Paper vs FaceRef Studio
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.
FaceRef Studio
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Study the human head from every angle. FaceRef Studio puts a 3D head on your desk while you draw. Rotate it with one finger, pinch to zoom, and light it the way you need - then get back to your paper or tablet. 25 MODELS ACROSS 4 CATEGORIES Basic - two plane-broken heads, plus sphere, cube, cone and cylinder for blocking out forms Classic - the Asaro head in simple and detailed versions, and a skull Stylized - male, female and teen sculpts Detailed - realistic male and female heads, with and without hair LIGHT IT YOURSELF Three spotlights you can move, dim and recolour. Drop a key light from above, kick in a rim from behind, and watch the planes of the face resolve the way they do in life. SEE THE FORM Switch on the wireframe to read the topology underneath - useful when you are working out how one plane turns into the next. Tint the model to any colour to take the guesswork out of a value study. KEEP WHAT YOU FIND Tap the shutter to save a clean shot of the model straight to your photo library. No interface in the frame, just the reference. BUILT TO STAY OUT OF THE WAY No account. No ads. No internet connection required - the app never goes online, so nothing you do here leaves your device.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is chart position: FaceRef Studio at #191 against Paper's unranked. FaceRef Studio also leads on price ($4.99 vs $6.99) and device support (3 vs 1). On ads and in-app purchases 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
Paper costs $6.99 and FaceRef Studio $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
| Parameter | Paper | FaceRef Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $6.99 | $4.99 — better |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Weekly | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Best chart rank | — | #191 — better |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 26.4 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 3 MB | 115 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Imran Gul | Namson Digital |
In-app purchases
Paper
No in-app purchases
FaceRef Studio
No in-app purchases








