STL Simple Viewer vs Plotava
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
Plotava
Organize field data with linked records and plans. Import or sketch plans, add detailed points with media and GPS context, and create professional markups. Export organized packages for seamless office-to-field communication.
- Import PDF plans or sketch new ones
- Add numbered field points with photos and notes
- Create detailed markups with dimensions and shapes
- Export professional PDF packages
- Offline functionality
- Local-first data storage
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Turn photos, notes and PDFs into documents people can follow. Make illustrated instructions, a home record, a photo report or a clear handoff for work. Create pages, bring in existing material and keep the details together in a Binder. Export a PDF without rebuilding the document somewhere else. CREATE, DON'T JUST COLLECT Start with a Blank Report or a template for Work Instructions, Meeting Notes, Photo Log and more. Add headings, paragraphs, photos, numbered steps, checklists and signature blocks. Edit your own report text on the page and align content left, center or right. BRING YOUR MATERIAL TOGETHER Import PDFs, scan paper documents, photograph a plan or start a sketch. Keep authored Reports and imported pages in the same Binder. Add photos, supporting PDFs, notes and silent video where they belong. KEEP THE CONTEXT CONNECTED Place a Point on a page or photo to connect it to the relevant evidence. Add more detail inside a photo, link to another Sheet, or keep notes and measurements beside the exact location they describe. Complete Binder exports preserve navigation between pages, Points and supporting details. SHOW WHAT YOU MEAN Mark up photos and plans with arrows, notes, dimensions, lines, shapes and freehand drawing. Add imperial dimensions and ordinate measurements. Your imported original stays unchanged; the PDF you export is a new file. SPEAK YOUR EXPLANATION Use Dictate to write a Report block with on-device transcription. Keep, play or delete the original Recordings. On supported devices with Apple Intelligence enabled, Tidy Text can refine dictated wording on-device. Review the result or return to the original words. Tidy Text requires iOS 26 and compatible hardware. EXPORT WHAT THE READER NEEDS Choose Complete Binder for linked context, Photo Report for visual evidence, Measurement Schedule for recorded dimensions, or Pages Only for just your pages without a cover, index or Point-detail pages. Pages Only does not preserve navigation links. Preview, print or share the PDF. Share PDF + Recordings (.zip) includes audio as separate files, not embedded PDF playback. PERSONAL OR PROFESSIONAL Document a room update. Make a visual setup guide. Explain a repeatable process. Record existing conditions or prepare a client handoff. Start with the material you have; a construction plan is not required. LOCAL-FIRST, WITHOUT AN ACCOUNT No sign-up, advertising or tracking. Work offline after source material is on your device. There is no automatic cloud sync or upload. Use Binder Backup to keep an editable recovery copy, and share only what you choose. Optional aerial imagery, address search and purchases require a connection. The built-in User Guide helps you explore the app. FREE AND PRO One binder at a time is free, with everything in it. Finish it, export the PDF, delete it, start the next. Pro keeps unlimited binders on this device. Plotava Pro is an auto-renewing monthly or annual subscription. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel in your Apple Account settings. Privacy Policy: https://plotava.com/privacy Terms of Use: https://plotava.com/terms
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Plotava at 5.0 against STL Simple Viewer's 4.3. Plotava also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 5 months). STL Simple Viewer's advantage is ratings volume (909 vs 2). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model 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 Plotava sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Plotava holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: STL Simple Viewer has 909 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.
STL Simple Viewer ships an update every 5 months, Plotava every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | STL Simple Viewer | Plotava |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.3 (909 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 18.1% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 909 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | Every 3 days — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 19 MB | 17 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Victor Bovio | Charged Alpha |
Customer experience
STL Simple Viewer
Plotava
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
Plotava
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
Plotava
- Plotava Pro Monthly$9.991 Month
- Plotava Pro Annual$79.991 Year
Questions
Is STL Simple Viewer free?
Is Plotava free?
Which has better reviews, STL Simple Viewer or Plotava?
Do STL Simple Viewer or Plotava have ads?
Which is updated more often, STL Simple Viewer or Plotava?
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