Comparison

SpoolFlux vs PaxxMaker

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

Head to head
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

About

PaxxMaker

Monitor and control your 3D printer remotely. View live print progress, temperatures, and camera feeds. Receive notifications for print status and filament changes. Manage spools and track power consumption.

Highlights
  • Live print progress and ETA
  • Real-time temperature monitoring
  • Camera stream viewing
  • Print status notifications
  • Smart plug integration for auto shutdown
  • Filament spool tracking
  • Apple Watch app and widgets
Features
Read full description

PaxxMaker – your 3D prints, always under control. The ultimate control app for your Snapmaker U1 with paxx12 custom firmware and Klipper-based single-nozzle printers. Everything in view – from iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. By default everything runs locally on your network – cloud features only if you want them. CONTROL & MONITOR • Live print progress with percentage and ETA • Real-time temperatures: extruder, heated bed, motors, chamber • Pause, resume, stop & emergency stop • Browse files and start prints directly • Live camera stream NOTIFICATIONS • Push on print finished, cancelled, paused and empty filament – on the U1 with the affected nozzle • Server push works even with the app closed; local mode stays entirely on your own network • Live Activity on the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island SMART PLUG • Switch Tuya and Shelly plugs and see live wattage • Auto Shutdown: the plug switches off automatically after a print – with an adjustable delay, optionally after a cancel too • Cost per print: power consumption plus filament used, priced via your Spoolman spool or the slicer profile – with history and per-head details SPOOLMAN – FILAMENT TRACKED AUTOMATICALLY • Keep track of how full each spool is • Change spools right from the app • Per-nozzle tracking – assign a spool to each nozzle, and in multi-colour prints Spoolman deducts from the right spool the moment the nozzle changes • SpoolLink: the assignment follows the spool's RFID tag – even when moved to another nozzle MULTIPLE PRINTERS • Swipe between your printers • Own colour theme per printer • Automatic printer discovery on the network • Remote access via OctoEverywhere WIDGETS & APPLE WATCH • Home Screen widgets with live progress • Apple Watch app with real-time data and complications NFC SPOOLS • Read and write filament spools via NFC – colour, material and temperature range right on the tag MAKE IT YOURS • Arrange and hide tiles freely • Custom G-code macros with icons and colours • Firmware configuration and calibration right from the app • 7 languages: German, English, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese (Simplified) Note: This app requires the paxx12 custom firmware for the U1 or a Klipper-based printer. Auto Shutdown and cost tracking require a smart plug. Use at your own risk. PaxxMaker is a passion project I develop in my spare time. If you like the app and want to support its development, a donation is very much appreciated – thank you! Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

SpoolFlux4 screens
PaxxMaker4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: SpoolFlux at none against PaxxMaker's 4. SpoolFlux also leads on ratings volume (8 vs 1). PaxxMaker's advantage is device support (3 vs 1). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence 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. PaxxMaker sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. SpoolFlux asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for SpoolFlux against 5.0 for PaxxMaker. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SpoolFlux has 8 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SpoolFlux ships an update weekly, PaxxMaker every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
SpoolFlux versus PaxxMaker: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSpoolFluxPaxxMaker
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (8 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings8 — better1
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 9 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS18.618.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB21 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperReimar MetzenDaniel Richter

Customer experience

SpoolFlux

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

PaxxMaker

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

SpoolFlux

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

PaxxMaker

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Supporter$1.991 Month
  • annual Support$9.991 Year
One-time2
  • Support 1.99$1.99
  • Support 4.99$4.99

Questions

Is SpoolFlux free?
SpoolFlux is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is PaxxMaker free?
PaxxMaker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, SpoolFlux or PaxxMaker?
SpoolFlux and PaxxMaker are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 8 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do SpoolFlux or PaxxMaker have ads?
Neither SpoolFlux nor PaxxMaker shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SpoolFlux or PaxxMaker?
SpoolFlux ships an update weekly, and PaxxMaker every 9 days. Most recently, SpoolFlux was updated on October 5, 2026 and PaxxMaker on October 3, 2026.

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