# 3D Printing vs Catchimals

The clearest difference is update cadence: Catchimals at every 5 days against 3D Printing's every 2 weeks. 3D Printing's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.5). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. 3D Printing sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month and Catchimals sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

3D Printing ships an update every 2 weeks, Catchimals every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | 3D Printing | Catchimals |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[2.9 (35 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/3d-printing-idle-simulator/id6455989915/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **35** | — |
| Positive reviews | 16.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 204 MB | 308 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.5 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [APP CENTRAL LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1509075661) | [EDUARDO D REA](https://appshunter.io/developer/6777208753) |

## What reviewers say

### 3D Printing

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/3d-printing-idle-simulator/id6455989915)

Manage your own 3D printing business, starting with simple models and expanding your empire. Upgrade your printer, unlock new designs, and enjoy idle progression even when offline. Become a 3D printing tycoon.

**Highlights:** Idle progression, Printer upgrades, Unlockable designs, Addictive gameplay, Business empire building

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| All Bundle Features Unlocked! | $19.99 | per month |
| All AppCentral Games Unlocked! | $39.99 | per month |


### Catchimals

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/catchimals/id6777208751)

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small Film Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Large Film Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| Double Develop | $9.99 | one-time |
| Big Backpack | $9.99 | one-time |
| Refrigeration | $9.99 | one-time |
| Fast Analysis | $19.99 | one-time |
| Ad-Free Pass | $79.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is 3D Printing free?

3D Printing is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Catchimals free?

Catchimals is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do 3D Printing or Catchimals have ads?

Both 3D Printing and Catchimals show ads.

### Which is updated more often, 3D Printing or Catchimals?

3D Printing ships an update every 2 weeks, and Catchimals every 5 days. Most recently, 3D Printing was updated on September 23, 2026 and Catchimals on September 14, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*