The traditional two-dimensional Pen or pencil sketch/drawing can be beautiful in the hands of the right artist, but throughout the history of art one has been able to sense the frustration felt by the most innovative artists about the limitations of the flat canvas. The best 3D pens are changing all that.

With no difference in usage—the 3D pen is bulkier than a traditional pen and differs only in that it uses a plastic filament instead of ink or lead. Once inserted into the pen, the plastic filament is heated by the pen until it melts, turning it to liquid. You will then be able to draw, or write, on any surface.

Artists have quickly seized upon the possibilities opened up by the 3D pen. With numerous coloured filaments available, the possibilities are endless. This demand has been met by the production of a huge range of 3D pens, so if you are new to the world of 3D drawing, it may be difficult to make a choice.

Best 3D Pens 2018

Our reviews team has tested a wide range of 3D pens to compile this buyers guide to the best 3D pens for 2018, complete with reviews that outline the device’s main points and features to help you find the pen that will work best for your needs. Check out the table below for an ‘at a glance’ guide, and click through or scroll down to read the detailed reviews and check the prices of each product.

1. Best 3D Pens Guide – 3D Simo Mini

The 3D Simo Mini is one of the best 3D pens that any newcomer to 3D drawing could wish for. It has comfortable ergonomics and is of a solid quality of build. There is an exciting range of options and possibilities, and it can be used for up to 120 minutes on a single charge, and even comes with a rechargeable battery. There is but one caveat. It’s complex to set up and get going, but once you’ve mastered that step, it would be difficult to find a 3D pen that we could more enthusiastically recommend.

2. Best 3D Pens Guide – Lix 3D Smart Pen

Lix’s 3D Smart Pen is another of the best 3D pens available on the market at the moment. This is smart, user-friendly and boasts excellent and flexible performance. It’s not quite so complex to set up as the 3D Simo Mini, so it gets our vote for this list of the best 3D pens.

3. Best 3D Pens Guide – Scribbler 3D Printing Pen V3

The Scribbler 3D Printing Pen V3 is probably the best-selling 3D pen in the world, and it’s not difficult to see why. Again, the bulky feel of the item might not be to everyone’s taste, but counterbalancing the shape is the incredibly lightweight feel of the device. The learning curve is shallow, thanks to the pen’s large OLED screen, while it can be used on almost any surface you could imagine.

4. Best 3D Pens Guide – 7TECH 3D Printing Pen

Another of the best 3D pens on the market, the 7TECH 3D Printing Pen has lots to recommend it. There are some safety issues that would rule it out for children (the immediate switch on temperature is surprisingly hot, and it is a complex device to master) but would be regarded as easy to use for veteran artists and adult novices alike. It’s also more slimline than most of the others as well. This device has an advanced filament unclogging system, and the one-year warranty is a great bonus.

5. Best 3D Pens Guide – ccbetter Intelligent Pen

The ccbetter Intelligent Pen is a fantastic starter 3D pen. It is very easy to use, and is of a stylish and sleek design that make it visually attractive. It’s also more ergonomically designed than some of the other devices on this list. This pen comes with a holder too, a nice additional feature, and for an item in its price range, there is very little if anything to criticise.

6. Best 3D Pens Guide – Lay3r 3D Printing Pen

Lay3r’s 3D Printing Pen is probably the item on our list that would be easiest to use for children. It’s a quality constructed item that is easy to use with a lot of exciting and fun features that will appeal to the pre-teen mindset. Another couple of bonuses are the internal fan that keeps the pen cool during the initial heating phase, and a one-year warranty.

7. Best 3D Pens Guide – GENESIS 3D Printing Pen

If you are working on small scale projects, the GENESIS 3D Printing Pen is the device for you. It’s an extremely user-friendly pen, whether for kids, novices and veteran artists alike, is of excellent quality construction. It’s lightweight and extremely comfortable to use, and also comes with a warranty. Beware of using it on larger projects, as the pen will heat up and cause you trouble.

8. Best 3D Pens Guide – 3Doodler 3D Printing Pen

This 3Doodler 3D Printing Pen has a couple of drawbacks. It is somewhat heavy especially after protracted use, but offsetting this is the relatively slimline design of the device. It’s also incredibly easy to set up, and the starter pack offers plenty of scope for trial and error, as it comes with 50 filaments.

9. Best 3D Pens Guide – Glyby Intelligent 3D Printing Pen

The Glyby Intelligent 3D Printing Pen is perhaps not as pretty as some of the others on this list, but it is extremely cost-effective and one of of the easiest 3D pens to use on the market. The poppy look of the device will make it particularly attractive for children, and its appeal in this age group is underlined by its robust quality of build. A great little pen.

10. Best 3D Pens Guide – CreoPop 3D Printing Pen

Last but not least, the CreoPop 3D Printing Pen. This 3D pen uses photopolymers instead of filaments so no heating is required. It is incredibly safe for children to use, therefore, and another dimension is added to the work as scented inks are available too. The bulky design won’t appeal to everyone, and the manufacturer-only ink availability is a bit of a downside, but this is definitely one of the most innovative of the pens reviewed here.

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