PLA VS PETG: WHICH ONE DO YOU PICK?
PLA FOR INDOORS, PETG FOR HEAT AND WATER, TPU FOR FLEX. PICK BY JOB, NOT BY ACRONYM.
THE SHORT VERSION
PLA for normal indoor things. PETG for heat, water, and outdoors. TPU when the part needs to bend. If you are not sure, pick PLA. It is the default for a reason.
PLA
The standard. Strong, clean prints, fine indoors at room temperature. ৳5 per gram. Avoid direct sunlight for long periods and anything that lives near real heat, like inside a car dashboard.
Pick PLA for: desk accessories, organizers, wall mounts, gifts, nameplates, most catalog products.
PETG
Handles heat, humidity, and sunlight better than PLA, same ৳5 per gram. Slightly tougher, slightly less crisp on fine detail.
Pick PETG for: kitchen parts, bathroom parts, aquarium pieces, outdoor brackets, anything that meets water or steam.
TPU
Rubber-like. Bends, absorbs shock, grips. ৳5 per gram, slower to print. Not for parts that need to stay rigid.
Pick TPU for: phone cases, bumpers, grips, gaskets.