Thingiverse MakerWorld | 3Drop vs STL Preview
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Thingiverse MakerWorld | 3Drop
Consolidate your 3D model searching and collecting across multiple platforms into one app. Find, organize, and manage designs from various sites with cross-platform search and unified favorites.
- Cross-platform 3D model search
- Unified favorites and collections
- Cloud sync across devices
- Website account integration
- Download management
- Content filtering
Read full descriptionHide full description
All your favorite 3D printing model sites — one app. 3Drop brings together Printables, Thingiverse, MakerWorld, Cults 3D, Thangs, Maker Online, Creality Cloud, GrabCAD, MyMiniFactory, and NextPrint into a single, unified experience. Stop switching between browsers and tabs — find, collect, and manage 3D models across all major platforms. 【Cross-Platform Search】 Search across all 10 websites at once. Filter by category, price, license, and more. Sort by relevance, popularity, or upload date to find exactly what you need. 【Unified Favorites & Collections】 Like models from any site and organize them into custom lists. Create themed collections — group by project, material, or printer. All your favorites in one place, no matter the source. 【Cloud Sync】 Sign in to sync favorites across all your devices. Your collections stay up to date everywhere. You can also sync likes and follows directly with each website's account. 【Website Account Integration】 Log in to each website within the app. Check your login status, view your profile, browse your published designs, and manage follows — all without leaving 3Drop. 【Competitions】 Browse active design competitions from supported platforms. See entries, deadlines, and prizes at a glance. 【Personalization】 Light, Dark, and System themes with Material You support Customize card layout: choose which details to display Adjust image fit, title position, and grid layout 7 languages: English, German, Spanish, French, Japanese, Korean, Chinese 【Download Management】 Track your downloaded files, choose storage locations, and clean up history with a built-in download manager. Supported sites: • Printables • Thingiverse • Cults 3D • MakerWorld • Thangs • Maker Online • Creality Cloud • GrabCAD • NextPrint • MyMiniFactory 3Drop is the essential companion app for 3D printing enthusiasts, makers, and hobbyists. Whether you're looking for your next print or managing a growing collection of favorites, 3Drop keeps everything organized in one place. Download now and explore millions of 3D models from across the web. You may purchase an auto-renewing subscription through an In-App Purchase. • Auto-renewable subscription • 1-month ($1.99) duration • 12-month ($14.99) duration • Your subscription will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase. It will automatically renew (at the duration selected) unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. • Current subscription may not be canceled during the active subscription period; however, you can manage your subscription and turn off auto-renewal by visiting your iTunes Account Settings after purchase Privacy Policies: https://three-drop.com/privacy Terms of Use (EULA): https://three-drop.com/terms
STL Preview
Read full descriptionHide full description
STL Preview helps you open and inspect STL files directly on your iPhone or iPad, without needing to return to your computer just to check a 3D model. Whether you are preparing a 3D print, reviewing a design, sharing a model with someone, or quickly checking a part on the go, STL Preview gives you a simple way to see your model clearly in 3D. Open an STL file from Files, downloads, or the share sheet, then rotate, zoom, and examine it with smooth touch controls. Instead of guessing what a file contains from its name or waiting until you are back at your desktop CAD software, you can preview the model immediately. With AR mode, you can place your STL model into the real world using your device camera. This makes it easier to understand size, shape, and proportion before printing, presenting, or continuing your design work. You can also customize the model color and background color to make details easier to see. STL Preview is made for engineers, designers, makers, students, 3D printing users, and anyone who works with STL files and wants a faster, simpler way to inspect them on mobile. Open the file. View the model. Check it before you print, share, or continue.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: STL Preview at every 3 days against Thingiverse MakerWorld | 3Drop's every 9 days. On price, ads, in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Thingiverse MakerWorld | 3Drop sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and STL Preview sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Thingiverse MakerWorld | 3Drop ships an update every 9 days, STL Preview every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Thingiverse MakerWorld | 3Drop | STL Preview |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (402 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 79.4% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 402 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days | Every 3 days — better |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Subscription | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 66 MB | 34 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | WU FU-HUNG | Enes Akkus |
Bugs and requests
Thingiverse MakerWorld | 3Drop
Reported bugs
9 issues- App closes after 10 seconds
- Account connection/syncing not working for Thingiverse and Cults 3D
- Printables.com not appearing in results
- App keeps crashing
- App force closes when scrolling
Show 4 moreShow fewer
- Keyboard remains open after search input and cannot be closed
- Syncing only brings back a fraction of favorites
- Previews don't load in-app, requires opening in browser
- Search results are not comprehensive or ranked correctly
Requested features
10 requests- Nexprint account support
- More Creality friendly prints
- More print options for storage, wall shelves etc.
- Printables.com login/sync fix
- Thangs integration fix
Show 5 moreShow fewer
- Filter to sort by date/newest models
- PC version of the app
- Sort function by likes or trends
- Add MyMiniFactory
- iPad app version
STL Preview
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Thingiverse MakerWorld | 3Drop
- Support Me Monthly$1.991 Month
- Support Me Yearly (Ad-Free)$9.991 Year
- Support Me Yearly7 Days trial$17.991 Year
- Buy Me Filaments$29.99
- Buy Me Filaments$39.99
STL Preview
- Remove Ads$0.49
Questions
Is Thingiverse MakerWorld | 3Drop free?
Is STL Preview free?
Do Thingiverse MakerWorld | 3Drop or STL Preview have ads?
Which is updated more often, Thingiverse MakerWorld | 3Drop or STL Preview?
Other comparisons















