# Spool Buddy vs PandaWatch

The clearest difference is rating: PandaWatch at 5.0 against Spool Buddy's 4.3. PandaWatch also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.2). Spool Buddy's advantage is ratings volume (9 vs 3). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Spool Buddy sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and PandaWatch sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

PandaWatch holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9 and 3 respectively.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Spool Buddy | PandaWatch |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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/pandawatch/id6758112923/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **9** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 10 MB | 54 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.2 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Martian Code Oy](https://appshunter.io/developer/1099214691) | [Michael Saunders](https://appshunter.io/developer/1867398869) |

## 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 |


### PandaWatch

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pandawatch/id6758112923)

Monitor all your 3D printers from one place, anywhere. Get live camera feeds, temperature readings, filament status, and error alerts. Integrates seamlessly with your Bambu Lab account for zero setup.

**Highlights:** Live camera feeds, Temperature monitoring, Filament status, Error alerts, Zero-setup fleet monitoring, Apple Watch app, Home screen widgets

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PandaWatch Pro | $3.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Spool Buddy free?

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

### Is PandaWatch free?

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

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

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

### Do Spool Buddy or PandaWatch have ads?

Neither Spool Buddy nor PandaWatch shows ads.

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

Spool Buddy ships an update every 2 weeks, and PandaWatch every 2 weeks. Most recently, Spool Buddy was updated on October 25, 2026 and PandaWatch on October 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.*