Comparison

Spool Programmer vs SpoolFlux

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Spool Programmer

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
Read full description

Transform your 3D printing workflow with Spool Programmer, the essential tool for programming RFID tags on your filament spools. Whether you're using Anycubic printers or building your own filament management system, this app makes tag programming simple, fast, and reliable. POWERFUL FEATURES • Write complete filament data to NTAG215/216 tags in seconds • 18 pre-configured profiles covering all major filament types • Read existing tags to verify or clone configurations • Check tag status and memory layout • Format tags for fresh programming • Custom color selection with RGB sliders and 16 presets • Support for 500g, 1kg, and 2kg spool sizes • Configurable print temperatures (nozzle, bed, chamber) FILAMENT TYPES SUPPORTED PLA, PLA+, PLA Matte, PLA Silk, PETG, ABS, TPU, Nylon, ASA, PC, PVA, HIPS, and BVOH. Each profile includes optimized default temperatures that you can customize. INTUITIVE INTERFACE Beautiful card-based design that guides you through every step. Select your filament type, choose a color, adjust temperatures, and write—all in a clean, modern interface that follows Apple's design guidelines. SMART & SAFE • Automatic detection of write-protected tags • Clear error messages with helpful guidance • Validates tag compatibility before writing • Preview data before committing to tag • No account required, no tracking, no ads PERFECT FOR • Makers managing multiple filament spools • 3D printing enthusiasts with Anycubic printers • Anyone building custom filament management systems • Hackerspaces and makerspaces • Professional print farms TECHNICAL DETAILS Supports standard NTAG215 and NTAG216 NFC tags with 144-byte user memory. Uses the same data format as the ACE-RFID project, ensuring compatibility with existing ecosystems. All processing happens on-device—your data never leaves your iPhone. REQUIREMENTS iPhone 7 or later with NFC capability running iOS 16.0 or later. You'll need blank NTAG215 or NTAG216 tags (widely available online). Note: Pre-programmed manufacturer tags may be write-protected. FREE & OPEN Based on the community-driven ACE-RFID project. No subscriptions, no in-app purchases, no data collection. Built by makers, for makers. Start programming your filament tags today and take control of your 3D printing workflow!

About

SpoolFlux

Manage NFC tags for 3D printer filament spools with support for various formats like OpenSpool and TigerTag. Features automatic color detection, temperature presets, and a comprehensive filament library. Integrates with the OpenFilament Database.

Highlights
  • Read/write multiple NFC tag formats
  • Automatic color detection via TD1 device
  • Customizable temperature presets
  • Extensive filament and material library
  • Support for multicolor filaments
  • Import from OpenFilament Database
  • Save, load, and export filament data
Read full description

iOS app for reading and writing NFC tags on 3D printer filament spools. Supports OpenSpool, OpenPrintTag, ACE Pro, and TigerTag. Features: - Multiple NFC formats: read and write OpenSpool (ISO 14443), OpenPrintTag (ISO 15693/SLIX2), ACE Pro, TigerTag, and OpenTag3D - TD1 filament scanner: automatic color detection via USB-MIDI (connect the TD1 device using a Lightning/USB-C adapter) - Extruder temperature range (150–420 °C, 5 °C steps) with Min/Max slider - Heated bed temperature range (0–160 °C, optional) - Temperature presets per material - 24 predefined colors, add your own - Multicolor filaments: create multiple colors per filament (e.g., for multicolor spools) - 42 materials (PLA, PETG, ABS, TPU, PEEK, and more), add your own - 21 material variants (Matte, Silk, Rainbow, Glow, Carbon, and more), add your own - 42 predefined filament brands, add your own brands - Optional filament properties: weight (250 g–10 kg), diameter (1.75 / 2.85 mm), Spoolman-compatible spool ID - Filament library: save, load, search filaments, and export/import as a .sftemplate file - OpenFilament Database (OFDB): import filament data from the community database - JSON preview with syntax highlighting

Screenshots

Spool Programmer2 screens
SpoolFlux4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Spool Programmer at 16.0 against SpoolFlux's 18.6. On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Spool Programmer against 5.0 for SpoolFlux. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 8 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Spool Programmer ships an update every 5 days, SpoolFlux weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and September 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Spool Programmer versus SpoolFlux: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSpool ProgrammerSpoolFlux
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (3 ratings)5.0 (8 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings38 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterWeekly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS16.0 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMartin BogomolniReimar Metzen

Customer experience

Spool Programmer

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

SpoolFlux

All ratings8 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Spool Programmer

No in-app purchases

None

SpoolFlux

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Spool Programmer free?
Spool Programmer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is SpoolFlux free?
SpoolFlux is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Spool Programmer or SpoolFlux?
Spool Programmer and SpoolFlux are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 3 and 8 ratings respectively.
Do Spool Programmer or SpoolFlux have ads?
Neither Spool Programmer nor SpoolFlux shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Spool Programmer or SpoolFlux?
Spool Programmer ships an update every 5 days, and SpoolFlux weekly. Most recently, Spool Programmer was updated on September 18, 2026 and SpoolFlux on September 14, 2026.

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