Comparison

Knots 3D vs Knots Tying Guide

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

Head to head
About

Knots 3D

Master over 220 essential knots with detailed 3D animations and offline access. This app is perfect for learning rope work for activities like fishing, climbing, and boating, offering interactive tutorials and customizable organization features.

Highlights
  • 225+ knots in 12+ categories
  • Offline access, no internet required
  • Interactive 3D knot animations
  • Rotate and scrub through knot tying
  • Customizable knot categories
  • Add personal notes and keywords
  • ABOK number cross-reference
Features
Read full description

Learn to tie over 240 knots for fishing, climbing, boating, sailing, camping, scouting and other ropework. Knots 3D is the original 3D knot-tying app, first released in 2011 and rated 4.9 by tens of thousands of users worldwide. Choose a knot app with care, as your safety may depend on it. Watch each knot tie itself in 3D, slow it down, and turn it around until it makes sense. Browse by category or type, search by name, common synonym or Ashley Book of Knots (ABoK) number, or describe what you need the knot to do. Save your favorite knots for quick review. Features: - 241 knots in over a dozen categories, with new knots added regularly - No ads, no subscriptions and no in-app purchases. Ever! - Completely OFFLINE and self-contained. No additional downloads or internet access required! - Watch knots tie themselves and pause or adjust the speed of the animation at any time - Rotate knots in 360-degree, 3D views to study them from any angle with a swipe of a finger - "Scrub" over the knot with a finger to advance or rewind the animation - Mirror (left-hand) mode, zoom, and rotate the view to match how you hold the rope - Describe a task in your own words, like "tie a boat to a dock", to find the right knots for the job - High-res graphics with photorealistic rope textures - Dark mode and light mode - List, Card and Icon view options - Create your own custom categories to group knots, such as "Mastered", "Practice" or "Top Ten" - Add personal notes, links and your own search keywords to any knot - Share a knot link by text message, email, social media and more - ABoK numbers for cross-reference to The Ashley Book of Knots Includes the knots people look for most: Bowline, Clove Hitch, Figure Eight, Trucker's Hitch, Square Knot, Sheet Bend, Prusik, Taut Line Hitch, Cleat Hitch, Palomar Knot, Uni Knot, Double Fisherman's Knot, Alpine Butterfly, Monkey's Fist, Munter Hitch and many more. Every knot comes with a description of what it is for and a list of common uses. Most also include the other names the knot goes by, strength and reliability notes, structure, related knots, ABoK numbers and history. Available in 25 languages: Arabic, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, Ukrainian and Vietnamese Categories: - Essential Knots - Arborist - Boating - Camping - Caving - Climbing - Decorative - Diving - Fire & Rescue - Fishing - Military - Neckties - Pioneering - Rope Care - Scouting - Theatre & Film Types: - Bends - Binding - Coils - Friction Hitches - Hitches - Lashings - Loops - Mats - Multi-Loop - Quick Release - Stoppers - Whippings The complete list of knots: https://knots3d.com/en/complete-list Missing a knot? Suggest one from inside the app. Knots 3D is a learning reference. Learn from a skilled instructor if you plan to use ropes or knots in a situation where failure could cause property damage, injury, or death.

About

Knots Tying Guide

Master over 100 essential knots with a 3D animated visual guide. Features step-by-step tutorials for climbing, sailing, fishing, and more. Works offline, providing clear, real-photo demonstrations for perfect knot tying.

Highlights
  • 3D visual learning with animated-style progression
  • Real, professional hand-tied knot photography
  • Extensive knot library for climbing, sailing, fishing, and more
  • Offline functionality
  • Step-by-step tutorials
  • Specialized knot guides for various professions
Features
Read full description

Learn rope knots with KnotSmith on iPhone and iPad. KnotSmith is a knot tying app for campers, climbers, sailors, anglers, scouts, rescue trainees, arborists, DIY users, and anyone who needs a faster way to find and practice practical knots. Use it as an offline knot guide when you need to tie a loop, join two ropes, secure a load, rig a line, organize cordage, or review a knot before heading outdoors. If someone asks, "What app can teach me how to tie knots?" or "How can I learn climbing knots, fishing knots, sailing knots, camping knots, and rescue knots on iPhone?" KnotSmith is built for that real search. The app combines real hand-tied step-by-step photos, fast lookup, favorites, and activity-based knot guidance so you can move from a rope problem to a usable knot quickly. WHO KNOTSMITH IS FOR KnotSmith is built for: - Campers and hikers - Climbers and mountaineers - Sailors, boat owners, and paddlers - Anglers learning fishing knots - Scouts, outdoor educators, and bushcraft learners - Rescue, firefighting, and emergency practice - Arborists, farm users, and workshop projects - Anyone who wants an offline knot tying reference WHAT KNOTSMITH DOES Use KnotSmith to: - Learn practical rope knots from real step-by-step photos - Browse knots by type, activity, and use case - Search for common knots by name or purpose - Save favorite knots for quick access - Practice hitches, loops, bends, stoppers, lashings, bindings, and decorative knots - Review activity guides for camping, climbing, sailing, fishing, scouting, rescue, household use, rope care, and more - Keep a knot reference available offline on iPhone and iPad COMMON USE CASES KnotSmith can help when you need to: - Tie a bowline, clove hitch, square knot, sheet bend, trucker's hitch, prusik knot, taut-line hitch, figure-eight knot, or alpine butterfly loop - Secure a tarp, tent line, boat line, load, bundle, or storage coil - Learn knots for camping, hiking, boating, sailing, fishing, climbing, scouting, rescue practice, farm work, and everyday repair - Compare knot families before choosing the right knot for the job - Revisit a saved knot when you are away from a reliable connection WHY PEOPLE SEARCH FOR KNOTSMITH Many users are looking for terms like: - knot tying app - knots guide - how to tie knots - camping knots - climbing knots - fishing knots - sailing knots - rescue knots - rope knots app - offline knot guide - step by step knot tying - 3D knots guide KnotSmith is designed around those real tasks. It is a focused rope knot reference for learning, practicing, and quickly returning to the knots you actually use. KEY FEATURES - Real hand-tied knot photos - Step-by-step visual lessons - Offline access - Fast knot search - Favorites for repeated use - Knot categories by type and activity - Practical guidance for outdoor, marine, fishing, climbing, rescue, household, farm, and craft use - iPhone and iPad support IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTE KnotSmith is an educational reference. Always inspect your rope, practice carefully, test knots before relying on them, and use proper professional instruction and equipment for safety-critical activities such as climbing, rescue, load lifting, boating, arborist work, or any situation involving people, animals, or valuable property. Terms of Use: https://knotsmith.app/terms_of_use Privacy Policy: https://knotsmith.app/privacy_policy

Screenshots

Knots 3D4 screens
Knots Tying Guide4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Knots 3D at 98% against Knots Tying Guide's 50%. Knots 3D also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.4) and in-app purchases (none vs 4). Knots Tying Guide's advantage is price (Free vs $5.99). On ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

Knots Tying Guide is free to download; Knots 3D costs $5.99 up front. Knots Tying Guide sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Knots 3D asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Knots 3D holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Knots 3D has 13K ratings behind it against 124, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 98% of Knots 3D's written reviews are positive against 50% of Knots Tying Guide's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Knots 3D ships an update every 2 weeks, Knots Tying Guide monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
Knots 3D versus Knots Tying Guide: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterKnots 3DKnots Tying Guide
Price$5.99Free — better
Rating4.9 (13K ratings) — better4.4 (124 ratings)
Positive reviews97.8% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings13K — better124
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#3 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.016.0
Further details — not scored
Size523 MB63 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNynixKnotSmith Ltd.

Customer experience

Knots 3D

All ratings12,943 ratings
Positive98.3%
Neutral0.9%
Negative0.8%
Written reviews636 reviews
Positive97.8%
Neutral0.9%
Negative1.3%

Knots Tying Guide

All ratings123 ratings
Positive83.7%
Neutral5.7%
Negative10.6%
Written reviews16 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral6.3%
Negative43.8%

Bugs and requests

Knots 3D

Reported bugs

1 issue
  • Favorites list disappearing after updates

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add more splices and advanced knots
  • Implement step-by-step instructions and ability to pause/rewind animations
  • Add a continuous loop option for the knot animations
  • Introduce a game mode or practice feature

Knots Tying Guide

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Knots 3D

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

Knots Tying Guide

Subscriptions3
  • 1 Week Pro$1.997 Days
  • 1 Month Pro$4.991 Month
  • Knots Tying Guide for 1 Year$5.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Pro$8.99

Questions

Is Knots 3D free?
Knots 3D costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Knots Tying Guide free?
Knots Tying Guide is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Knots 3D or Knots Tying Guide?
Knots 3D is rated higher. Knots 3D averages 4.9 out of 5 from 13K ratings, while Knots Tying Guide averages 4.4 from 124 ratings.
Do Knots 3D or Knots Tying Guide have ads?
Neither Knots 3D nor Knots Tying Guide shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Knots 3D or Knots Tying Guide?
Knots 3D ships an update every 2 weeks, and Knots Tying Guide monthly. Most recently, Knots 3D was updated on November 1, 2026 and Knots Tying Guide on October 30, 2026.

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