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Cloud, LAN-only and Developer Mode, in plain English
Cloud mode
The default. The printer talks to Bambu's servers, and Bambu Studio and Bambu Handy reach it through your account. Since the January 2025 firmware update and Bambu's authorization control system, printers in cloud mode block third-party write actions such as starting prints. Vendor page source source
LAN-only mode
The printer only talks to devices on your local network. Bambu Studio still connects over the LAN. Useful for privacy, and the first step for most farm tools. Vendor page source
The trade-off: a printer in LAN-only Developer Mode is no longer controlled through Bambu Handy or the cloud. Bambu Farm Manager is the exception that keeps everything first-party, but it also unbinds printers from Handy when you add them. Vendor page source source Warranty, firmware updates and a switch-over plan: LAN-only and Developer Mode explained.
Bambu print farm software compared
| Software | How it connects to Bambu | Runs where | Queue | AMS / filament | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bambu Farm Manager | Bambu's own LAN protocol; printer unbound from Handy ("Logged Out") source | Local: Windows server + client on your LAN; no cloud for jobs | Yes; "Start All" matches idle printers by model, nozzle and filament | Matches loaded filament type and colour; no spool inventory found | Free |
| Bambuddy | LAN-only mode with Developer Mode; gives up Handy source source | Self-hosted on your network (Docker); no cloud | Yes; model-based assignment, batches, scheduled prints | Yes: spool inventory, AMS slots, low-stock alerts, Spoolman sync | Free, including business use |
| SimplyPrint | LAN-only + Developer Mode for full control, via the SimplyPrint client source source | Cloud (browser + apps); a local client connects Bambu printers | Yes; Pro adds auto-matching and 1-click start on every free printer | Yes: Filament Manager reads Bambu AMS RFID spools and syncs weight | Free for 2 printers; Pro US$9.99/mo (5 printers); Print Farm US$39.99/mo (10 printers) |
| Printago | Fuse bridge on your network for LAN Developer Mode printers source | Cloud, with the Fuse bridge on your network; a Self-Hosted edition is listed | Yes; auto-routes jobs by material, nozzle, tags and availability | Yes: AMS slot mapping and RFID auto-detect | Unlimited printers free with 1 production slot; US$4.00 per slot/mo (US$3.67 yearly) |
| 3DPrinterOS | Supported models listed; storage card must be inserted source | Cloud; private cloud for enterprise | Yes, with user roles and approvals | Filament tracking listed | Subscription after 14-day trial; US$19/mo per 2 printers on one listing |
| AutoFarm3D | Developer Mode (P1, X1, A1 series announced) source | Local hub on your network, managed from a web app | Yes; jobs go to the most efficient printer automatically | AMS auto-mapping and a filament library | Free Power Slots, then paid automation hours or plans |
| FDM Monster | Bambu Lab LAN mode source | Self-hosted, on your network or your own server | Batch-print one file to many printers; no smart queue listed | Not listed | Free |
| Bambu Studio + Handy | Bambu Cloud account; LAN-only printers not managed source | Bambu Cloud account; Studio on Windows/macOS/Linux, Handy on phones | Send a plate to several printers; no shared farm queue | Shows AMS slots per printer; no farm-wide stock | Free |
| Filafleetours · beta | Printers on your local network; no cloud account source | Local box: Raspberry Pi 5, mini PC, NAS (Docker) or Mac; no cloud account; works offline | Yes; orders become a queue matched to printers with the right colour in any AMS slot | Yes: loaded filament per AMS slot, low-stock and humidity hints | Planned one-time licence by printer count; pricing at launch |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column. Sources for the last four columns are in the main table.
Which one for which Bambu farm
2 to 5 printers, one account
Bambu Studio's Multi-device tab and Bambu Handy may be all you need until you want a real job queue. Turn it on under Preferences and restart Studio.
A Windows PC and only Bambu
Bambu Farm Manager: free, local, with Start All matching jobs to idle printers by model, nozzle and filament. Version 3.1 (October 2026) splits multi-plate files into plates you can send separately.
Free, private, more features
Bambuddy, if you are comfortable running Docker: queue, spool inventory, analytics, maintenance and notifications, free for business use.
Access from anywhere, or mixed brands
SimplyPrint or Printago. SimplyPrint leans on monitoring, AI detection and filament; Printago leans on shop orders, routing and cloud slicing.
You sell, and want it local
Filafleet (ours, in beta) runs on your network and connects orders, the colour-matched queue, labels and tracking. Not on sale yet. Join the waitlist.
Bambu Farm Manager: minimum firmware
From Bambu's wiki page. Update every printer before you add it. H2D, H2C and A2L have their own entries on the same page. Vendor page source
| Printer | Firmware or later |
|---|---|
| H2D Pro | V01.01.00.00 |
| H2S | V01.02.00.00 |
| X2D | V01.01.00.00 |
| X1C | V01.09.00.00 |
| X1E | V01.01.03.12 |
| P2S | V01.02.00.00 |
| P1P / P1S | V01.07.00.00 |
| A1 / A1 mini | V01.04.00.00 |
Setting up a Bambu farm network: a short checklist
- Update firmware first, to at least the version your farm tool lists.
- Put printers on 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi or Ethernet on the same LAN as the server. Bambu's Farm Manager page says the printer uses 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi to reach the LAN and the server must sit on the same network. Vendor page source
- Reserve an IP address for each printer in your router so tools always find it (general good practice).
- Stagger print starts so several heated beds don't switch on at once and trip a breaker. Farm Manager 3.0 added staggered starts. Vendor page source
- Decide about Handy before you switch modes. Developer Mode and Farm Manager both take the phone app out of the loop.
Bambu farm software questions
Does Bambu Lab have its own print farm software?
Yes. Bambu Farm Manager is Bambu Lab's free fleet tool: a server and client for Windows 10 or later (x86-64) that run on your local network. It queues jobs, matches idle printers by model, nozzle and filament with Start All, and handles batch firmware updates.
Do I need Developer Mode for third-party print farm software?
For most tools, yes. On current firmware, Bambu's authorization control blocks third-party control in cloud mode. Tools such as SimplyPrint, Bambuddy and AutoFarm3D ask you to put the printer in LAN-only Mode with Developer Mode, which means Bambu Handy and the cloud no longer control it.
Can Bambu Studio manage a print farm?
Partly. Bambu Studio's Multi-device tab shows the printers on your Bambu account and can send a plate to several of them, but it cannot manage LAN-only printers and Bambu's wiki points to Farm Manager when you hit problems at farm scale.
Which print farm software supports the H2D and H2C?
Bambu Farm Manager lists H2-series support with minimum firmware versions on its wiki page. 3DPrinterOS lists the H2D, H2D Pro and H2S. Check each tool's compatibility page for your exact model and firmware before you commit.