable and Anycubic Water-Wash Resin+.

My impression is that the Elegoo resin is slightly less viscous, which really helps fine details come out crisp with just a rinse under running water. Anycubic's version is a touch thicker, but once cured, the prints feel more robust and less prone to snapping.

My recommendation as Mr Resin: if maximum convenience for cleaning figures and quick prototypes is what you're after, Elegoo is fantastic. But if you need those same parts to hold up to regular handling, I'd lean towards Anycubic.

ABS-like resins for parts that can take a beating

Now, if your thing is printing functional parts like gears, enclosures, or anything that's going to take some punishment, ABS-like resins are your best bet. They manage to replicate the toughness of ABS plastic from FDM printers, but with the incredible detail resolution that resin printing delivers.

In this category, the Anycubic ABS-Like Resin+ is my go-to workhorse. It strikes a fantastic balance between rigidity and just enough flexibility to keep parts from snapping on first impact. The Elegoo ABS-Like Resin, on the other hand, feels noticeably stiffer to me, which makes it ideal for precision-fit parts that demand very tight tolerances.

And if you need something that can really handle abuse — like drone components or workshop tools — Anycubic's Tough range is on another level entirely. If you're curious, check out my full Anycubic Tough Ultra review, where I put it through its paces properly.

8K and 12K high-definition resins: the pinnacle of detail

When the only goal is achieving an almost obsessive level of detail for competition miniatures or jewelry prototypes, we're stepping into the premier league of resins. Here, the Elegoo 8K Standard and the Anycubic DLP Craftsman are two heavyweight contenders.

Both have very low viscosity, which allows them to flow perfectly and capture every last pore on a figure's skin. That said, in my testing, Elegoo's formula has consistently delivered slightly sharper results, with fewer overexposure issues on the finest details. What I love most about this resin is its consistency. The Anycubic is spectacularly good — don't get me wrong — but it does require a bit more dialing in of your print settings to get the most out of it.

Here's a quick overview so you can compare everything at a glance.

Elegoo vs Anycubic specialty resins comparison chart

A practical summary of the properties, strengths, and recommended use cases for the most popular specialty resins from both brands, to help you make a quick, informed decision.

As you can see, the choice isn't really about which brand is "better" overall — it's about which of their specialized resins fits your specific project like a glove. Each one has its time and place on the workbench.

Are resins and printers from different brands compatible?

This is the question I get asked almost every day. "Hey Mr Resin, can I use Anycubic resin in my brand new Elegoo Saturn?" The short answer is yes, absolutely you can. Resin printers are brand-agnostic — all they care about is whether the resin you pour in reacts to the UV light from their screen.

That said, the full answer comes with some nuance. It's not as simple as opening the bottle, pouring it in, and hitting print.

How to make cross-brand combinations work

The real secret to getting Elegoo resin working in an Anycubic printer (or vice versa) comes down to your print settings. Never — and I mean never — use the same settings for one resin as you would for another. Every formula has its own exposure time requirements, and that's what makes or breaks your print.

My personal process is always the same:

1. Check community profiles first: Before anything else, I browse forums and Telegram groups. There's a very good chance someone has already run the same experiment and shared their settings.
2. Start with the manufacturer's recommended values: The resin manufacturer (not the printer brand) usually provides baseline parameters. I always use these as my starting point.
3. Run a calibration test: Before committing to a 12-hour print, I always run an exposure test like the Cones of Calibration. Trust me, it'll save you a lot of headaches.

From my own experience, Anycubic resins are incredibly consistent — rock solid. They've given me reliable results across a wide range of printers from other brands with very little tuning. With Elegoo resins, especially the low-viscosity ones, I've found you really get the most out of them when pairing them with Elegoo's newer printers, which feature fast-release screen technology.

Market data backs up the fact that certain combinations are clear favourites. For instance, Elegoo resin printers like the Saturn 4 Ultra with its 12K mono LCD screen have outsold their Anycubic rivals by 28% so far in 2024. Here at Mr Resin, we've seen that our Elegoo ABS-like resins can reduce post-processing costs by up to 22% — a figure that many professional workshops take very seriously. If you want to dig deeper into the numbers, you can find more data on leading industry reference sites.

To avoid any costly mistakes, dialling in your settings is essential. If you're looking for a reliable resource, I'd highly recommend checking out my guide on Elegoo resin print settings.

Visual differences in miniatures and functional parts

Theory is great, but where the differences really show up is when you're holding the finished part in your hand. Forget the data sheets — let's talk about what actually matters: how do these resins look and perform in the real world?

I've printed the same models using comparable resins from both Elegoo and Anycubic. On one side, a miniature packed with fine detail; on the other, a mechanical part that needs to be dimensionally accurate. Let's see which brand takes each round.

Putting Miniatures Under the Microscope

When it comes to minis, it's all about the fine details. Here I've put the Elegoo 8K Standard and the Anycubic High Speed head to head. Both deliver stunning results, but each one shines in its own way.

With Elegoo, the sharpness is exceptional. Layer textures, facial wrinkles, and armour engravings come through with almost surgical definition. The edges are incredibly crisp and clean. It's my go-to when I want every last rivet to look absolutely perfect.

Anycubic, on the other hand, gives me a more "rounded" and solid visual feel. The detail is still excellent, but the finish is slightly softer. This is fantastic for figures you're going to paint using techniques like drybrushing, because the volumes are beautifully defined and the paint adheres really well.

Mr Resin's verdict for miniatures: If you're a detail purist after razor-sharp clarity, Elegoo high-resolution resins won't let you down. If you're looking for the perfect balance between detail and a tough, durable print that can handle gaming sessions and painting alike, Anycubic will feel right at home.

Dimensional Accuracy and Durability for Functional Parts

Now let's talk about parts that actually need to work. Here, dimensional accuracy and mechanical strength are everything. For this test, I pitted the Elegoo ABS-Like against the Anycubic ABS-Like Resin+.

My testing shows that Anycubic resin has slightly lower post-cure shrinkage. What does that mean in practice? Better dimensional accuracy in the final print — something critical for parts that need to fit together perfectly. On top of that, its impact resistance is impressive, making it ideal for prototypes that are going to take a few knocks.

The Elegoo resin, meanwhile, is a little stiffer, which is a real advantage for parts that absolutely cannot flex. I've also noticed that elephant foot (that layer expansion at the base) is slightly less pronounced, which makes fine-tuning easier and saves you some sanding time.

This Elegoo vs Anycubic resin comparison proves there's no single winner — just the right resin for each project. The real question is: which print do you need to nail?

My Final Verdict: Elegoo or Anycubic? When to Choose Each One

After all this testing, it's time to give you a straight answer. Here's my honest, no-nonsense opinion, based on hundreds of bottles run through the workshop. The Elegoo vs Anycubic debate isn't about which one is better overall — it's about strategy, and knowing which resin is right for each job.

To make it as clear as possible, I've put together a quick scenario guide so you can pick the right resin every time.

My Personal Cheat Sheet for Every Maker 📝

Save this. Find your situation and you'll know exactly which bottle to add to your cart next time.

• If you paint miniatures and you're into wargaming: When every micron of detail matters — whether for display-quality figures or the tabletop battlefield — Elegoo is your best bet. Their high-resolution resins (8K, 12K, and 14K) have lower viscosity than the competition, and you can really see the difference. They capture every last surface detail and leave an ultra-smooth finish, perfect for laying down complex painting techniques afterwards.

• If you're an engineer or need functional prototypes: For parts that need to take a beating — think gears that won't snap straight away or tough enclosures — my recommendation is clear: Anycubic's ABS-like range. The toughness and flexibility are fantastic, and the strength-to-price ratio is very hard to beat. These are absolute workhorses for your prototypes.

• If you're just starting out and want to keep things simple: When you first dive into the world of resin printing, what you need is ease of use. In that case, I'd say start with the water-washable resins from either brand. That said, in my experience, Elegoo Water Washable is just a little more forgiving — its lower viscosity makes cleanup easier and reduces the risk of residue ruining your fine details.

Mr Resin's tip: Don't commit to just one brand. The smartest move is to keep a bottle of Anycubic resin in your workshop for workhorse prints and a bottle of Elegoo for when you need maximum detail. That way you'll always have the right tool for the job!

The numbers speak for themselves. The preference for Elegoo resins for miniatures and wargaming is clear, with a 42% market share in 2024. In fact, here at Mr Resin we've seen a 25% increase in orders for Elegoo's transparent and 14K resins.

And while Anycubic is a giant in filament (FDM) printing, in the resin space, Elegoo's formula — with an average of 30% lower viscosity — has won over hobbyists, cutting cleaning time by up to 40%. If you're curious about both technologies, you can find out more about resin vs filament 3D printing.

Frequently asked questions about Elegoo and Anycubic resins

After all that information, it's perfectly normal to still have a few questions. That's what I'm here for! I've pulled together the questions you ask me time and again about the eternal debate: Elegoo vs Anycubic resin. Here are the answers — straight to the point, no fluff — so you always have them on hand.

Can I mix Elegoo and Anycubic resin?

Technically, you could. But my honest advice: don't even think about it. I wouldn't recommend it at all, especially if reliable prints are what you're after.

Each resin has its own chemical formula — its own pigments, photoinitiators, monomers… If you mix them, you'll most likely end up with a weird concoction that doesn't cure properly. That means failed prints, partial cures, or parts that crumble the moment you look at them. If you want to experiment and see what happens? Fine, but know that it's a gamble and the print could easily go wrong.

Which resin is best for beginners?

If you've just stepped into this hobby, what you need is a resin that's forgiving of rookie mistakes. In my experience, both Elegoo Standard Resin and Anycubic Standard Resin+ are great options to start with.

That said, if I had to pick one, I tend to lean slightly more towards Anycubic's standard resin for beginners. The reason is simple: it has a slightly wider exposure window. In plain terms, this means it's more tolerant if your cure times aren't spot on — and that will save you a lot of headaches early on.

Do I need different profiles for each resin brand?

Yes, yes, and a thousand times yes. Burn this into your memory because it will save you 90% of your headaches. Every resin, even within the same brand and type, needs its own print profile. Don't even think about using your Elegoo ABS-like settings for an Anycubic standard resin.

The tip that never fails: start with the profiles recommended by the resin manufacturer (not the printer manufacturer!). From there, run a quick calibration test — like the Cones of Calibration — and dial in your exposure times until everything looks perfect. Never start a large print without calibrating first!

Is there a big price difference between the two?

Looking at cost per kilogram, both brands are genuinely in the same league. They're highly competitive and prices tend to be nearly identical, especially across their standard ranges. Most of the time, the difference amounts to just a few pounds either way.

What you might find is that one of them occasionally runs a stronger deal, or that for a very specific type of resin, one offers better value for money than the other. My advice: keep an eye on promotions, but don't let a couple of pounds make the decision for you if the other resin is clearly the better fit for your project.

Conclusion: Elegoo or Anycubic? The choice is yours!

And that's a wrap on the head-to-head! As we've seen, there's no outright winner in the Elegoo vs Anycubic resin battle. The key difference is that Elegoo tends to shine when it comes to fine detail for miniatures, while Anycubic takes the crown for durability in functional parts.

My final advice: don't commit to just one. Experiment! Try an Anycubic standard resin for your workhorse prints and save an Elegoo 8K for that display piece you've been dreaming about. The best part of this hobby is testing, failing, and learning along the way.

Now that you've got all the information you need, what are you waiting for? Head over to the shop and grab the resin your next project deserves. I can't wait to see those prints!