Comparison

3Dskope vs Patchwork Explorer

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

Head to head
About

3Dskope

View and manipulate 3D models and various archive formats on your iOS device. Supports multiple file types, animations, and measurement tools. Offers optional extensions for enhanced visualization and export capabilities.

Highlights
  • Browse GZ, RAR, ZIP archives
  • View 3D content in 3DS, ASE, OBJ, PLY, STL
  • Play embedded animations
  • Measure coordinates, distances, areas, volumes
  • Clip tool for cross-sectional views
  • Customizable UI for left/right-hand operation
  • Support for NURBS curves and surfaces
Read full description

Browse GZ, RAR and ZIP archives and view 3D content from a variety of popular data formats right on your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. View 3D data attached to E-mail messages, download from websites or online cloud storage or transfer via iTunes document exchange or from the Files app. 3Dskope natively supports 3DS, ASE, OBJ, PLY, and STL formats. Additional data formats are available via 3Dskope Importer extensions (see below). 3Dskope also handles some bitmap formats not supported by iOS (e.g. DDS, TIFF, TGA). Other document types (AR content, PDF's, photos, movies, office doc's, etc...) are passed to iOS for preview generation. Thus, 3Dskope is an advanced, high quality 3D viewer with additional general-purpose content viewing capabilities. 3Dskope lets you play animations embedded in 3DS or ASE files (mono- or stereoscopic), lets you toggle light sources and gives you an overview of the elements that comprise the scene (cameras, lights, materials, meshes, groups). In addition to polygonal mesh geometry 3Dskope can import NURBS curves and surfaces from OBJ files. Using 3Dskope's Magic Crosshair™ you can measure coordinates, distances, areas and volumes. In addition you can use the clip tool to display and animate cross-sectional views. You can customize the UI for left-hand or right-hand operation. Also, you can select from a number of background patterns, gradients and color schemes or define your own look. Additional capabilities are available via In-App Purchase extensions: - 3Dskope Professional lets you load scene textures, provides extended visualization modes, and lets you render your scene in high resolution with transparent background. On supported devices an additional spatial image is generated when rendering in side-by-side stereo mode. - 3Dskope Explorer provides a new and intuitive way to view the properties of your scene’s cameras, lights, materials, nodes, animation tracks and animation keys. In addition you can explore individual meshes in a separate 3D view. - 3Dskope Exporter lets you save your scene to various popular data formats (3DS, OBJ/MTL, PLY, and STL are currently available). Free trial exporters are included for evaluation. These have full functionality but the trial exporter's output can only be opened with 3Dskope and only on the same device. This way you can test the exporter before buying the unrestricted version via In-App purchase. - 3Dskope Importer provides support for additional data formats. Static preview generation is available for free. Again, this lets you test before you buy the full functionality for a specific data format via In-App purchase. AC3D is the first additional data format provided by a 3Dskope Importer extension. For a detailed app description view the 3Dskope Quick Start Guide on our website. There are also some short tutorial videos on YouTube. Just search for "3Dskope". Please contact Seselmo Support if you have questions about 3Dskope or if you want to leave feedback. Also, please take a few moments to write an app review for 3Dskope. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: 3D datasets used in screenshots: - Camera: booka80 via cgtrader.com - Motorbike (included): gonzo-3d.com - Turbine Blade: cc.gatech.edu/projects/large_models - Kap Hornier and Seahorse: deespona.com - NURBS iPhone 5c (included): Andreas S. Gkertsos - Dental Mould: scan sample by 3d3solutions.com - Turbo Sonic (included): squir.com 3Dskope Professional was used to create some of the screenshots. Unless otherwise noted 3D datasets are NOT included with the app. With your download of the 3Dskope app you do NOT obtain any rights to included 3D datasets other than the right to display those datasets within the 3Dskope app. Any included 3D datasets may be removed from future versions of the app without compensation.

About

Patchwork Explorer

Features
Read full description

With Patchwork Explorer, use your device to explore your photorealistic 3D models, all of their functions, and the rendering quality. Lumiscaphe’s photorealistic 3D models are trusted by leading industry designers and engineers from many sectors: automotive, aeronautics, transportation, lifestyle & luxury goods, industrial equipment, consumer goods, architecture & construction, design & studio work, and emerging industries. - Photorealistic real-time rendering - Augmented reality - UHD/Retina resolutions supported natively This app requires a preexisting Lumiscaphe account.

Screenshots

3Dskope4 screens
Patchwork Explorer1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Patchwork Explorer at Free against 3Dskope's $3.99. Patchwork Explorer also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 8) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.6). On update cadence, ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Patchwork Explorer is free to download; 3Dskope costs $3.99 up front. 3Dskope sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Patchwork Explorer asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on July 7, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
3Dskope versus Patchwork Explorer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameter3DskopePatchwork Explorer
Price$3.99Free — better
Rating3.3 (3 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews55.6% of reviews—
Number of ratings3 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsEvery 6 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.612.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size59 MB331 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperSeselmo UG (haftungsbeschränkt)Lumiscaphe

In-app purchases

8 purchases

3Dskope

One-time8
  • 3Dskope Explorer$14.99
  • 3Dskope Exporters$14.99
  • Exporter for 3DS$14.99
Show 5 more
  • Exporter for OBJ and MTL$14.99
  • Exporter for PLY$14.99
  • Exporter for STL$14.99
  • Importer for AC3D$14.99
  • 3Dskope Professional$17.99
None

Patchwork Explorer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is 3Dskope free?
3Dskope costs $3.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Patchwork Explorer free?
Patchwork Explorer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do 3Dskope or Patchwork Explorer have ads?
Neither 3Dskope nor Patchwork Explorer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, 3Dskope or Patchwork Explorer?
3Dskope ships an update every 6 months, and Patchwork Explorer every 6 months. Most recently, 3Dskope was updated on July 7, 2026 and Patchwork Explorer on September 19, 2026.

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