3D Scanner vs Beautiful Things
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
3D Scanner
Create detailed 3D models from your device's camera. Process scans directly on your phone or use a free Mac app. Share your creations in augmented reality or export them for 3D printing.
- High-quality 3D scans
- On-device processing (LiDAR)
- Free Mac app for processing
- Augmented reality sharing
- 3D printing export
- AI object generation (subscription)
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Turn real-world objects into detailed 3D models, right on your iPhone or iPad. SCAN WITH LIDAR Walk around an object and Sapling captures it with Object Capture, then builds the 3D model on your device. No servers, no waiting. TURNTABLE MODE No LiDAR? Put the object on a turntable or lazy Susan and Sapling takes photos automatically as it spins. Process them on your device, or with the free Sapling app for Mac. CREATE WITH AI Describe what you want, or start from a photo, and generate a 3D model with AI. AI generation uses tokens, which come with a subscription or as token packs, and requires sign-in. SEE IT, SIZE IT, EXPORT IT • Place models in your space with augmented reality • Set a model's real-world height before you print it • Export USDZ, STL, OBJ and PLY for 3D printing, sharing, game development and more • Sync models to your other devices and Apple Vision Pro with iCloud Your first scan is free. Unlock unlimited scans and processing with a purchase or subscription. Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Beautiful Things
Capture real-world items in 3D, view them in augmented reality, and save them for immersive experiences. Discover new 3D objects and share your own creations.
- 3D Scanning
- Augmented Reality View
- Vision Pro Integration
- Discover and Collect 3D Objects
- Upload Your Own Creations
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Discover, create, and explore a world of 3D objects with Beautiful Things! Whether you’re scanning real-world items, showcasing them in AR, or saving them to your personal collection for Vision Pro, this app transforms how you interact with the world around you. • 3D Scanning: Easily capture objects in 3D with just your device. • AR View: Bring your objects to life in Augmented Reality. • Vision Pro Integration: Save and experience your favorite 3D Things in stunning detail. • Discover & Collect: Browse and find new 3D objects you love, from art to everyday items. • Upload Your Own: Share your own 3D creations with the world. Explore endless possibilities and turn your favorite things into immersive 3D experiences!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: 3D Scanner at 4.4 against Beautiful Things's 3.7. 3D Scanner also leads on update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 5 months) and ratings volume (55 vs 3). Beautiful Things's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 9) and review sentiment (100% vs 67%). On price, ads 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
Both are free to download. 3D Scanner sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Beautiful Things asks for nothing beyond the download.
3D Scanner holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: 3D Scanner has 55 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 67% of 3D Scanner's written reviews are positive against 100% of Beautiful Things's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
3D Scanner ships an update every 5 weeks, Beautiful Things every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | 3D Scanner | Beautiful Things |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.4 (55 ratings) — better | 3.7 (3 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 55 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks — better | Every 5 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 62 MB | 15 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Cephalopod Studio | Matthew Hoerl |
Customer experience
3D Scanner
Beautiful Things
In-app purchases
3D Scanner
- Generate Monthly$2.991 Month
- Monthly$4.991 Month
- Generate Annually3 Days trial$9.991 Year
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- Yearly3 Days trial$39.991 Year
- Small Token Pack$4.99
- Medium Token Pack$14.99
- Premium$19.99
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- Large Token Pack$49.99
- Premium Lifetime$79.99
Beautiful Things
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is 3D Scanner free?
Is Beautiful Things free?
Which has better reviews, 3D Scanner or Beautiful Things?
Do 3D Scanner or Beautiful Things have ads?
Which is updated more often, 3D Scanner or Beautiful Things?
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