# Onshape 3D CAD vs STL Viewer

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Onshape 3D CAD | STL Viewer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $0.99 |
| Rating | [3.5 (417 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/onshape-3d-cad/id923421284/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stl-viewer-3d-mesh/id6445801487/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **417** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 47.3% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 4 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Size | 77 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PTC Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/501201404) | [Felipe Marques de Barros](https://appshunter.io/developer/1459294806) |

## What reviewers say

### Onshape 3D CAD

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/onshape-3d-cad/id923421284)

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Powerful CAD features
- 🌐 Accessible from any device
- 👍 Intuitive interface
- 💡 Great for on-site work
- 🌟 Exceptional for a free app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- 👎 Unintuitive and clunky UI
- 🔒 Requires account sign-up
- 💰 Expensive paid plans
- 🔍 Difficult to find/use key features

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent crashes and freezes
- Dimensions not visible/editable
- Rotation/view controls unreliable
- Unable to create account
- Incompatible with older devices

**Requested features**

- Add keyboard shortcuts
- Improve dimensioning tools
- Allow private file storage
- Optimize for iPad/Apple Pencil
- Provide better documentation/tutorials


### STL Viewer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stl-viewer-3d-mesh/id6445801487)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| STL Viewer Pro Mensal | $2.99 | per month |
| STL Viewer Studio Mensal | $5.99 | per month |
| STL Viewer Pro Anual | $22.99 | per year |
| STL Viewer Studio Anual | $49.99 | per year |
| STL Viewer Pro Vitalício | $39.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*