Paper vs 3D Paint
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Paper
Create intricate 3D models with a tactile, paper-art feel. This app offers unparalleled spatial freedom, allowing you to draw directly into 3D space without a canvas. Sculpt complex shapes using intuitive tools and realistic materials.
- Zero-canvas 3D drawing
- Intuitive OmniJoystick control
- Tactile drawing and geometry tools
- Realistic material library
- Cinematic lighting presets
- Professional export options (USDZ, OBJ)
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3D Paper Studio: The Most Tactile Modeling Experience on iPad. Step into a digital atelier where the precision of CAD meets the soul of hand-crafted paper art. 3D Paper Studio is a first-of-its-kind creative suite designed specifically for iPad and Apple Pencil, allowing you to build complex 3D structures as easily as drawing on paper. Draw freely in 3D space and use any 3D stroke as a canvas to draw over as well to enhance your ideas and creative expressions. INFINITE SPATIAL FREEDOM: NO CANVAS REQUIRED Forget everything you know about 3D drawing. Unlike other apps that force you to create a canvas surface or plane before you draw, 3D Paper Studio gives you total spatial freedom. Start your stroke anywhere in 3D space and let it flow. Our engine handles the complex coordinate math so you can focus on the form. Draw in thin air, bridge gaps, and weave intricate 3D webs without ever feeling "stuck" to a 2D surface. THE OMNI-JOYSTICK: CONTROL DEPTH WITH ONE THUMB Experience the revolutionary OmniJoystick—the heart of our interaction model. While your Apple Pencil handles the art, your other thumb controls the universe. The same joystick becomes an object controller when any object/s is selected. No need to draw complicated canvases; Simply long press on the ground or any other stroke to set the precise drawing position and start painting in 3D space. Real-time Depth Control: Glide through the Z-axis as you draw to create sweeping 3D curves. Precision Snapping: Use the joystick to "Lock" to specific axes or snap to existing 3D "Magnets" for perfect alignment. Tactile Feedback: Feel the "click" of the grid as you navigate through your 3D studio. BEYOND DRAWING: TRUE 3D GEOMETRY Don't just sketch—extrude, revolve, and sweep. Use our advanced geometry engine to create ribbons, tubes, and complex lathes with a single stroke. The Bridge Tool: Connect two existing points with a sinuous paper ribbon that respects the surface normals of both objects. The Revolve Tool: Turn a single profile into a 3D vessel, bowl, or column in seconds. Edge Perturbation: Choose between "Clean" or "Torn" edges to give your models a raw, hand-crafted aesthetic. PHYSICAL MATERIALS & CINEMATIC LIGHTING Watch your creations come to life with our high-end material library. Choose from Smooth Bristol, Cold-Press Watercolor, Crumpled Foil, Corrugated Cardboard, and more. Use Cinematic Looks to light your scene with professional studio presets like Golden Hour, Midnight, and Vaporwave. KEY FEATURES: Zero-Canvas Drawing: Draw directly into 3D space with no setup required. OmniJoystick Workflow: Master depth, rotation, and snapping with a single, intuitive control. Tactile Tools: Draw, Bridge, Arc, and Revolve to create complex 3D meshes. Advanced Deformers: Warp, Twist, and Liquify your 3D geometry in real-time. Symmetry Engine: Mirror and Radial symmetry for intricate architectural patterns. Professional Export: Save your work as USDZ for AR, or OBJ for professional 3D pipelines. Camera Tours: Create cinematic fly-throughs and export them as high-quality video. UNLEASH YOUR CREATIVITY IN 3D. Join a new generation of designers who are redefining what it means to create on iPad. 3D Paper Studio—where paper becomes infinite. The app supports finger touch drawing but we recommend using apple Pencil for the best drawing experience and to access pressure sensitivity features. No subscriptions - Ever! Once you purchase the app, thats it. No additional in-app purchases, no subscriptions ever again. Every future update will be free for the life of the app.
3D Paint
Create immersive 3D artwork with a powerful yet intuitive drawing studio. Sketch naturally, refine strokes with professional tools, and apply realistic materials and lighting. Perfect for artists, designers, and hobbyists looking to bring their imagination into three dimensions.
- Draw directly in 3D space
- Editable 3D brush strokes
- Professional brush library
- Apple Pencil support
- Unlimited layers
- Realistic materials and PBR textures
- 3D animation and AR preview
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3D Paint – Draw in 3D Space Turn your ideas into immersive three-dimensional artwork with 3D Paint, a powerful yet intuitive 3D drawing and painting studio for iPhone and iPad. Sketch naturally in 3D space using your finger or Apple Pencil, then refine every stroke with professional editing tools, realistic materials, lighting, and animation. Whether you're an artist, designer, architect, engineer, educator, or hobbyist, 3D Paint provides everything you need to create stunning 3D illustrations, concept art, product designs, technical sketches, and creative visualizations. Features • Draw directly in 3D space with an infinite canvas • Create smooth, editable 3D brush strokes • Professional brush library with customizable settings • Apple Pencil pressure, tilt, hover, and barrel roll support • Unlimited layers and object organization • Sculpt and refine your creations with intuitive editing tools • Apply realistic materials including metal, glass, wood, fabric, and more • Paint textures with physically based rendering (PBR) materials • Professional lighting studio with HDR environments • Multiple camera modes including perspective and orthographic views • Symmetry and mirror drawing for precise designs • Grid, vertex, edge, and surface snapping • Import reference images and popular 3D model formats • Export artwork to USDZ, OBJ, STL, GLB, FBX, PNG, PDF, GIF, and more • Preview creations in augmented reality • Create animated camera paths and object animations • Auto-save and seamless iCloud synchronization • Optimized for Apple Silicon with high-performance Metal rendering Designed for Creativity From quick concept sketches to detailed product prototypes and artistic masterpieces, 3D Paint makes creating in three dimensions fast, intuitive, and enjoyable. Every stroke remains fully editable, allowing you to experiment without limitations. Whether you're designing the next great product, illustrating complex ideas, or simply exploring your creativity, 3D Paint gives you professional tools in a modern, easy-to-use interface. Download 3D Paint today and bring your imagination into three dimensions. #3D Paint offers auto-renewing subscription options: •$7.99 per month •$34.99 per year • You can subscribe for unlimited access to all features and content offered for purchases within Video Stabilizer • Subscriptions are billed weekly/yearly on the subscription plan • Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase • Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period • Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal • Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user’s Account Settings after purchase • Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable Terms of Use: https://tos.asiancomputingapps.com Privacy Policy: https://privacy.asiancomputingapps.com
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: 3D Paint at Free against Paper's $6.99. 3D Paint also leads on iOS requirement (18.0 vs 26.4). Paper's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3). On rating, ratings volume, ads and device support 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
3D Paint is free to download; Paper costs $6.99 up front. 3D Paint sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Paper asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Paper against 5.0 for 3D Paint. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively.
| Parameter | Paper | 3D Paint |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $6.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 5.0 (2 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) |
| Number of ratings | 2 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid — better | Subscription |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad — better |
| Requires iOS | 26.4 | 18.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 3 MB | 3 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Imran Gul | Do Anh |
In-app purchases
Paper
No in-app purchases
3D Paint
- 3D Paint Pro Monthly$7.991 Month
- 3D Paint Pro Yearly$34.991 Year
- 3D Paint Lifetime$49.99









