Our verdict: CHITUBOX is the default slicer for many resin printers, and its free Basic tier handles the whole job: orient, support, slice and export. Printer profiles for dozens of brands are built in. Some advanced tools sit behind paid Advanced and Pro plans, and the program asks for a strong PC.
About CHITUBOX
CHITUBOX is developed by CBD-Tech (Chitu Systems) in Shenzhen, China. It converts STL, OBJ and 3MF meshes into sliced files for SLA, DLP and LCD resin printers, with built-in profiles for Elegoo, Anycubic, Phrozen, Creality, EPAX, Uniformation and many other brands, each saved in the printer's own format such as .ctb or .goo.
The Basic tier is free and includes auto and manual supports, slicing and export. CHITUBOX also sells Advanced and Pro subscriptions with extra features; logging in to a CHITUBOX account unlocks a 7-day trial of Pro features. Paid plans are linked to your account, and a personal key works on up to two computers.
What it does well
- Printer profiles. Ready configurations for resin printers from Elegoo, Anycubic, Phrozen, Creality and others.
- Auto and manual supports. Generates supports with adjustable tips, rafts and platform-only mode, or places them by hand.
- Slicing and export. Slices models and saves files in the native format of each supported printer.
- Mesh formats. Imports STL, OBJ and 3MF, exports STL and OBJ, and saves .ctp project files.
- Layouts. Switch between dual-panel and single-panel interface layouts for more workspace.
Who it is for
Good fit
Owners of resin MSLA, DLP or LCD printers who want a free slicer with profiles for their machine.
Look elsewhere
FDM filament printer users, and people with low-end PCs; the official minimum is 16 GB of RAM.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Free tier covers supports, slicing and export
- Profiles for a long list of resin printers
- Auto supports with detailed parameters
- Native file formats for each printer
Cons
- Some advanced tools need a paid Advanced or Pro plan
- High system requirements: 16 GB RAM minimum
- Very large installer download
How to install CHITUBOX
The button downloads the official 64-bit Windows installer of the free Basic version from CHITUBOX's download server; it is large, about 570 MB. Accept the license in the setup wizard and keep the default path. On first start add your printer from the Print Information panel before loading models.
Questions about CHITUBOX
Is CHITUBOX free?
Yes. CHITUBOX Basic is free and covers adding supports, slicing and exporting print files. Paid Advanced and Pro subscriptions add more tools, and a 7-day Pro trial is available after logging in.
Which printers does CHITUBOX support?
It has profiles for resin printers from Elegoo, Anycubic, Phrozen, Creality, EPAX, Uniformation, Nova3D and many other brands, plus a custom printer option.
Can CHITUBOX slice for FDM printers?
No. CHITUBOX is made for SLA, DLP and LCD resin printers. For filament printers use an FDM slicer such as UltiMaker Cura or PrusaSlicer.
