UnpledgedCatnapTipper

PETG is great and almost as easy to work with as PLA! I got a nicer printer a few months ago and have been using it for more structural prints (hooks, storage bins that I’ll probably drop, things for in my car). It holds up a lot better, and doesn’t suddenly fracture into pieces when over stressed like PLA does.

For anything decorative, or low impact/stress, PLA works great and typically gives slightly better dimensional accuracy compared with PETG. PLA is a poor choice for anything that’ll have extended sun exposure, impacts, or needs to survive moderately high temperatures like in a hot car.

Happy printing!

The main reasons it’s used in 3d printing have more to do with cost (it’s cheap) and its mechanical properties (low-ish melting temp, low expansion/contraction when heated/cooled, low warping, durable enough), as well as not releasing tons of nasty fumes when heated.

Some other benefits are that it’s typically made from corn rather than oil, and can be composted in an industrial setting.

I don’t know what your definition of budget friendly is, but I recently got a Flashforge Creator 5 pro. I’ve got around 30 print hours on it so far, and it’s been fantastic so far. I have it in LAN only mode and have been using Orca slicer. Compared with my old Ender 3, it’s an absolute joy to work with!