TrainDesign vs Shapr 3D CAD modeling
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
TrainDesign
Design and plan your model railroad tracks with ease. This app allows you to create custom layouts, modify track segments, and adjust curves to your specifications. Unleash your creativity and build intricate routes with intuitive touch controls.
- Plan model railroad tracks
- Create custom track lines
- Modify track segments (orient, stretch, shrink)
- Adjust curve width, angle, and radius
- Determine track altitude
- Intuitive touch controls
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TrainDesign is born with the purpose to plan your model railroad track. In a few minutes you can create lines of any kind. Using a set of tracks you can choose the type of binary-to-use, orient, stretch or shrink it. The curves can be modified to width angle and radius of curvature. TrainDesign stands out for its ease of use and the versatility, giving space for creativity. You will learn that it is very easy to edit lines, determine the altitude, change every single piece in an intuitive and simple manner. With only the use of your fingers, you can create small or large tracks, focus on building a single part using the touch or see the route as a whole.
Shapr 3D CAD modeling
Design and manufacture 3D models with an intuitive, multidevice CAD tool. Collaborate with teams, visualize designs in AR, and export to various formats. Work from anywhere, online or offline, with an adaptive interface that keeps your focus on creating.
- Multidevice CAD workflow
- Adaptive user interface
- Design-driven collaboration
- Real-time AR renders
- Extensive export/import support
- 2D drawing output
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From design to manufacturing. Teams collaborate with more impact. Instinctive design meets multidevice capability and full interoperability for the ultimate 3D design workflow. All platforms Pick your device and your input tool leveraging the first CAD tool envisioned for multidevice. Hybrid workflow meets cross-functional team processes with automatic sync across devices. Work from any device or offline: design and collaborate at your best, everywhere. Compact tools. Space for focus. An adaptive user interface auto-sorts tools, taking the clutter out of designing. Your focus stays front and center to eliminate clunking around and prioritize high-quality decisions. Design-driven collaboration. Make designing a reflex and visual communication second nature for the whole team. Instinctive CAD meets a visual communication bundle complete with real-time 3D renders in AR, shareable via a link for download-free viewing. Start where you are and finish strong – no expensive hardware needed. Shapr3D combines industrial-grade CAD with a user-friendly experience, including: • Siemens™ geometric Parasolid® modeling kernel and D-Cubed™ sketch engine • Export support for X_T, STEP, STL, OBJ, 2D DXF, 2D DWG, IGES, 3MF, SVG • Import support for SLDPRT, SLDASM, X_T, STEP, STL, IGES, 2D DWG, 2D DXF, JPG, PNG • Output 2D Drawings • Generate real-life scenes from your models in seconds - powered by AI Get in touch Have a question? Visit our forum: https://discourse.shapr3d.com. For support queries, please submit a request here: https://shapr3d.com/support Terms of Use: https://www.shapr3d.com/terms-of-use Privacy Policy: https://www.shapr3d.com/privacy-policy
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Shapr 3D CAD modeling at Free against TrainDesign's $1.99. Shapr 3D CAD modeling also leads on rating (4.7 vs 2.3) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 4 months). TrainDesign's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6). On ads 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
Shapr 3D CAD modeling is free to download; TrainDesign costs $1.99 up front. Shapr 3D CAD modeling sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $32.99 per month. TrainDesign asks for nothing beyond the download.
Shapr 3D CAD modeling holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Shapr 3D CAD modeling has 34K ratings behind it against 15, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 33% of TrainDesign's written reviews are positive against 50% of Shapr 3D CAD modeling's.
TrainDesign ships an update every 4 months, Shapr 3D CAD modeling every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | TrainDesign | Shapr 3D CAD modeling |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 2.3 (15 ratings) | 4.7 (34K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | 50.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 15 | 34K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 5 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPad | iPad, Mac, Vision Pro — better |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 17.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 16 MB | 1.7 GB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Kind of Blue | Shapr3D Zrt |
Customer experience
TrainDesign
Shapr 3D CAD modeling
User reviews
TrainDesign
From 15 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 💰 Great value for the price
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use (initially)
- 💡 Customizable track designs
- ✅ Useful for planning layouts
- 🌍 Supports various gauges/scales and manufacturers
Room to improve
- 🐛 Frequent bugs and glitches
- ❌ Unstable and crashes often
- 🚫 Editor not working properly
- 🪲 Track pieces not connecting/aligning
- 🔧 Difficult to rotate/move track pieces
Shapr 3D CAD modeling
From 34K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Super easy to use
- 👍 Intuitive interface
- 🚀 Powerful features
- 👍 Great for beginners
- 👍 Excellent tutorials
Room to improve
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 💰 Pricing not suitable for hobbyists
- 🔒 Limited free version
- 🐛 Occasional bugs and crashes
- 👎 Navigation and controls could be improved
Bugs and requests
TrainDesign
Reported bugs
18 issues- App locks up after selecting first track
- Saving changes to existing layouts results in original disappearing
- Cannot move selected track
- Rotate icon greys out after one rotation
- App crashes on load
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- Editor does not work, cannot rotate pieces
- Cannot place track where desired
- Small graphics on black background make components hard to see
- Zooming is sketchy, losing track
- Cannot switch red dot to continue with different track
- Pinch gesture sends track work out of view, becomes unselectable
- Turntable not available as shown in demo
- App keeps freezing
- Switches are not calibrated correctly
- Layout limited to about 5’ X 5’ for movement
- Zooming in/out is problematic outside the 5x5 zone
- Flex track shaping is difficult
- Simple oval has misaligned track pieces
Requested features
11 requests- Add more track libraries (e.g., Rokuhan Z, Hornby, Lionel Fastrack, Realtrax, Fleishmann profi ho)
- Improve track connection and alignment
- Fix rotation and movement issues for track pieces
- Add a 'save as' function for layouts
- Include inch/feet measurement options
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- Add a tutorial or help screens
- Allow using track from multiple manufacturers in one plan
- Add models of coaches to visualize train appearance on curves
- Improve zooming and panning functionality
- Add print function for plans and parts lists
- Support for Mac
Shapr 3D CAD modeling
Reported bugs
3 issues- Unreliable performance after recent updates
- Difficulty deleting or modifying existing designs
- Inconsistent behavior when using the Apple Pencil
Requested features
6 requests- Add more affordable pricing tiers for hobbyists
- Improve undo/redo functionality
- Implement better file management and organization
- Add support for importing/exporting more file formats
- Enhance parametric modeling capabilities
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- Introduce a one-time purchase option
In-app purchases
TrainDesign
No in-app purchases
Shapr 3D CAD modeling
- Solo Subscription14 Days trial$32.991 Month
- Pro Subscription14 Days trial$37.991 Month
- Business Subscription14 Days trial$59.991 Month
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- Solo Subscription14 Days trial$249.991 Year
- Pro Subscription14 Days trial$299.991 Year
- Business Subscription14 Days trial$499.991 Year
Questions
Is TrainDesign free?
Is Shapr 3D CAD modeling free?
Which has better reviews, TrainDesign or Shapr 3D CAD modeling?
Do TrainDesign or Shapr 3D CAD modeling have ads?
Which is updated more often, TrainDesign or Shapr 3D CAD modeling?
Other comparisons
