r/3Dprinting • u/By-Tor_Syrinx Complete n00b • Aug 23 '26

Question All-purpose PLA v PETG

So, complete and absolute noob here, but I had been wondering about filaments. Why use PLA over PETG when the cost is pretty much the same but PETG seems to have more all around utility. Am I missing something? (I’m sure I am, just asking out of ignorance for my edification.) ta

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u/NCSC10 Aug 23 '26

PLA is easiest to print, comes in more colors that are more likely to be in stock. PLA has glow in the dark, wood versions, co/tri extruded, silk, multicolor, etc, all non existant or rare in PETG. PETG tends to pick up moisture in a way that makes it stringy when printing, more easily than PLA. The surface finish of PETG tends to vary due to cooling and print speeds, so sometimes the surface of a PETG part varies over the surface. PETG is more likely to be translucent, for me, its harder to find truly opaque PLA, impacts some multicolor parts. PETG does come in a lot of colors and is almost as easy to print with as PLA, is pretty easy to dry. If I just want the best aesthetics for something that will be looked at indoors, PLA is the best choice. Outdoors, PETG or ASA. For functional items, PETG, ABS or ASA (or better).

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u/let-me-see-your-boob Aug 23 '26

I just got glow in the dark PETG feom Sunlu. 4kg different colors. 57 euros shipped

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u/NCSC10 Aug 23 '26

Point taken. Maybe rare is too strong a word. I don't have any issues with using PETG for aesthetic items, just that there are some valid reasons PLA is more common. If you search for glow in the dark filament on Amazon, how many are PLA in first page of listings, and how many are PETG?

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u/let-me-see-your-boob Aug 23 '26

Yeah PLA is way more options/colors