Comparison

swatchbook vs Patchwork Explorer

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

Head to head
About

swatchbook

This app provides a cloud platform for sourcing, developing, and sharing digital materials. It allows users to search, filter, and request physical samples, interact with materials in 2D and 3D, and create shareable collections for design projects.

Highlights
  • Source and request physical material samples
  • Develop materials with 2D and 3D display options
  • Create and share material collections
  • Search and filter digital materials
  • Patent-pending 1:1 material display
Features
Read full description

swatchbook is the new home of materials. a cloud platform that revolutionizes the sourcing, development & sharing of digital materials. with the iOS app this means we are putting all the materials back in your hand. all the power of swatchbook focused inside the mobile app. source: Search, filter & fine tune your search. when ready, request samples for a wonderful touch & feel experience. you are making an actual physical product after all. develop: we've designed this to make the best use of all the visual tools swatchbook has to offer. it offers various display options to view the swatches including our incredible patent pending 1:1 display. interact with them in 2d & 3d & ultimately create materials & collections for your design line. share: Create collections that can be shared within your organization, with your team members, or externally with material consultants or you may receive them directly from your suppliers.

About

Patchwork Explorer

Features
Read full description

With Patchwork Explorer, use your device to explore your photorealistic 3D models, all of their functions, and the rendering quality. Lumiscaphe’s photorealistic 3D models are trusted by leading industry designers and engineers from many sectors: automotive, aeronautics, transportation, lifestyle & luxury goods, industrial equipment, consumer goods, architecture & construction, design & studio work, and emerging industries. - Photorealistic real-time rendering - Augmented reality - UHD/Retina resolutions supported natively This app requires a preexisting Lumiscaphe account.

Screenshots

swatchbook4 screens
Patchwork Explorer1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: swatchbook at every 2 months against Patchwork Explorer's every 6 months. Patchwork Explorer's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 14.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

swatchbook ships an update every 2 months, Patchwork Explorer every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on September 20, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
swatchbook versus Patchwork Explorer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterswatchbookPatchwork Explorer
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (12 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings12 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 6 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS14.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size85 MB331 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developerswatchbook Inc.Lumiscaphe

In-app purchases

None

swatchbook

No in-app purchases

None

Patchwork Explorer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is swatchbook free?
swatchbook 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 swatchbook or Patchwork Explorer have ads?
Neither swatchbook nor Patchwork Explorer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, swatchbook or Patchwork Explorer?
swatchbook ships an update every 2 months, and Patchwork Explorer every 6 months. Most recently, swatchbook was updated on September 20, 2026 and Patchwork Explorer on September 19, 2026.

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