When you go to buy a Rubik's Cube, you will find two kinds: a black or white plastic cube with coloured stickers on it, and a stickerless cube, which has nothing stuck on it because the colour is already in the plastic. Both turn the same way, but they differ in how long they last, their colours and how you look after them. This post compares them point by point, explains the WCA competition rules, and then suggests which one a beginner should pick.
!A stickerless GAN 356 RS 3x3 cube, seen from the blue and orange side Photo: [多多123 / Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Speedcube_GAN.jpg), CC BY 4.0
What is a stickerless cube?
A stickered cube is the traditional kind: the body is made of plastic in one colour (usually black or white), and every coloured square is a sticker stuck on top.
A stickerless cube makes each piece from coloured plastic. SpeedCubeShop explains that these cubes use six different plastic colours, and each piece is built from several parts, one colour per part, so no stickers are needed (SpeedCubeShop).
Many speedcube models are sold in both versions, so for the same model you can pick whichever you like.
!A budget stickered 3x3 cube with a black plastic body Photo: [Wiki a man / Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Budget_speedcube_with_stickers_and_three_colours_can_be_seen_in_this_picture_out_of_six.jpg), CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick comparison
| Stickered | Stickerless | |
|---|---|---|
| Colour durability | Stickers can chip and peel over time | Nothing to peel off |
| Care | Stickers need replacing when damaged | Very little to do |
| Changing the colour scheme | Yes, pick stickers in other colours | No, the colour is in the plastic |
| Telling colours apart | Recommended when you need to see colours clearly | Depends on the brand, some colours are quite dark |
| How it turns | The same | The same |
| WCA competitions | Allowed | Allowed (since 2015) |
The sections below explain each row.
Four moves.
One at a time.
Tap each symbol and follow one piece. This is an exercise in watching the movement.
Durability: the biggest difference
This is the main reason many people switch to stickerless.
- Stickers wear out. Cubelelo says that over time stickers start to peel, and you will have to buy new ones to replace them (Cubelelo).
- Damaged stickers slow you down. Also according to Cubelelo, once the stickers are chipped, people tend to turn more gently without noticing, so they do not damage them further.
- Stickerless cubes need almost no colour care. SpeedCubeShop describes stickerless cubes as easy to look after, with no worries about stickers chipping or peeling (SpeedCubeShop).
If you plan to use one cube for a long time, especially for young children or anyone who has the cube in their hands all day, this durability is a real advantage.
Colours and how easy they are to see
Here, the stickered cube has the edge.
- Choose your own colour scheme. With a stickered cube, you can swap to a sticker set in other colours. A stickerless cube cannot do that: the colour is in the plastic, so you are stuck with the colours the brand made (SpeedCubeShop, Cubelelo).
- Every brand's colours are different. SpeedCubeShop gives the example that QiYi's blue is much darker than GAN's blue. Many brands also sell a "stickerless bright" version with brighter plastic colours.
- If you find colours hard to tell apart. SpeedCubeShop recommends a stickered cube on a black body for people who are colour blind, people who often solve in poor light, or anyone who wants to see the colours more clearly.
A practical tip: if you often mix up red and orange, or blue and green, look at the cube with your own eyes before buying, or go for the stickered version.
Does it feel different to turn?
No. Cubelelo says both kinds work the same, so the choice comes down to what you like (Cubelelo). Speed, smoothness and corner cutting come from the design inside the cube (the mechanism, springs and magnets), not from the stickers.
One small point: stickers that are put on crooked or do not fit the square show more of the plastic underneath. Cubelelo notes that this can be quite distracting while you solve.
Is it hard to replace stickers?
On a 3x3, replacing a sticker set takes a bit of patience, but you can do it. On bigger cubes it is a lot more tiring:
- The bigger the cube, the more stickers it has. Cubelelo calls re-stickering a big cube a real chore.
- Doing it yourself can easily leave air bubbles under the stickers, which makes the cube look worse.
- The stickers must be the right size for that cube model, or you will see gaps of plastic around them.
That is why, for 4x4 and bigger, many people go stickerless from the start so they never have to re-sticker.
Are stickerless cubes allowed in competitions?
Yes. The World Cube Association (WCA) Regulations, Article 3 (version of 1 April 2026), say the following (WCA Regulations):
- The colours can be stickers, tiles, coloured plastic or paint/printing (3d). Each face must be one solid colour (3d2).
- Stickerless cubes are allowed (3h2). A stickerless cube that is very different from normal mass-produced stickerless cubes is up to the WCA Delegate to decide (3h2++).
- No see-through parts that let you see extra information about the state of the cube (3h2a).
- The cube must be clean, with no marks or damage that make one piece different from the other pieces of the same type (3j). Normal wear is accepted at the Delegate's discretion (3j1). This means badly peeling stickers can stop a cube from being used.
- Using a cube that breaks the rules means that solve counts as a DNF (did not finish) (3k2).
SpeedCubeShop and Cubelelo both say the WCA started allowing stickerless cubes in 2015, and since then they have become much more popular.
A tip before a competition: whichever kind you have, bring a clean cube with its stickers intact. If you have an old stickered cube, replace the stickers before the day. To see how a competition works, check out the post on WCA Rubik's Cube competitions.
Which one should a beginner choose?
The short answer:
- Go stickerless if you want a cube that lasts a long time without any care. Cubelelo also suggests stickerless for anyone planning to use one cube for a long time.
- Go stickered if you find colours hard to tell apart, often solve in poor light, or like choosing your own colour scheme.
- Big cubes (4x4 and up): stickerless saves you the most re-stickering work.
Either kind is solved in exactly the same way. Once you have your cube, start with the beginner's guide to solving the 3x3 Rubik's Cube and the Rubik's Cube notation guide for beginners.
Video
Want to see it in motion? The short video below from the Nam Anh Đỗ Cuber channel on YouTube shows more of what this post covers. The video belongs to that channel and is embedded directly from YouTube.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
Is a stickerless cube faster than a stickered one?
No. Speed depends on the design inside the cube, not on the stickers. For the same cube model, the stickerless and stickered versions turn the same.
What should I do if my cube's stickers are peeling?
Buy a replacement sticker set made for your cube model, peel off all the old stickers, wipe away the glue, then stick each new one on nice and straight. If the cube is old and cheap, buying a new stickerless cube can be less work.
Can I use a stickerless cube in WCA competitions?
Yes. The WCA Regulations (rule 3h2) allow stickerless cubes. The cube needs to be clean, with no piece that looks different from the other pieces of the same type, and it should be checked by the Delegate before the competition.
Can I use a stickered cube in competitions?
Yes, as long as the stickers on each face are the same colour, the cube is clean, and no piece is marked or damaged in a way that makes it different from the other pieces of the same type.
This information is based on competition results owned and maintained by the World Cube Association, published at worldcubeassociation.org/results as of 19.10.2026.