# STL Simple Viewer vs BST Scanner

The clearest difference is review sentiment: BST Scanner at 100% against STL Simple Viewer's 17%. BST Scanner also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4) and ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. STL Simple Viewer sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. BST Scanner asks for nothing beyond the download.

STL Simple Viewer ships an update every 20 months, BST Scanner every 24 months. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | STL Simple Viewer | BST Scanner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.3 (866 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stl-simple-viewer/id1493598400/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **866** | — |
| Positive reviews | 17.2% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 20 months** | Every 24 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 19 MB | 23 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | +4 | 17+ |
| Developer | [Victor Bovio](https://appshunter.io/developer/327627515) | [Brad Taylor](https://appshunter.io/developer/1497253876) |

## What reviewers say

### STL Simple Viewer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stl-simple-viewer/id1493598400)

Easily view and interact with 3D STL CAD models. Supports various file types and offers advanced rendering options for detailed analysis. Get model information and explore interiors with clipping planes.

**Highlights:** View ASCII and Binary STL files, Load STL from ZIP, Rotate, pan, and zoom, Orthogonal and Perspective modes, Model info (triangle count, bounding box), Rendering options (faces, edges, transparency), Clipping plane for interiors

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro version (1 week plan) | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| Pro version (1 month plan) | $1.99 | per month |
| Remove Ads | $2.99 | one-time |
| Export to OBJ, DAE, DXF, PLY | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Simple and intuitive viewer
- 👍 Useful viewing options
- 💡 Supports multiple file formats

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 🚨 Excessive and intrusive ads
- 🔍 Limited functionality for larger files

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when opening larger STL files
- Inability to open some file formats
- Ads continue to appear even after paying for ad removal

**Requested features**

- Add ability to save color/lighting settings
- Improve stability and reduce crashes
- Provide an ad-free paid version


### BST Scanner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bst-scanner/id1514100162)

Utilize your device's camera or laser to scan barcodes found on the BST Apps website. This tool streamlines the process of accessing product information directly from the site.

**Highlights:** Scan barcodes using camera, Scan barcodes using laser, Access product information, Integrates with BST Apps website

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is STL Simple Viewer free?

STL Simple Viewer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is BST Scanner free?

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

### Do STL Simple Viewer or BST Scanner have ads?

STL Simple Viewer shows ads; BST Scanner does not.

### Which is updated more often, STL Simple Viewer or BST Scanner?

STL Simple Viewer ships an update every 20 months, and BST Scanner every 24 months. Most recently, STL Simple Viewer was updated on September 26, 2026 and BST Scanner on September 18, 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.*