Onshape 3D CAD vs FDsidekick
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Real-time collaboration
- Parametric modeling tools
- Cloud-based data management
- Cross-device accessibility
- Integrated commenting
- Version control
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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.
FDsidekick
This app offers quick access to preflight and inflight notes and utilities. It includes features for customizing notecards, viewing imported PDFs, and a specialized aviation calculator. You can also create PA scripts and jot down notes with stylus support.
- Customizable Notecard with Autofill
- PDF Reference Viewer
- Aviation Calculator
- PA Script Creator
- Touch/Stylus Notepad
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FDsidekick provides ease-of-access for preflight and inflight notes and utilities. -Notecard: Customize and Autofill your card for easy flight plan review -References: Easily view imported PDFs -Calculator: With Aviation-related functions and memory -PA: Easily create a script for the Welcome Aboard PA -Notepad: Jot down notes via touch with support for Apple Pencil
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: FDsidekick at 5.0 against Onshape 3D CAD's 3.5. FDsidekick also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 weeks). Onshape 3D CAD's advantage is ratings volume (419 vs 1) and iOS requirement (18.0 vs 26.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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.
FDsidekick 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 419 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Onshape 3D CAD ships an update every 3 weeks, FDsidekick every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Onshape 3D CAD | FDsidekick |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.5 (419 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 47.3% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 419 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 5 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 77 MB | 1 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | PTC Inc. | Erik Patrinostro |
Customer experience
Onshape 3D CAD
FDsidekick
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
FDsidekick
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Onshape 3D CAD
No in-app purchases
FDsidekick
No in-app purchases









