i have been using the monoprice mini for a while now and for a small desktop 3d printer its really easy and nice. just download some files from yeggi or thingiverse and put it on the including usb and plug it in the 3d printer and its ready to go.
sadly the printbed isnt really big so it can only print small things. also sometimes things will come off the print bed so i had to put tape on it so it wouldnt came off.
i would recommend the monoprice for beginners or people who only want to print small things.
i dont really have any software i use right now. i would like to learn to sculpt in vr but dont really have the money for that now. or start 3d modelling.