3D modeling vs PCBAtlas
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
3D modeling
Create 3D models and digital art on your mobile device. Sculpt, sketch, and color your designs with intuitive gesture controls and a comprehensive set of modeling tools. Export your creations in standard formats.
- Gesture-based 3D manipulation
- Vertex, edge, and face editing tools
- Sculpting and coloring capabilities
- UV editor for texture placement
- Material application
- OBJ file import/export
- Video tutorials for all tools
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3D Modeling App lets you easily design 3D content on the go using gestures on iPhone or iPad. No need to use the Apple Pencil, but you can, if you want to. Tons of features: 1. Fast workflow: - Move, Rotate, Scale objects and camera by gestures switching between them on the go. - Easily multi-select Vertices, Edges, Faces and Objects by long tap or frame draw. 2. Vertex tools: Merge (Target merge, Collapse Edges, Collapse Faces), Connect, Create face by vertices. 3. Edge tools: Draw cut by single swipe or by set point by point, Cut loop (create new edge-loops), Select loop (also by double tap), Extrude, Delete, Select ring, Create face by border edge (fill the hole). 4. Face tools: Extrude, Draw face by set points, Detach, Clone, Select shell, Reverse, Delete. 5. Object tools: Combine, Separate, Clone, Mirror, Smooth, Divide, Soft/hard normals. 6. Sculpting tools: Move, Screen, Push, Pull, Smooth. You can adjust brush size and strength. 7. Colouring tools: - Paint textures. - Edit texture placement using UV editor. - Vertex color painting. 8. Display tools: - Grid with settable size and snapping value. - Display info: Triangles count, Distance between vertices, Edge length. - Wireframe on shaded on/off. - Shadows on/off. - Axis on/off. 9. 20 materials can be applied to your objects. 10. Additional tools: - Orthographic camera. - Set Move, Rotate and Scale precise values. - Display selected (Isolate selection). - Grow selection and convert selection. - Move Vertices, Edges, Faces and Objects freely without grid snap. - Snap. - Auto-save. 11. Export & import .obj files. 12. Video tutorial for every tool. Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
PCBAtlas
This app provides a local-first workspace for reviewing PCB designs on Apple devices. Import various design files, inspect layouts in 2D and 3D, organize revisions, and manage project data. It streamlines the review process for hardware teams and engineers.
- Import PCB design files (Gerber, ODB++, etc.)
- 2D and 3D board review workspace
- Organize board revisions
- Project and schematic context browsing
- Export PNG/PDF captures and source packages
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Open and review PCB design and manufacturing files locally on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. PCBAtlas is a local-first PCB viewer and review workspace for hardware teams, PCB designers, firmware engineers, QA reviewers, and anyone who needs to inspect real board data away from a full EDA station. Import supported KiCad projects, schematics, board files, DSN, IPC-2581 XML, ODB++ archives or directories, and recognized manufacturing packages. Keep board revisions in managed PCB workspaces, inspect layouts in 2D, browse project and schematic context where available, and use board-level 3D when spatial context helps. What PCBAtlas helps with: - Open supported PCB design and manufacturing files without uploading them to a web viewer - Organize board revisions in a local library - Inspect dense boards with pan, zoom, layer controls, search, object details, and selection tools - Review project data, schematic context, statistics, and import status in Data views - Use board-level 3D for supported board sessions - Export PNG/PDF captures, original source packages, converted board outputs, and shareable handoff materials with PCBAtlas Plus The free tier lets you import and review boards with up to three PCB workspaces. PCBAtlas Plus is a one-time in-app purchase that unlocks unlimited workspaces, export, source delivery, converted outputs, and sharing workflows. PCBAtlas is built for review, inspection, QA, and delivery workflows.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: PCBAtlas at 5.0 against 3D modeling's 4.6. PCBAtlas also leads on update cadence (every 6 days vs every 2 months). 3D modeling's advantage is ratings volume (15K vs 2) and chart position (#105 vs unranked). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. 3D modeling sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and PCBAtlas sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
PCBAtlas holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: 3D modeling has 15K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.
3D modeling ships an update every 2 months, PCBAtlas every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | 3D modeling | PCBAtlas |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (15K ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 68.1% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 15K — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 6 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #105 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 116 MB | 160 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Core five, Inc. | Shanghai Astroform Software Ltd. |
Customer experience
3D modeling
PCBAtlas
Bugs and requests
3D modeling
Reported bugs
4 issues- Painting issues with textures
- Inconsistent scaling behavior
- Reference images disappearing
- Inability to delete objects
Requested features
5 requests- Add layer management
- Improve UV mapping tools
- Implement lighting controls
- Allow importing custom models
- Add mirror/symmetry mode
PCBAtlas
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
3D modeling
- Premium Monthly$5.991 Month
- Monthly Pro$6.991 Month
- Premium Yearly7 Days trial$34.991 Year
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- Premium Yearly$34.991 Year
- Yearly Pro$39.991 Year
- Yearly Pro7 Days trial$39.991 Year
PCBAtlas
- Unlock Plus$24.99
Questions
Is 3D modeling free?
Is PCBAtlas free?
Which has better reviews, 3D modeling or PCBAtlas?
Do 3D modeling or PCBAtlas have ads?
Which is updated more often, 3D modeling or PCBAtlas?
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