Comparison

Shapr 3D CAD modeling vs ProtoSketch Lite

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Shapr 3D CAD modeling

Design and collaborate on 3D models and drawings from any device, even offline. This intuitive CAD tool offers a clutter-free interface and real-time 3D renders in AR for seamless visual communication. Export and import a wide range of file formats for a complete design-to-manufacturing workflow.

Highlights
  • Multidevice and offline capability
  • Adaptive, clutter-free user interface
  • Real-time 3D renders in AR
  • Extensive import/export file format support
  • Output 2D Drawings
  • Design-driven collaboration
Read full description

From design to manufacturing. Teams collaborate with more impact. Instinctive design meets multidevice capability and full interoperability for the ultimate 3D design workflow. All platforms Pick your device and your input tool leveraging the first CAD tool envisioned for multidevice. Hybrid workflow meets cross-functional team processes with automatic sync across devices. Work from any device or offline: design and collaborate at your best, everywhere. Compact tools. Space for focus. An adaptive user interface auto-sorts tools, taking the clutter out of designing. Your focus stays front and center to eliminate clunking around and prioritize high-quality decisions. Design-driven collaboration. Make designing a reflex and visual communication second nature for the whole team. Instinctive CAD meets a visual communication bundle complete with real-time 3D renders in AR, shareable via a link for download-free viewing. Start where you are and finish strong – no expensive hardware needed. Shapr3D combines industrial-grade CAD with a user-friendly experience, including: • Siemens™ geometric Parasolid® modeling kernel and D-Cubed™ sketch engine • Export support for X_T, STEP, STL, OBJ, 2D DXF, 2D DWG, IGES, 3MF, SVG • Import support for SLDPRT, SLDASM, X_T, STEP, STL, IGES, 2D DWG, 2D DXF, JPG, PNG • Output 2D Drawings Get in touch Have a question? Visit our forum: https://discourse.shapr3d.com. For support queries, please submit a request here: https://shapr3d.com/support Terms of Use: https://www.shapr3d.com/terms-of-use Privacy Policy: https://www.shapr3d.com/privacy-policy

About

ProtoSketch Lite

This app offers desktop-class vector graphic design tools for iPad, enabling users to create logos, app icons, website layouts, and more. It features a user-friendly interface with drag-and-drop elements, a rich library of assets, and Apple Pencil support for detailed sketching.

Highlights
  • Vector brush with variable width
  • Pen and pencil tools for path drawing
  • Shape creation tools
  • Layer management
  • Extensive asset library
  • Apple Pencil support
  • Export to desktop vector format
Features
Read full description

Get the finest Desktop-Class design software ever released for FREE!!! Fully functional alternative to PhotoShop, Illustrator or Sketch on your iPad! Make slick designs in minutes! You are a designer, a marketer or just want to sketch something, you want to make a logo or a new landing page for your business - ProtoSketch is your digital canvas! You don't have to learn anything, just choose the brush and start sketching! Supercharged with icons, fonts, ui elements, basic and complex drag and drop shapes. It is easy to design anything from logo and icon to website and mobile app. Lossless vector graphics that you can scale infinitely and continue on your desktop. "ProtoSketch puts the "Pro" in iPad Pro!" "Beautiful design in a thoughtful package." "One of the best design tools you have to try in 2016" WHAT MAKES THIS APP BETTER THAN OTHER DESIGN TOOLS ? - Made with lots of LOVE by designers for designers! - The iPad is not a PC. ProtoSketch wasn't adapted from a desktop app. It was created from the ground up exclusively for iPad. Our workflow is different - we have dedicated ALT, SHIFT and REPEAT buttons and all the commands relative to your selection appear as buttons on the bounding box. We call them shortcuts because they work as keyboard shortcuts on your PC. -The app works beautifully with Apple Pencil you can draw, sketch and concept your ideas. But hey nothing will stop you from finishing your idea and polishing it to perfection. Proto has all the tools you need. - AGILE, we are doing constant updates, enriching your experience and adding new features. - HUGE ROADMAP, there is a lot of stuff ahead better vector tools, a mac app, prototyping, real-time collaboration and more... - EXCELLENT Support, send us feedback on fb, tw and via email. We'd love to chat :) WHAT CAN YOU CREATE? - Sketches - Concepts - Vector Illustrations - Design Logos - Design App icons - Design vector icons/pictograms - Everything UI/UX - Design Websites - Design Apps - Landing pages - Sitemap flow charts - Wireframes - Use maps - Send to desktop in vector format LITE VERSION LIMITATIONS - Maximum documents 5 - Some Libraries are locked - Export is restricted to tweets and facebook shares and ProtoSketch files FEATURES - Vector Brush with Variable width (Apple Pencil support) - Pencil Tool for smooth sketching and adding fills - Pen Tool for drawing perfect vector paths - Vector Eraser - Scissors - for cutting vector paths - Shape creation tools - rect, ellipse, line, polygon, star, spiral - LAYERS - EXACT size and position input - Hardware Keyboard Shortcuts - LIBRARY full of UI elements, icons, shapes and more vector elements - Alt, Shift and Repeat buttons for fast workflows - Swathes, color wheel, rgb and hsb sliders and HEX input - Rotate and scale transform handles - CMD buttons for object oriented design - Context menu with even more actions (hold on object to show) - Grouping/ungrouping - Masking of images and other elements - Images in shapes (Quick 1 tap masking) - Select tool and Path select tools. - Precise bezier path editing - add, remove points toggle points between corner and smooth - Align, distribute actions as well as smart guides for perfect alignment - Snap to grid, point and shape sides and centers - Export ProtoSketch, SVG, PDF, JPG, PNG - Import ProtoSketch, SVG, JPG, PNG - Font import - ttf (from dropbox) - Dropbox Support - AirPrint Support visit PROTOSKETCH.IO more info, video tutorials and FAQ

Screenshots

Shapr 3D CAD modeling4 screens
ProtoSketch Lite4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Shapr 3D CAD modeling at 4.7 against ProtoSketch Lite's 2.5. Shapr 3D CAD modeling also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 months) and review sentiment (52% vs 25%). ProtoSketch Lite's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Shapr 3D CAD modeling sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $32.99 per month. ProtoSketch Lite asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Shapr 3D CAD modeling holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Shapr 3D CAD modeling has 34K ratings behind it against 14, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 52% of Shapr 3D CAD modeling's written reviews are positive against 25% of ProtoSketch Lite's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Shapr 3D CAD modeling ships an update every 5 days, ProtoSketch Lite every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Shapr 3D CAD modeling versus ProtoSketch Lite: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterShapr 3D CAD modelingProtoSketch Lite
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (34K ratings) — better2.5 (14 ratings)
Positive reviews52.3% of reviews — better25.0% of reviews
Number of ratings34K — better14
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS17.09.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size1.7 GB139 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperShapr3D ZrtCodemotion

Customer experience

Shapr 3D CAD modeling

All ratings34,235 ratings
Positive94.8%
Neutral1.5%
Negative3.6%
Written reviews826 reviews
Positive52.3%
Neutral12.6%
Negative35.1%

ProtoSketch Lite

All ratings14 ratings
Positive28.6%
Neutral21.4%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive25.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative50.0%

Bugs and requests

Shapr 3D CAD modeling

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Unreliable performance after recent updates
  • Difficulty deleting or modifying existing designs
  • Inconsistent behavior when using the Apple Pencil

Requested features

6 requests
  • Add more affordable pricing tiers for hobbyists
  • Improve undo/redo functionality
  • Implement better file management and organization
  • Add support for importing/exporting more file formats
  • Enhance parametric modeling capabilities
Show 1 more
  • Introduce a one-time purchase option

ProtoSketch Lite

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

6 purchases

Shapr 3D CAD modeling

Subscriptions6
  • Solo Subscription14 Days trial$32.991 Month
  • Pro Subscription14 Days trial$37.991 Month
  • Business Subscription14 Days trial$59.991 Month
Show 3 more
  • Solo Subscription14 Days trial$249.991 Year
  • Pro Subscription14 Days trial$299.991 Year
  • Business Subscription14 Days trial$499.991 Year
None

ProtoSketch Lite

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Shapr 3D CAD modeling free?
Shapr 3D CAD modeling is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ProtoSketch Lite free?
ProtoSketch Lite is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Shapr 3D CAD modeling or ProtoSketch Lite?
Shapr 3D CAD modeling is rated higher. Shapr 3D CAD modeling averages 4.7 out of 5 from 34K ratings, while ProtoSketch Lite averages 2.5 from 14 ratings.
Do Shapr 3D CAD modeling or ProtoSketch Lite have ads?
Neither Shapr 3D CAD modeling nor ProtoSketch Lite shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Shapr 3D CAD modeling or ProtoSketch Lite?
Shapr 3D CAD modeling ships an update every 5 days, and ProtoSketch Lite every 2 months. Most recently, Shapr 3D CAD modeling was updated on November 1, 2026 and ProtoSketch Lite on October 20, 2026.

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