# UniversalPlantViewer vs Patchwork Explorer

The clearest difference is update cadence: UniversalPlantViewer at every 6 weeks against Patchwork Explorer's every 6 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UniversalPlantViewer ships an update every 6 weeks, Patchwork Explorer every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | UniversalPlantViewer | Patchwork Explorer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universalplantviewer/id1095258163/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **4** | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 345 MB | 331 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [CAXperts GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1095258162) | [Lumiscaphe](https://appshunter.io/developer/595372525) |

## What reviewers say

### UniversalPlantViewer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/universalplantviewer/id1095258163)

View 3D plant models and their attributes on your mobile device. Supports both online streaming and offline access to locally saved models. Offers identical functionality to its desktop counterpart.

**Highlights:** 3D plant model viewing, Attribute review, Online streaming mode, Offline mode, Cross-platform compatibility (mobile and desktop), Industry standard model conversion

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Patchwork Explorer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/patchwork-explorer/id1470044818)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is UniversalPlantViewer free?

UniversalPlantViewer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Patchwork Explorer free?

Patchwork Explorer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do UniversalPlantViewer or Patchwork Explorer have ads?

Neither UniversalPlantViewer nor Patchwork Explorer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, UniversalPlantViewer or Patchwork Explorer?

UniversalPlantViewer ships an update every 6 weeks, and Patchwork Explorer every 6 months. Most recently, UniversalPlantViewer was updated on October 11, 2026 and Patchwork Explorer on October 26, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*