Comparison

Spoolman GO vs SpoolSense

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

Head to head
About

Spoolman GO

Read full description

Spoolman GO is the iPhone companion app for your self-hosted Spoolman or FilaMan-compatible server. Manage your filament spools, track inventory, and write NFC tags in the OpenSpool format — right from your iPhone. FEATURES • Dashboard with inventory overview: total weight, material distribution, low-stock warnings, and manufacturer statistics at a glance • Spool list with search and filters by material, manufacturer, location, and stock status, including a remaining-weight status indicator • Detail view with all filament data, settings, and remaining weight • Book filament consumption and log measured remaining weight • Overview for spools, filaments, vendors, and locations — edit all fields • Multi-color display: pie chart (coaxial) or linear gradient (longitudinal) in lists and details • Scan QR codes and open the matching spool directly (`/spool/show/...` and `WEB+SPOOLMAN:S-...`) • Read and write passive NFC tags (OpenSpool 1.0, NDEF MIME application/json; no direct printer or accessory pairing) • Automatically store NFC tag UID on the matching spool (lot_nr) • Auto-detect API: native Spoolman (/api/v1) or FilaMan Spoolman compatibility (/spoolman/api/v1) • Light / Dark / System color scheme • Demo Mode: explore the general app UI without a server using realistic sample data; writing NFC tags requires Live Mode • No account, no cloud service — all your data stays with you • Settings: server connection, appearance and language, low-stock threshold • Improved VoiceOver support with labeled actions, form fields, filters, and purchase states REQUIREMENTS • Self-hosted Spoolman or FilaMan with Spoolman-API Plugin • For NFC: iPhone 7 or newer, iOS 13+, physical device required (not Simulator) • For QR scanning: camera access PRIVACY Spoolman GO collects no user data. All settings are stored locally. The app only communicates with the server you configure. TERMS OF USE Apple Standard EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

SpoolSense

This app transforms your iPhone into an NFC reader and writer for 3D printing filament spools. It instantly displays filament details and allows you to read, write, and edit tag information. Optional integrations sync with inventory management systems and send spool data directly to your 3D printer.

Highlights
  • NFC reader and writer for filament spools
  • Reads material, brand, color, temperatures, and remaining amount
  • Supports five tag formats (OpenPrintTag, OpenSpool, TigerTag, OpenTag3D, NFC+)
  • Write blank tags or edit existing ones
  • Optional Spoolman inventory synchronization
  • Optional direct sending to compatible 3D printers
  • No account, subscription, server, or cloud required
Features
Read full description

SpoolSense turns your iPhone into an NFC reader and writer for 3D-printing filament spools. Tap a tagged spool and SpoolSense instantly shows you what it is: material, brand, color, nozzle and bed temperatures, filament diameter, density, and how much is left on the roll. No typing, no guessing which spool is which. READ AND WRITE FIVE TAG FORMATS - OpenPrintTag (ISO 15693, ICODE SLIX2) - OpenSpool (ISO 14443A, NTAG215/216) - TigerTag (ISO 14443A, NTAG213/215/216) - OpenTag3D (ISO 14443A, NTAG215/216) - NFC+ - register any blank tag's UID against your inventory Write a blank tag from scratch, or read an existing tag and edit it. SpoolSense verifies every write by reading the tag back. WORKS ON ITS OWN Reading and writing tags needs nothing but your iPhone and a tag. No account, no subscription, no server, no cloud. SpoolSense collects no data whatsoever. OPTIONAL: SPOOLMAN INVENTORY Point SpoolSense at a self-hosted Spoolman server and your whole filament inventory syncs to your phone. Browse every spool, search by material or vendor, see remaining weight at a glance, and get a low-spool warning at a threshold you choose. Scans update Spoolman automatically, and used filament is deducted for you. OPTIONAL: SEND TO YOUR PRINTER Scan a spool and push it straight to the printer you just loaded it into: - Snapmaker U1 - assign the spool to a channel over your local network - Klipper with AFC / Happy Hare / a toolchanger - route through SpoolSense middleware for tool assignment and automatic deductions - Plain Klipper - scans keep Spoolman up to date Pick any combination, or none. A phone can roam between printers. PRIVACY Everything lives on your own devices and your own servers. SpoolSense has no analytics, no tracking, no accounts, and no ads, and it never sends your data anywhere. REQUIREMENTS NFC scanning and writing require a physical iPhone (iPhone 7 or later). Spoolman and printer integration are optional and require software you run yourself on your own network.

Screenshots

Spoolman GO4 screens
SpoolSense4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: SpoolSense at none against Spoolman GO's 1. Spoolman GO's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 4 weeks). On price, ads, 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. Spoolman GO sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $2.99 per month. SpoolSense asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Spoolman GO ships an update weekly, SpoolSense every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and November 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Spoolman GO versus SpoolSense: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSpoolman GOSpoolSense
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—3 — better
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 4 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS16.4 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size54 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFLORIAN BERTHOLD PFLAUMshane jordan

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Spoolman GO

Subscriptions1
  • Spoolman GO Monthly$2.991 Month
None

SpoolSense

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Spoolman GO free?
Spoolman GO is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SpoolSense free?
SpoolSense is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Spoolman GO or SpoolSense have ads?
Neither Spoolman GO nor SpoolSense shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Spoolman GO or SpoolSense?
Spoolman GO ships an update weekly, and SpoolSense every 4 weeks. Most recently, Spoolman GO was updated on November 5, 2026 and SpoolSense on November 10, 2026.

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