Comparison

Onshape 3D CAD vs STL Viewer

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Onshape 3D CAD

A cloud-based 3D CAD platform for professional users to create, edit, and collaborate on designs in real-time from any device. It offers robust parametric modeling tools and seamless data management for teams.

Highlights
  • Real-time collaboration
  • Parametric modeling tools
  • Cloud-based data management
  • Cross-device accessibility
  • Integrated commenting
  • Version control
Read full description

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.

About

STL Viewer

View, explore, and edit 3D models on your iPhone or iPad. Basic viewing is included with purchase, with optional upgrades for advanced creation, editing, and reporting features. Models are processed locally for privacy.

Highlights
  • Open and view STL files
  • Rotate, pan, and zoom models
  • Basic model information inspection
  • Create and edit 3D models
  • Measure distances and angles
  • Export to multiple file formats
  • Generate local PDF reports
Features
Read full description

Open your STL file on iPhone or iPad and examine the model with rotation, zoom and technical views. Your app purchase includes basic viewing without a subscription. Pro and Studio are optional upgrades for creation, editing, inspection and reports. BASIC VIEWER Open binary or ASCII STL files. Orbit, pan and zoom, switch camera views, and inspect basic model information in solid or wireframe mode. PRO WORKSPACE Build with primitives and profiles; extrude and revolve shapes. Transform objects, preview Boolean operations and plane cuts, and use mesh repair tools. Organize multiple objects in local projects with undo, redo and saved revisions. Measure distances, angles and radii, and inspect sampled estimates of wall thickness and surface deviation. Export STL, OBJ, PLY, 3MF and GLB files, capture PNG images, and opt into project reminders. STUDIO REPORTS Studio includes Pro and adds local PDF reports with project information, geometry summaries and inspection annotations. IMPORTANT LIMITS Models are processed on your device, not uploaded to our servers. Projects and revisions are local. This app does not include cloud collaboration, SSO, STEP/B-rep CAD or manufacturing certification. Thickness and surface comparisons are sampled estimates, not certified measurements. File formats and mesh operations have safety limits and restrictions shown in the tools. STL does not record units; choose the correct unit for your model. OPTIONAL PLANS The app download is paid. Basic viewing needs no subscription. Creation, editing and advanced inspection require Pro or Studio; PDF reports require Studio. Monthly/annual subscriptions and Pro Lifetime are optional. The App Store displays prices and periods before purchase. Subscriptions renew automatically until cancelled in your Apple account settings. Restore Purchases is available in the app. Terms: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy: https://softwareideal.com.br/policy.html Support: https://softwareideal.com.br

Screenshots

Onshape 3D CAD4 screens
STL Viewer2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: STL Viewer at 100% against Onshape 3D CAD's 47%. STL Viewer also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.5). Onshape 3D CAD's advantage is price (Free vs $0.99) and in-app purchases (none vs 5). On update cadence, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Onshape 3D CAD is free to download; STL Viewer costs $0.99 up front. STL Viewer sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Onshape 3D CAD asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

STL Viewer holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Onshape 3D CAD has 417 ratings behind it against 1, 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 100% of STL Viewer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Onshape 3D CAD ships an update every 3 weeks, STL Viewer every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Onshape 3D CAD versus STL Viewer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOnshape 3D CADSTL Viewer
PriceFree — better$0.99
Rating3.5 (417 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews47.3% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings417 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 4 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size77 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPTC Inc.Felipe Marques de Barros

Customer experience

Onshape 3D CAD

All ratings417 ratings
Positive61.4%
Neutral6.0%
Negative32.6%
Written reviews425 reviews
Positive47.3%
Neutral6.4%
Negative46.4%

STL Viewer

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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

STL Viewer

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Onshape 3D CAD

No in-app purchases

5 purchases

STL Viewer

Subscriptions4
  • STL Viewer Pro Mensal$2.991 Month
  • STL Viewer Studio Mensal$5.991 Month
  • STL Viewer Pro Anual$22.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • STL Viewer Studio Anual$49.991 Year
One-time1
  • STL Viewer Pro Vitalício$39.99

Questions

Is Onshape 3D CAD free?
Onshape 3D CAD is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is STL Viewer free?
STL Viewer costs $0.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Onshape 3D CAD or STL Viewer?
STL Viewer is rated higher. Onshape 3D CAD averages 3.5 out of 5 from 417 ratings, while STL Viewer averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Onshape 3D CAD or STL Viewer have ads?
Neither Onshape 3D CAD nor STL Viewer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Onshape 3D CAD or STL Viewer?
Onshape 3D CAD ships an update every 3 weeks, and STL Viewer every 4 weeks. Most recently, Onshape 3D CAD was updated on November 1, 2026 and STL Viewer on November 3, 2026.

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