# EM3D vs Recon

The clearest difference is rating: Recon at 4.8 against EM3D's 3.2. Recon also leads on review sentiment (75% vs 45%). EM3D's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.1). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. EM3D sells 8 one-off in-app purchases and Recon sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $99.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Recon holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 101 and 277 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 45% of EM3D's written reviews are positive against 75% of Recon's.

EM3D ships an update weekly, Recon every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | EM3D | Recon |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.2 (101 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/em3d-ethan-makes-3d-scanner/id1546149822/reviews) | **[4.8 (277 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/recon-3d/id1594797748/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 101 | **277** |
| Positive reviews | 45.0% of reviews | **75.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 52 MB | 94 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 16.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Brawny Lads](https://appshunter.io/developer/622937459) | [Recon-3D Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1594797750) |

## What reviewers say

### EM3D

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/em3d-ethan-makes-3d-scanner/id1546149822)

Create 3D scans of objects, people, and pets using your device's front-facing 3D camera. Share your creations on social media, export them for 3D printing, or capture memories in a new dimension.

**Highlights:** 3D scan objects with front-facing camera, Create 360° or custom selfie videos, Scan kids and pets, Full color 3D scan export, 3D printing service integration, Mirror Saver feature for easier scanning

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Share Videos | $1.99 | one-time |
| Export PLY | $6.99 | one-time |
| Export OBJ | $6.99 | one-time |
| Export STL | $6.99 | one-time |
| Export Point Cloud | $6.99 | one-time |
| Export Scene | $6.99 | one-time |
| Unlock All Features | $19.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Bundle | $49.99 | one-time |


### Recon

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/recon-3d/id1594797748)

Capture accurate 3D data using photogrammetry and your device's lidar sensor. Process data locally for privacy or in the cloud. Includes optional scaling with April Tags and exports in e57 format for further analysis.

**Highlights:** Photogrammetry and lidar fusion, Cloud or on-device processing, Optional April Tag scaling, e57 format export, Privacy-focused local processing

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Recon3D One Month Subscription | $99.99 | per month |
| Recon3D 1 Year Subscription | $599.99 | per year |
| 5 Additional Uploads | $49.99 | one-time |
| 10 Additional Uploads | $79.99 | one-time |
| Recon3D 1 Year Subscription | $299.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ✨ Accurate 3D scanning
- 🚀 Efficient workflow revolution
- 👍 Easy to use
- 💡 Innovative use of iPhone features
- ✅ Excellent data quality

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes at save
- 🐛 Loses data and video
- 🐛 Update required in rural areas
- 🐛 Camera laggy after update
- 🐛 Slow screen update after update

**Reported bugs**

- Program crashes when hitting save
- App requires update in rural areas without data
- Camera is laggy and slow to update screen after update
- Permission problems block app usage
- App shows 'Oops' screen asking for permission despite all permissions granted

**Requested features**

- Tool for measuring in the app


## Frequently asked questions

### Is EM3D free?

EM3D is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Recon free?

Recon is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, EM3D or Recon?

Recon is rated higher. EM3D averages 3.2 out of 5 from 101 ratings, while Recon averages 4.8 from 277 ratings.

### Do EM3D or Recon have ads?

Neither EM3D nor Recon shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, EM3D or Recon?

EM3D ships an update weekly, and Recon every 2 months. Most recently, EM3D was updated on October 24, 2026 and Recon on October 24, 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.*