Onshape 3D CAD vs Electronic Dial Indicator
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Onshape 3D CAD
This professional CAD platform enables real-time collaboration on product design from any device. It offers parametric modeling tools, secure cloud storage, and version control, streamlining the design process for teams and individuals. Supports students and educators with free access for non-commercial projects.
- Parametric modeling tools
- Real-time team collaboration
- Cloud-based data management
- Cross-device access
- Version control and history
- Commenting and feedback tools
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Onshape is a full mechanical CAD platform designed for professional users and extended teams. Create, edit, collaborate, and comment in real time with others from any computer or mobile device with an internet connection (free sign-up required). With Onshape’s secure cloud workspace teams can work together from anywhere on any device without the hassles of file management, IT overhead, and license key distribution, helping engineers focus more on doing their best work. Parametric CAD: • Design parts together in Part Studios with a full suite of parametric modeling tools • Create mechanical Assemblies to capture complex motion Ease of Access: • Create, edit, and view from any computer or mobile device (internet connection required) • Begin a project from one device and seamlessly continue from another Collaboration: • Instantly share your CAD data with your teams and partners. Monitor, change, and revoke permissions at any time • Work together with other users and view changes in real-time as they are made • Use Follow mode to see exactly what your teammate sees and add suggestions using Onshape’s built-in commenting tools Data Management: • Maintain a single source of truth for your data, no more sending around or checking in and out of files • Never worry about losing your work, all of your changes are saved automatically • Explore multiple design ideas in parallel and create professional release and approval processes for your designs Onshape for iOS also features Apple Pencil support for more intuitive sketching, navigation, and precise selection. Onshape proudly supports students and educators free of charge and is available free for non-commercial projects in an open-source public work space. Since Onshape is updated every few weeks with dozens of new features and user-requested enhancements, keep an eye out for update notifications from the Apple App Store.
Electronic Dial Indicator
Connect to wireless dial indicators to view real-time measurements, configure settings, and record data. Supports up to seven gages simultaneously, offering digital or analog readouts with tolerance status. Log data continuously or individually and share measurement files via email.
- Connect up to 7 wireless dial indicators
- View current, min, and max measurements
- Digital or analog readouts
- Zero measurement and hold functionality
- Record single or continuous data logging
- Share measurement files (CSV)
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Electronic Dial Indicator lets you connect to your wireless enabled dial indicators to view measurements, configure settings and record data. Connect: - Up to 7 gages can be connected simultaneously Measure - View current measurement, min and max - Select Digital or Analog readouts - Zero Measurement - Enable Hold* - View G/NG tolerance status at a glance* Configure* - Adjust all gage settings through an easy to use interface Record - Record single measurements for one gage or all connected gages at once - Enable continuous logging of data at a configurable interval - View recorded measurements in a table or graph - Share measurement files (csv) via email *certain models may not support hold functionality or all available gage settings Devices support several update rates (5 Hz, 1 Hz, 0.5 Hz, On button press) which can be configured on the device.
Screenshots
Verdict
Onshape 3D CAD and Electronic Dial Indicator both sit at 3.5 stars, but that hides the real split: 47% of Onshape 3D CAD's written reviews are positive against 0% of Electronic Dial Indicator's. Onshape 3D CAD also leads on ratings volume (416 vs 6) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). Electronic Dial Indicator's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.0). On price, rating, 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Onshape 3D CAD holds the better App Store score, 3.5 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Onshape 3D CAD has 416 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 47% of Onshape 3D CAD's written reviews are positive against 0% of Electronic Dial Indicator's.
Onshape 3D CAD ships an update every 3 weeks, Electronic Dial Indicator every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Onshape 3D CAD | Electronic Dial Indicator |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.5 (416 ratings) — better | 3.3 (6 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 47.3% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 416 — better | 6 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 3 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 77 MB | 27 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | PTC Inc. | Chicago Dial Indicator Co. |
Customer experience
Onshape 3D CAD
Electronic Dial Indicator
Bugs and requests
Onshape 3D CAD
Reported bugs
5 issues- Frequent crashes and freezes
- Dimensions not visible/editable
- Rotation/view controls unreliable
- Unable to create account
- Incompatible with older devices
Requested features
5 requests- Add keyboard shortcuts
- Improve dimensioning tools
- Allow private file storage
- Optimize for iPad/Apple Pencil
- Provide better documentation/tutorials
Electronic Dial Indicator
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Onshape 3D CAD
No in-app purchases
Electronic Dial Indicator
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Onshape 3D CAD free?
Is Electronic Dial Indicator free?
Which has better reviews, Onshape 3D CAD or Electronic Dial Indicator?
Do Onshape 3D CAD or Electronic Dial Indicator have ads?
Which is updated more often, Onshape 3D CAD or Electronic Dial Indicator?
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