STL Simple Viewer vs Polar Cloud
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
STL Simple Viewer
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.
- 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
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STL Simple Viewer is a great app to quickly view STL, 3MF & DXF 3D files and export them to the most commonly used CAD formats. Features: - Supports STL files both ASCII and Binary formats. - Supports 3MF & DXF files. - Load files directly from ZIP archives. - Export to DXF, OBJ, DAE, PLY, USD, STL & 3MF. - Measure distances between points within your model. - Rotate, pan, and zoom models with intuitive touch controls. - Configure rendering options: faces, edges, points, background and transparency. - Render using a clipping plane (useful for viewing model interiors). - View models in Orthographic or Perspective mode. - Obtain model information including triangle count, bounding box, surface area, and volume. Privacy Policy: https://www.boviosoft.com/apps/privacy.html Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ For support or questions: support@boviosoft.com
Polar Cloud
Monitor and manage your 3D printers remotely from your mobile device. View live camera feeds, start prints, and upload files from anywhere. This app streamlines 3D printing workflows for hobbyists, educators, and print farm operators.
- Remote printer monitoring
- Live camera feeds
- Print job management
- File uploading (STL, OBJ, 3MF, G-code)
- Cloud-based slicing
- AI photo to 3D model conversion
- Multi-printer management
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Polar Cloud brings connected 3D printing to your pocket. Monitor your printers, manage jobs, view live camera feeds, and start prints from anywhere using a fast mobile experience built for modern 3D printing workflows. Whether you’re managing a classroom, running a print farm, or checking a hobby print from the couch, Polar Cloud makes it easy to stay connected to your printers without being tied to a desktop computer. Key Features • Monitor live printer status and progress • View printer camera feeds remotely • Start, pause, and manage prints from your phone • Upload STL, OBJ, 3MF, and G-code files • Access cloud-based slicing workflows • Manage multiple printers in one place • Receive print notifications and updates • Organize printers, groups, and classrooms AI Photo to 3D Model: Turn real-world objects into printable 3D models in seconds. Simply snap a photo with your phone, generate a 3D model using AI, and send it directly to your printer from the app. It’s one of the fastest ways to go from idea to printed object. Built for Connected Printing: Traditional 3D printing workflows rely on SD cards, USB drives, and local networks. Polar Cloud replaces disconnected workflows with a modern cloud-based platform designed for remote access and real-time visibility. Your printers, files, and workflows stay connected wherever you are. This app uses Apple Standard EULA terms you can find at https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Polar Cloud at 100% against STL Simple Viewer's 18%. Polar Cloud also leads on ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). STL Simple Viewer's advantage is rating (4.3 vs 3.0) and ratings volume (920 vs 2). On price, 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
Both are free to download. STL Simple Viewer sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days and Polar Cloud sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
STL Simple Viewer holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: STL Simple Viewer has 920 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 18% of STL Simple Viewer's written reviews are positive against 100% of Polar Cloud's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
STL Simple Viewer ships an update every 5 months, Polar Cloud every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | STL Simple Viewer | Polar Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.3 (920 ratings) — better | 3.0 (2 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 18.1% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 920 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 19 MB | 48 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Victor Bovio | Polar Cloud |
Customer experience
STL Simple Viewer
Polar Cloud
Bugs and requests
STL Simple Viewer
Reported bugs
3 issues- 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
3 requests- Add ability to save color/lighting settings
- Improve stability and reduce crashes
- Provide an ad-free paid version
Polar Cloud
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
STL Simple Viewer
- Pro version (1 week plan)$0.997 Days
- Pro version (1 month plan)3 Days trial$1.991 Month
- Remove Ads$2.99
- Export Pack$3.99
Polar Cloud
- Monthly Subscription$9.991 Month
- Yearly Subscription$79.991 Year
Questions
Is STL Simple Viewer free?
Is Polar Cloud free?
Which has better reviews, STL Simple Viewer or Polar Cloud?
Do STL Simple Viewer or Polar Cloud have ads?
Which is updated more often, STL Simple Viewer or Polar Cloud?
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