Harv3d vs STL Viewer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side β with what reviewers say about each.
Harv3d
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Harv3d turns your photos into layered, multicolour 3D printable OBJ files - no 3D modelling experience required. Whether you're a hobbyist, maker, or running a 3D print business, Harv3d does the heavy lifting. Import an image, let the app detect and map the dominant colours, assign layer heights, and export a ready-to-slice OBJ file complete with MTL colour data. HOW IT WORKS Import any photo from your gallery or camera Harv3d automatically detects the dominant colours using perceptual colour analysis Adjust layer heights, hide layers you don't need, and fine-tune the colour mapping Preview your model in the built-in 3D viewer Export an OBJ + MTL file ready for your slicer KEY FEATURES Intelligent colour detection - perceptual analysis finds the most visually distinct colours, not just the most common ones Layered 3D model output - each colour becomes its own printable layer with individually adjustable height Built-in 3D preview - inspect your model with pinch-to-zoom, rotate, and pan before exporting Edit mode - paint over misdetected areas to correct the colour mapping manually Base plate control - add an optional base layer for easier bed adhesion Universal OBJ export - compatible with all major slicers and 3D printing software FREE & PRO Harv3d is free to download and use. The free tier supports up to 3 colour layers - perfect for simple designs and to give you a taste of the app. Upgrade to Harv3d Pro with a single one-time purchase (no subscription) to unlock: β’ Up to 10 colour layers for complex, detailed prints β’ Higher mesh resolution for finer, sharper models PERFECT FOR β’ Multicolour 3D printing (Bambu Lab AMS, Prusa MMU, Mosaic Palette) β’ Lithophanes and portrait prints β’ Logo and artwork reproductions β’ Personalised gifts and custom merchandise β’ Makers and small 3D print businesses SLICER COMPATIBILITY Exports standard OBJ + MTL files compatible with Bambu Studio, PrusaSlicer, Ultimaker Cura, Simplify3D, and any slicer that supports OBJ import. Download Harv3d and start turning your photos into prints today.
STL Viewer
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Someone sent you a model. It's a 3MF, you're away from your computer, and your phone can't open it. LayerPeek opens it, then tells you what you need to know before you print: will it fit your printer, how many plates it has, and what might go wrong. It's a 3D model viewer made for printing: an STL file viewer, a 3MF project viewer and a G-code layer viewer in one app. No account. Your files are read on your device and never uploaded. OPEN THE FILE YOU WERE SENT β’ STL, 3MF, OBJ and G-code files, plus sliced .gcode.3mf projects β’ ZIP downloads from model sites: pick the part you want from inside the archive β’ Open from Files, iCloud Drive, Mail, AirDrop or a chat app with Open inβ¦ β’ Large models are simplified for display, while measurements use the full mesh WILL IT FIT YOUR PRINTER? Pick your printer once. Every model you open shows whether it fits the bed, with the spare room in millimeters. If it doesn't fit as it sits, LayerPeek checks whether turning it on the bed would make it fit. 3MF PROJECTS, NOT JUST SHAPES Opens 3MF projects from popular slicers with their plates and filament colors. Switch between plates and see which parts sit on each one. SLICED FILES: TIME AND GRAMS FROM THE FILE Sliced .gcode.3mf projects already carry the numbers your slicer calculated. LayerPeek reads the print time, the grams of each filament color and the plate thumbnails straight from the file. Plain .gcode files show the print time and filament use written in their header. G-CODE LAYER VIEWER β’ Drag the scrubber to step through the print layer by layer β’ See extrusion and travel moves in different colors β’ Print time and filament use, read from the file MEASURE AND CHECK THE MESH β’ Overall dimensions in millimeters β’ Tap two points to measure the distance between them β’ Mesh health: holes and open edges that can cause slicing trouble β’ Overhang shading shows the areas likely to need supports WEIGHT AND COST ESTIMATE Choose a material and your price per kilogram. For unsliced models, LayerPeek estimates a typical print (2 walls, 15% infill) and also shows the fully solid weight. Sliced files show the grams your slicer calculated. MAKE PARTS THAT FIT Need a part rather than a file? Pick a template, set the sizes in millimeters, see it on your printer's bed and save an STL or 3MF: β’ Cases for popular microcontroller and single-board computer boards, built from their published dimensions β’ Boxes with dividers, name tags in one or two colors, cable clips, spacers and wall mounts β’ Turn a photo into a lithophane, a keychain, a sign or a stamp SHARE A VERDICT CARD Turn the result into one image with a picture of the model, the fit check and the key numbers. Send it to a friend, a customer or your print group. FREE, WITH AN OPTIONAL PRO UPGRADE LayerPeek is free with ads. Pro removes the ads and unlocks the Pro Make templates, pricing a plate with cost and margin, advanced checks with multiple printers, and more colors in colour pictures. SUPPORTED FILES .stl (binary and text) Β· .3mf Β· .gcode.3mf Β· .obj Β· .gcode Β· .zip SUBSCRIPTION AND PRICING β’ LayerPeek Pro Lifetime β $9.99, one payment β’ LayerPeek Pro Monthly β $1.99 per month, renews automatically β’ Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase β’ A subscription renews unless it is cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period β’ Manage or cancel anytime in your Apple Account settings Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://cosmovex.web.app/apps/layerpeek/privacy-policy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Harv3d at none against STL Viewer's shown. STL Viewer's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 3 months). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Harv3d sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and STL Viewer sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Harv3d ships an update every 3 months, STL Viewer fortnightly. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.
| Parameter | Harv3d | STL Viewer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Fortnightly β better |
| Ads | No β better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac β better | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Further details β not scored | ||
| Size | 28 MB | 48 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | SAMUEL R HARVEY | Sahana A S |
In-app purchases
Harv3d
- Pro$4.99
STL Viewer
- LayerPeek Pro Monthly$1.991 Month
- Pro Lifetime Limited Offer$5.99
- Pro Lifetime Limited Offer$7.99
- Pro Lifetime Limited Offer$9.99
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- Pro Lifetime Limited Offer$11.99
- Pro Lifetime Limited Offer$13.99
- Pro Lifetime Limited Offer$15.99
- LayerPeek Pro Lifetime$19.99
Questions
Is Harv3d free?
Is STL Viewer free?
Do Harv3d or STL Viewer have ads?
Which is updated more often, Harv3d or STL Viewer?
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