Elegoo Neptune 4
- Price
- $199
- Score
- 8.2/10
- Wins
- 2/5
Elegoo Neptune 4 vs Prusa MK4S
- The Elegoo Neptune 4 wins, 8.2 vs 7.8 out of 10.
- Neptune 4 prints 1.2× the volume (225×225×265 ÷ 250×210×220 = 1.16) and costs $730 ($929 − $199) less.
- Neptune 4 is faster, 500 vs 200 mm/s.
- Pick the Prusa MK4S if your prints fit in 22 cm.
Specs and US prices from the PrintPick catalog, checked 2026-09-29. Scores are PrintPick ratings out of 10.
Prusa MK4S
- Price
- $929
- Score
- 7.8/10
- Wins
- 2/5
The verdict
Buy the Neptune 4.
8.2/10 vs Prusa MK4S's 7.8/10, and it wins 2 of 5 categories. Very close race with the Ender 3 V3 KE. The KE has WiFi, this has a slightly larger bed. Pick based on brand preference or which one is in stock. Neither is wrong.
Specs, side by side
Teal wins the row.
Neptune 4Elegoo · FDM
vsPrusa MK4SPrusa Research · FDM
| Neptune 4 | Spec | Prusa MK4S |
|---|---|---|
| $199 (wins) | Price | $929 |
| 13.4 L (wins) | Build volume | 11.6 L |
| 500 mm/s (wins) | Top speed | 200 mm/s |
| 0.05 mm | Finest layer | 0.05 mm |
| 9.5 kg | Weight | 7 kg |
Features
| Neptune 4 | Feature | Prusa MK4S |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | Klipper firmware | No |
| Yes | Auto bed leveling | Yes |
| Yes | Direct drive | No |
| Yes | PEI build plate | No |
| Yes | High-speed mode | No |
| No | Open source | Yes |
| No | PrusaSlicer | Yes |
| No | Nextruder | Yes |
| No | Input shaping | Yes |
| No | Ethernet | Yes |
Value math
$199 ÷ 13.4 L and $929 ÷ 11.6 L. Lower is more printer for the money.
| Neptune 4 | Spec | Prusa MK4S |
|---|---|---|
| $14.83 (wins) | $ per liter | $80.43 |
| $0.40 (wins) | $ per mm/s | $4.64 |
Scores out of 10
| Neptune 4 | Spec | Prusa MK4S |
|---|---|---|
| 10 (wins) | Value | 6 |
| 8 | Beginner Friendliness | 8 |
| 8 | Print Quality | 9 (wins) |
| 8 (wins) | Speed | 6 |
| 7 | Reliability | 10 (wins) |
| 8.2 (wins) | Overall | 7.8 |
Build space, front view, to one scale
- 225 × 225 × 265 mm
- 250 × 210 × 220 mm
What owners say
Klipper for $199 with a direct drive? Elegoo is giving Creality a real run for their money.
Neptune 4 owner, r/3DprintingSolid budget machine. Does what it says at a price that's hard to beat.
Neptune 4 owner, Maker's Muse (YouTube)My MK3 ran for 5 years without a single failed print. The MK4S continues that legacy.
Prusa MK4S owner, r/prusa3dIf reliability is your #1 priority, nothing beats Prusa. Nothing.
Prusa MK4S owner, Thomas Sanladerer (YouTube)
Pros & Cons
Neptune 4
- +Klipper at $199 means real input shaping and pressure advance, not just fast travel speeds
- +Direct drive handles TPU without a fight
- +500mm/s capable on stock profiles
- −No WiFi on the base model: Elegoo charges extra for connectivity the KE includes free
- −Elegoo's community is smaller than Creality's, which matters when you hit unusual problems
Prusa MK4S
- +Prusa's QC is genuinely better than anyone else's: every printer is test-printed before shipping
- +PrusaSlicer is open source and powerful, no subscription, no cloud required
- +Customer support answers in hours, not weeks
- −200mm/s max is a third of what CoreXY machines do at half the price
- −$929 for an open-frame bed-slinger is a hard sell in 2025
Buy these with it
A printer does nothing without these. Grab them in the same order.
- ELEGOO PLA filament, 1kgThe easy filament to start on. Prints at low temperatures and warps less.
- ELEGOO PETG filament, 1kgTougher and more heat tolerant than PLA, for parts that get handled or sit in the sun.
- SUNLU filament dryer S1 PlusWet filament causes stringing and rough surfaces. A dryer fixes that before you blame the printer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Elegoo Neptune 4 better than the Prusa MK4S?
By the numbers, the Elegoo Neptune 4 scores higher (8.2/10). But "better" depends on your use case, the Prusa MK4S may be the smarter buy if you need reliability.
Which is better for beginners, Elegoo Neptune 4 or Prusa MK4S?
Both score 8/10 for beginners. Go with the Elegoo Neptune 4 to save $730.
Is the Prusa MK4S worth $730 more than the Elegoo Neptune 4?
The Elegoo Neptune 4 actually scores higher (8.2/10) despite costing $730 less. The Prusa MK4S only makes sense if you specifically need reliability.
What's the main difference between Elegoo Neptune 4 and Prusa MK4S?
Build volume (225x225x265mm vs 250x210x220mm) and print speed (500 vs 200 mm/s). The Elegoo Neptune 4 is best for budget; the Prusa MK4S targets reliability.