# Spool Buddy vs Spool Programmer

The clearest difference is rating: Spool Programmer at 5.0 against Spool Buddy's 4.3. Spool Programmer also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 weeks). Spool Buddy's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and ratings volume (9 vs 3). On price, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Spool Buddy sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Spool Programmer asks for nothing beyond the download.

Spool Programmer holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9 and 3 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

Spool Buddy ships an update every 2 weeks, Spool Programmer every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on September 8, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Spool Buddy | Spool Programmer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spool-buddy/id6752347588/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spool-programmer/id6753324939/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **9** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 8 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.2 | **16.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Martian Code Oy](https://appshunter.io/developer/1099214691) | [Martin Bogomolni](https://appshunter.io/developer/1843504794) |

## What reviewers say

### Spool Buddy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spool-buddy/id6752347588)

Effortlessly manage your 3D printing filament inventory. Track brands, colors, and usage with a simple, fast interface. Syncs seamlessly across Apple devices without requiring logins or network calls.

**Highlights:** iCloud syncing, No logins or network calls, Track brands, colors, and modifiers, Search and filter by properties, Usage and inventory tracking, Optimized for iOS and macOS

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small Tip | $0.99 | one-time |
| Medium Tip | $2.99 | one-time |
| Large Tip | $4.99 | one-time |


### Spool Programmer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spool-programmer/id6753324939)

This app allows users to program RFID tags for 3D printing filament spools. It supports various filament types and spool sizes, offering features like reading existing tags, checking memory, and custom color selection. All processing is done on-device for privacy and security.

**Highlights:** Write filament data to NTAG215/216 tags, 18 pre-configured filament profiles, Read and verify existing tags, Check tag status and memory, Format tags for programming, Custom color selection, Support for various spool sizes

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Spool Buddy free?

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

### Is Spool Programmer free?

Spool Programmer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Spool Buddy or Spool Programmer?

Spool Programmer is rated higher. Spool Buddy averages 4.3 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while Spool Programmer averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do Spool Buddy or Spool Programmer have ads?

Neither Spool Buddy nor Spool Programmer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Spool Buddy or Spool Programmer?

Spool Buddy ships an update every 2 weeks, and Spool Programmer every 5 days. Most recently, Spool Buddy was updated on September 8, 2026 and Spool Programmer on September 18, 2026.

---

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