Comparison

3D Model Viewer vs STL Viewer

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

Head to head
About

3D Model Viewer

Explore and interact with 3D models on your mobile device. Simulate the 3D printing process to identify potential issues before committing to a print. Visualize your models in augmented reality, adjusting scale and rotation within your real-world environment.

Highlights
  • View 3D models in real-time
  • Rotate, zoom, and paint models
  • Simulate 3D printing process
  • View models in AR mode
  • Adjust scale and rotation in AR
  • Supports multiple 3D file formats
Features
Read full description

Have you ever wanted to view and interact with 3D Models? 3D Model Viewer allows you to view compatible 3D Models using your mobile device. You can even simulate 3D Printing and view your model in AR mode! -- View 3D Models Import and view your 3D models in real time, rotating, zooming and painting! -- Simulate 3D Printing Watch a simulation of your model being 3D printed from bottom to top and identify any potential problems with the model without wasting any printing material! -- AR Mode View your 3D models inserted into the real world, being able to adjust scale and rotation! -- Compatible with many formats 3D Model Viewer supports the following formats: .stl, .obj*, .abc, .ply, .usdz, .usd, .usda, .dae *.obj files can be imported with textures in the format of a .zip file 3D Model Viewer is now available for all iOS devices!

About

STL Viewer

View, explore, and edit 3D models on your iPhone or iPad. Basic viewing is included with purchase, with optional upgrades for advanced creation, editing, and reporting features. Models are processed locally for privacy.

Highlights
  • Open and view STL files
  • Rotate, pan, and zoom models
  • Basic model information inspection
  • Create and edit 3D models
  • Measure distances and angles
  • Export to multiple file formats
  • Generate local PDF reports
Features
Read full description

Open your STL file on iPhone or iPad and examine the model with rotation, zoom and technical views. Your app purchase includes basic viewing without a subscription. Pro and Studio are optional upgrades for creation, editing, inspection and reports. BASIC VIEWER Open binary or ASCII STL files. Orbit, pan and zoom, switch camera views, and inspect basic model information in solid or wireframe mode. PRO WORKSPACE Build with primitives and profiles; extrude and revolve shapes. Transform objects, preview Boolean operations and plane cuts, and use mesh repair tools. Organize multiple objects in local projects with undo, redo and saved revisions. Measure distances, angles and radii, and inspect sampled estimates of wall thickness and surface deviation. Export STL, OBJ, PLY, 3MF and GLB files, capture PNG images, and opt into project reminders. STUDIO REPORTS Studio includes Pro and adds local PDF reports with project information, geometry summaries and inspection annotations. IMPORTANT LIMITS Models are processed on your device, not uploaded to our servers. Projects and revisions are local. This app does not include cloud collaboration, SSO, STEP/B-rep CAD or manufacturing certification. Thickness and surface comparisons are sampled estimates, not certified measurements. File formats and mesh operations have safety limits and restrictions shown in the tools. STL does not record units; choose the correct unit for your model. OPTIONAL PLANS The app download is paid. Basic viewing needs no subscription. Creation, editing and advanced inspection require Pro or Studio; PDF reports require Studio. Monthly/annual subscriptions and Pro Lifetime are optional. The App Store displays prices and periods before purchase. Subscriptions renew automatically until cancelled in your Apple account settings. Restore Purchases is available in the app. Terms: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy: https://softwareideal.com.br/policy.html Support: https://softwareideal.com.br

Screenshots

3D Model Viewer3 screens
STL Viewer2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: STL Viewer at 100% against 3D Model Viewer's 20%. STL Viewer also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.4). 3D Model Viewer's advantage is price (Free vs $0.99) and ratings volume (363 vs 1). On ads and in-app purchases 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

3D Model Viewer is free to download; STL Viewer costs $0.99 up front. 3D Model Viewer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and STL Viewer sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

STL Viewer holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: 3D Model Viewer has 363 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 20% of 3D Model Viewer's written reviews are positive against 100% of STL Viewer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

3D Model Viewer ships an update weekly, STL Viewer every 4 weeks. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
3D Model Viewer versus STL Viewer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameter3D Model ViewerSTL Viewer
PriceFree — better$0.99
Rating4.4 (363 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews20.5% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings363 — better1
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 4 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Vision Pro — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size17 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperArthur Eduardo Skaetta Alvarez Desenvolvimento de Software LTDA.Felipe Marques de Barros

Customer experience

3D Model Viewer

All ratings358 ratings
Positive84.4%
Neutral4.5%
Negative11.2%
Written reviews44 reviews
Positive20.5%
Neutral13.6%
Negative65.9%

STL Viewer

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

3D Model Viewer

Reported bugs

10 issues
  • App crashes immediately after upload
  • App crashes when importing PLY files
  • App crashes after payment
  • App crashes when importing large files
  • App crashes on iPad Pro
Show 5 more
  • VR crashes
  • Model centering limits viewing
  • Paint function assigns random color
  • Incorrect AR sizing
  • Y axis is up in AR

Requested features

11 requests
  • Allow changing background color
  • Allow changing lighting positions
  • Add axis lock object rotation
  • Add way to rotate side to side (turntable)
  • Option to slow down rotation/movements
Show 6 more
  • Add arrange by recent for downloaded STLs
  • Add ability to list most recent STL at top
  • Allow models to scale larger in AR mode
  • Add free rotation
  • Improve AR sizing accuracy
  • Use Z axis as up for AR and print sim

STL Viewer

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

3D Model Viewer

One-time1
  • Model Viewer Premium$1.99
5 purchases

STL Viewer

Subscriptions4
  • STL Viewer Pro Mensal$2.991 Month
  • STL Viewer Studio Mensal$5.991 Month
  • STL Viewer Pro Anual$22.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • STL Viewer Studio Anual$49.991 Year
One-time1
  • STL Viewer Pro Vitalício$39.99

Questions

Is 3D Model Viewer free?
3D Model Viewer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is STL Viewer free?
STL Viewer costs $0.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, 3D Model Viewer or STL Viewer?
STL Viewer is rated higher. 3D Model Viewer averages 4.4 out of 5 from 363 ratings, while STL Viewer averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do 3D Model Viewer or STL Viewer have ads?
Neither 3D Model Viewer nor STL Viewer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, 3D Model Viewer or STL Viewer?
3D Model Viewer ships an update weekly, and STL Viewer every 4 weeks. Most recently, 3D Model Viewer was updated on November 3, 2026 and STL Viewer on November 3, 2026.

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