Comparison

Spooly or Spoolman: an honest comparison

In short: Spoolman fits if you use Klipper or OctoPrint, like running your own server and want open source. It costs nothing and records usage live through Moonraker. Spooly fits if you print with Bambu Lab, Prusa Connect or Anycubic Cloud, don't want to install anything and mostly manage your inventory on your phone.

I built Spooly and develop it on my own in Vienna. Spoolman is an open source project that its developer maintains in their spare time. Both solve the same problem in different ways. This page shows where each one is better, even when the answer is Spoolman.

The differences at a glance

Spoolman and Spooly compared
HostingSpoolmanSelf-hosted: Docker or a Linux install, for example on a Raspberry PiSpoolyHosted service, servers in the EU (Hetzner), nothing to install
PriceSpoolmanFreeSpoolyFree up to 20 spools. Pro: EUR 2.99 per month, EUR 28.70 per year or EUR 99.99 one-time. 14-day trial without a credit card
Source codeSpoolmanOpen source (MIT license)SpoolyNot open source
KlipperSpoolmanBuilt in via Moonraker, shown in Fluidd, Mainsail and KlipperScreenSpoolyVia the Spooly Bridge, not yet available to everyone
OctoPrintSpoolmanVia the community plugin OctoPrint-SpoolmanSpoolyOwn plugin, early alpha
Bambu LabSpoolmanNot built in, only via third-party projects such as SpoolmanSync or BambuddySpoolyBuilt in via the Bambu Lab Cloud, with AMS slots and MQTT
Prusa ConnectSpoolmanNot built inSpoolyBuilt in, including INDX
Anycubic CloudSpoolmanNot built inSpoolyBuilt in (unofficial API)
Creality CloudSpoolmanNot built in, only via SpoolmanSync (Home Assistant)SpoolyOn the roadmap
Home Assistant, APISpoolmanCommunity Home Assistant integration, open REST API, websockets, PrometheusSpoolyHome Assistant and REST API on the roadmap
QR labelsSpoolmanLabel designer with QR codeSpoolySingle or as a batch, printing on Niimbot label printers via Bluetooth
NFCSpoolmanTag scanner documented for the upcoming version 0.27, plus third-party appsSpoolyIn the app, Android and iOS
PhoneSpoolmanWeb interface designed for phones, installable as a web app (PWA), no official appSpoolyWeb app, Android app in open testing on Google Play, iOS via TestFlight
UsersSpoolmanNo login: anyone who can reach the network can read and change everythingSpoolyYour own account with login
LanguagesSpoolman18Spooly12
Projects and ordersSpoolmanNot includedSpoolyProjects, orders, work time, cost calculation and PDF cost breakdown (Pro)
Print plannerSpoolmanNot includedSpoolyIncluded
MoistureSpoolmanNot included, only via custom fieldsSpoolyDrying, storage type and reminders (Pro)
MaintenanceSpoolmanNot includedSpoolyMaintenance log with analysis of Bambu error codes (HMS)
Sharing your collectionSpoolmanNot included, there are no accountsSpoolyShare via link, public profile, community catalog with filament master data
ExtrasSpoolmanCustom fields, database of your choice: SQLite, PostgreSQL, MySQL or CockroachDBSpoolyAI photo import (Pro), cost per print, 96 achievements, backup and restore

When Spoolman fits

If your printers run Klipper, Spoolman is the obvious choice today. Moonraker sends usage to Spoolman during the print once you have selected the active spool, in Fluidd, Mainsail or via a macro.

Spoolman also fits if you have a Raspberry Pi or a home server and want your data to stay on your own network. It is built to run on your home network next to your printers, costs nothing and is MIT licensed. If you use Home Assistant, write your own scripts or want to analyze usage data in Prometheus, the open REST API gives you more room today than Spooly does. A Home Assistant integration and an open API are on the Spooly roadmap.

Now the limitations: Spoolman deliberately has no login. For access on the go, the Spoolman wiki recommends a reverse proxy with its own authentication. The camera for scanning QR codes only works in the browser over HTTPS. And there is no built-in Bambu Lab integration, the request for it has been open on GitHub since December 2023. Projects like SpoolmanSync (runs via Home Assistant) or Bambuddy close the gap, but they are additional services you run yourself.

When Spooly fits

Spooly is built for people who don't want to update their inventory by hand. With Bambu Lab, Spooly fetches your prints from the Bambu Lab Cloud, matches them to the right spool via the AMS slots and deducts the usage. This needs the cloud connection: in pure LAN mode, prints are not picked up automatically. Prusa Connect (including INDX) and Anycubic Cloud are connected as well. For Anycubic I use an unofficial API whose access token expires after about 90 days.

You don't install anything, you create an account. The data is stored on Hetzner servers in the EU. Spooly is designed for the phone: QR labels individually or as a batch, printing on Niimbot label printers, NFC tags in the app for Android and iOS. Pro adds AI photo import for invoices and spools and moisture tracking with drying and reminders.

Spooly goes beyond inventory. If you sell prints, you create projects and orders, log work time, calculate the costs and send your customer a cost breakdown as a PDF. On top of that there is a print planner, a maintenance log that analyzes Bambu Lab error codes, and the option to share your collection via a link or a public profile. Spoolman deliberately sticks to spool management.

With Klipper and OctoPrint, Spooly is not there yet. The Spooly Bridge for Klipper is not available to everyone yet, and the OctoPrint plugin is early alpha. Creality Cloud is on the roadmap. If you only have Klipper printers, Spoolman is the better choice for now.

Switching from Spoolman

Spooly reads your Spoolman database directly. In the settings you upload the file spoolman.db, with Docker it is usually in the /data/ folder. A JSON export from Spoolman works too. Spooly shows you all the spools it found, and you choose which ones to bring over. Possible duplicates are already deselected, and you can include archived spools. Spooly takes over manufacturer, material, color, remaining weight, empty spool weight, price, storage location and comments.

On the Free plan, every imported spool counts toward the limit of 20. During the 14-day trial the limit does not apply.

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Frequently asked questions

Is Spooly open source, and can I host it myself?
No to both. Spooly is only available as a service at spooly.eu. If open source code or your own server matters to you, Spoolman is the better choice.
Does Spoolman work with Bambu Lab printers?
Not directly. Third-party projects such as SpoolmanSync, Bambuddy or OpenSpoolMan record the usage from the AMS in Spoolman. Spooly has the Bambu Lab Cloud connection built in.
I print with Klipper. Should I switch?
Probably not right now, as long as the Spooly Bridge is not available to everyone. If you also have printers from Bambu Lab, Prusa or Anycubic, Spooly can still be a good fit.
Can I use Spooly for my print business?
Yes. With Pro you manage projects and orders, log work time, calculate the costs per order and send cost breakdowns as PDFs. Spoolman has no features for this.
Can I use Spooly for free?
Yes, up to 20 spools, and the automatic print import is included in the Free plan too. Pro costs EUR 2.99 per month, EUR 28.70 per year or EUR 99.99 one-time and removes the limit. You can try Pro for the first 14 days without a credit card.

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Free up to 20 spools. You can try Pro for the first 14 days without a credit card.

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