Comparison

Polymer vs HeatNext

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

Head to head
About

Polymer

Manage your 3D printer remotely from your mobile device. Monitor print progress with live camera feeds, view status updates, and control printer functions. Offers an optional upgrade for advanced features and multiple printer support.

Highlights
  • Live camera streaming
  • Print status monitoring
  • Start, stop, and pause prints
  • Control heater temperatures
  • File management and viewing
  • Remote access integration
Features
Read full description

(Formerly known as OctoClient for OctoPrint.) Polymer is the simplest way to manage a 3D printer, right from your mobile device. It works with any 3D printer with OctoPrint. You can start and monitor prints from anywhere*, and manage your printer with its advanced controls. It is built to be at home on iOS, sporting a beautiful, intuitive design. Here's what some users have to say: – "Works great. Love it. Wouldn’t own a 3D printer without it." – "Simple, straightforward, works like a charm." – "Must have for any 3D printer owner!" Extended feature list: MONITOR YOUR PRINTS ------------------------ • Live camera streaming: watch your print progress remotely. • Status monitoring: view the print completion, heater temperatures, time elapsed and estimated time remaining. • GCODE view (iPad only): follow your printer's moves as the print progresses. CONTROL YOUR PRINTER -------------------- • Start, stop, and pause prints • Home axes • Set heater temperatures • Extrude and retract filament • Set fan speeds • Set feed and flow rates • Disable motors • Multiple printer support • Add your own custom commands • Send and receive GCODE command messages to your printer • Use OctoPrint system commands • Control your printer's power supply FILE MANAGEMENT -------------------- • File viewer: view all your files and folders. See analysis results for your models (such as estimated print time), and view their print history • Create folders • Upload files to OctoPrint or your printer SD card REMOTE ACCESS ------------------ • Integration with the OctoEverywhere service for hassle-free, secure, remote access. ------------- * Using Polymer outside your local network requires configuring a remote access method. See polymer3d.app/remote for setup guides. This is an independent app that is neither affiliated with nor endorsed by the OctoPrint project or its creator. OctoPrint is a registered trademark owned by Gina Häußge.

About

HeatNext

Features
Read full description

HeatNext is a friendly app that allows you to remotely manage your home heating system using your mobile device. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/.

Screenshots

Polymer4 screens
HeatNext4 screens

Verdict

The call

Polymer and HeatNext are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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. Polymer sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and HeatNext sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $22.90 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Polymer ships an update monthly, HeatNext every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
Polymer versus HeatNext: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPolymerHeatNext
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (1.7K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews80.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings1.7K — better—
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 5 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB46 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLachlan BellNomnio

Bugs and requests

Polymer

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Camera feed not working consistently
  • Settings screen not loading properly on some devices
  • Printer connection issues after app updates

Requested features

4 requests
  • Landscape mode support for tablets
  • Temperature graphs and print progress indicators
  • Ability to remotely control printer via VPN
  • Push notifications for print status updates

HeatNext

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Polymer

One-time4
  • Kind Tip$2.99
  • Polymer Pro$9.99
  • Generous Tip$9.99
Show 1 more
  • Incredible Tip$14.99
1 purchases

HeatNext

Subscriptions1
  • Plus Package$22.901 Year

Questions

Is Polymer free?
Polymer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is HeatNext free?
HeatNext is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Polymer or HeatNext have ads?
Neither Polymer nor HeatNext shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Polymer or HeatNext?
Polymer ships an update monthly, and HeatNext every 5 weeks. Most recently, Polymer was updated on November 11, 2026 and HeatNext on November 6, 2026.

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