Comparison

STL Simple Viewer vs Polar Cloud

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

Head to head
About

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.

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
Read full description

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

About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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

STL Simple Viewer4 screens
Polar Cloud4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
STL Simple Viewer versus Polar Cloud: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSTL Simple ViewerPolar Cloud
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (920 ratings) — better3.0 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews18.1% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings920 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size19 MB48 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperVictor BovioPolar Cloud

Customer experience

STL Simple Viewer

All ratings909 ratings
Positive80.3%
Neutral4.5%
Negative15.2%
Written reviews166 reviews
Positive18.1%
Neutral11.4%
Negative70.5%

Polar Cloud

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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

4 purchases

STL Simple Viewer

Subscriptions2
  • Pro version (1 week plan)$0.997 Days
  • Pro version (1 month plan)3 Days trial$1.991 Month
One-time2
  • Remove Ads$2.99
  • Export Pack$3.99
2 purchases

Polar Cloud

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Subscription$9.991 Month
  • Yearly Subscription$79.991 Year

Questions

Is STL Simple Viewer free?
STL Simple Viewer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Polar Cloud free?
Polar Cloud is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, STL Simple Viewer or Polar Cloud?
STL Simple Viewer is rated higher. STL Simple Viewer averages 4.3 out of 5 from 920 ratings, while Polar Cloud averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.
Do STL Simple Viewer or Polar Cloud have ads?
STL Simple Viewer shows ads; Polar Cloud does not.
Which is updated more often, STL Simple Viewer or Polar Cloud?
STL Simple Viewer ships an update every 5 months, and Polar Cloud every 2 months. Most recently, STL Simple Viewer was updated on October 29, 2026 and Polar Cloud on October 28, 2026.

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