Comparison

Forma3D vs MeshBox

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

Head to head
About

Forma3D

Create and edit 3D models directly on your iPhone or iPad. Prepare designs for 3D printing with precise tools and export to common formats. Ideal for beginners and experienced users alike.

Highlights
  • Create primitive 3D shapes
  • Precise transformation controls
  • Boolean operations (union, subtract)
  • Mesh editing (vertices, edges, faces)
  • STL and 3MF import/export
  • Beginner-friendly interface
  • X-Ray mode for transparency
Features
Read full description

Forma3D is a professional 3D mesh editor for iPad and iPhone — built for makers, 3D printing enthusiasts, and anyone who needs to fix or modify 3D models on the go. No laptop. No cloud. Everything runs locally on your device, offline, with desktop-grade mesh editing capabilities. ▸ FACE PAINT & MULTI-FILAMENT 3MF EXPORT Paint individual faces with different colors directly in the editor, then export a 3MF file with per-face color data ready for multi-filament 3D printing. Bambu Studio and Creality Print automatically assign filaments based on the embedded paint codes — no manual slicer setup needed. This is a desktop-only feature in slicer software, now available on mobile exclusively in Forma3D. ▸ MESH EDITING AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Switch between Object Mode and Edit Mode. Select and edit individual vertices, edges, and faces with precision. Use Single, Rectangle, Oval, or Brush selection tools with Multi-select support. Move, rotate, and scale with an interactive transform gizmo or numeric input. ▸ PROFESSIONAL MODELING TOOLS • Extrude — push faces in or out with live preview and direction toggle • Inset — shrink or grow faces inward with adjustable depth • Bevel — round edges with custom segments and profile control (desktop-grade bevel algorithm) • Boolean Operations — Union and Subtract using Manifold CSG library • Manifold Cut — slice meshes with Line, Circle, Ellipse, Rectangle, Polygon, or Freehand shapes • Mirror — symmetrically duplicate geometry across X, Y, or Z axis • Revolve — create lathe geometry by rotating a profile • Subdivide — add resolution where you need it • Simplify — reduce polygon count for lighter exports • Remesh — retopologize with uniform quad-dominant mesh • Vertex Sculpting — push and pull vertices with gesture-based brush • 3D Text — add extruded text to your scene • Color — paint all faces of a mesh with a single tap ▸ PRIMITIVES & IMPORT Start from built-in primitives: Cube, Soft Cube, Sphere, Soft Sphere, Cylinder, Torus, Pyramid, Plane, Tube, Bolt, Nut. Import STL and 3MF files. Export to STL, 3MF, or USDZ formats. ▸ 3D SCANNING (LiDAR) Capture real-world objects with your iPhone or iPad LiDAR scanner and edit the resulting mesh directly in the app — scan, fix, and print without switching apps. ▸ PRECISION & MEASUREMENT Ruler tool for measuring distances in millimeters. World grid with 20 mm squares for build-plate reference. Snap-to-grid for accurate positioning. Keyboard hotkeys for fast numeric input (move, rotate, scale by exact values). ▸ VISUALIZATION Orthographic view cube for standard projections (Top, Bottom, Front, Back, Left, Right). X-Ray mode to see through meshes and inspect internal geometry. Wireframe display with Triangles or Quads mode. Custom viewport colors, lighting controls, and world axes toggle. ▸ UNDO / REDO & PROJECTS Full undo/redo history. Save and load projects in native .forma3d format. Duplicate, delete, and organize objects in the scene with an objects list panel. ▸ APPLE PENCIL SUPPORT Hover tooltips with Apple Pencil. Precise vertex dragging and component selection optimized for Pencil input. ▸ MULTILINGUAL Now available in 16 languages: English, Deutsch, Français, 日本語, 简体中文, Español, Italiano, 한국어, Português, Русский, Nederlands, Polski, Türkçe, 繁體中文, Svenska, العربية. Forma3D is built on a custom mesh kernel with Manifold CSG boolean operations and a desktop-grade bevel algorithm — bringing professional 3D editing to your pocket. Whether you're preparing models for 3D printing, fixing scanned meshes, painting faces for multi-filament prints, or creating from scratch, Forma3D gives you the tools to get the job done — anywhere. EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

MeshBox

Features
Read full description

MeshBox turns any real-world object into a 3D model — ready for your slicer, your portfolio, or your next remix. Point your iPhone Pro or iPad Pro at anything — a trinket, a prototype, a vintage miniature — and walk around it. MeshBox's LiDAR-powered capture pipeline reconstructs the geometry on-device and delivers a clean, printable USDZ mesh in minutes. FEATURES • LiDAR 3D scanning powered by Apple's Object Capture • On-device mesh reconstruction — no servers, no uploads • Interactive 3D preview: drag to rotate, pinch to zoom • Organize scans into color-coded groups (albums) • Drag-and-drop curation — build collections in seconds • Export USDZ directly to any slicer, modeling app, or AR viewer • Liquid Glass design, native to iOS 26 • Optimized for both iPhone Pro and iPad Pro WHO IT'S FOR • 3D printing enthusiasts capturing objects to remix, resize or reprint • Tabletop hobbyists archiving minis, terrain and busts • Product designers and prototypers iterating on physical mockups • Researchers, museums and archivists preserving objects digitally • Anyone who wants to hold a memory in three dimensions HOW IT WORKS 1. Tap "Scan object" and choose a quality preset 2. Walk slowly around your subject — on-screen guidance keeps you on track 3. The on-device photogrammetry engine builds a textured mesh 4. Preview, name, group, and export straight to your printer or slicer REQUIREMENTS MeshBox needs a device with LiDAR: iPhone 12 Pro or later (Pro / Pro Max models) or iPad Pro (2020 or later). A well-lit, flat surface gives the best scans. PRIVACY Your scans stay on your device. Nothing is uploaded, processed in the cloud, or shared without your explicit action. No accounts, no sign-ups. Questions or feedback? rodrigoproko@gmail.com

Screenshots

Forma3D4 screens
MeshBox4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: MeshBox at none against Forma3D's 1. Forma3D's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, device support and iOS requirement 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. Forma3D sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $6.99 per month. MeshBox asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Forma3D versus MeshBox: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterForma3DMeshBox
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (5 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings5 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 days—
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size22 MB13 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDenis VazyulyaRodrigo Prokopowicz

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Forma3D

Subscriptions1
  • Forma3D subscription3 Days trial$6.991 Month
None

MeshBox

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Forma3D free?
Forma3D is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is MeshBox free?
MeshBox is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Forma3D or MeshBox have ads?
MeshBox shows ads; Forma3D does not.

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