Comparison

Onshape 3D CAD vs Design Materials

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

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.

Highlights
  • Parametric modeling tools
  • Real-time team collaboration
  • Cloud-based data management
  • Cross-device access
  • Version control and history
  • Commenting and feedback tools
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

Design Materials

This app serves as an offline reference guide for various design materials, including polymers and metals. It allows users to manage their own material data, view 3D models, and capture objects with their device's camera. Ideal for professionals and hobbyists involved in product design and 3D printing.

Highlights
  • Offline material reference guide
  • Custom material and resin management
  • 3D model viewer and import/export
  • Object capture via device camera
  • Favorites and notes section
  • Cross-device compatibility (iOS, macOS)
Features
Read full description

Design Materials is an offline material reference guide trusted by hundreds of Engineers, Architects and Designers all over the World. The App was created to be a personal tool to help me take design decisions during the concept ideation of industrial products, in particular for 3D printing. Due to high demand, I decided to make it public and share it's information and power. Basically, it provides the fundamentals for most design/engineer materials on the market, based on reliable and curated academic sources. In addition, you can now create and manager your own Material, Resin or Filament data. Finally, the App features Apple Intelligence (AI) with a pair of Entity Masters in material engineering and STEM: HAL 9000 and Elemento, which can be accessed 24/7 while being on or offline (no internet). The guide contains material categories such as polymers, metals, naturals and more. All of these include synthetic, organic, bio-degradable, plastic, and much more subcategories. Each material contains information such as: About, Properties, Tags, Applications, Types and Photos. HAL 9000 & Elemento (AI entities): The legend of HAL is back. Ask anything from space to robotics or biology, HAL and Elemento are Gods of material engineering and science. HAL does precise flawless analysis while Elemento brings fresh human creativity with an attitude. In addition, you can choose the Tone of AI: Formal, Friendly, Direct or Arrogant. Both AI Entities work offline 24/7. Other features includes: • AI Chat with HAL 9000 or Elemento • Material Packs (subscribers) • 3D-model viewer/import/export • Object Capture: Scan Objects • Favorites section • Offline reference (no Internet needed) • Long list of properties per material • Save Notes per material/resin/filament • Create Designs using Apple Pencil • Support for all iPhone screen sizes • Dark Mode • iPadOS support • MacOS support • Continuous Updates with New Content • UNIVERSAL PURCHASE - One Payment for all Devices New Pro version auto-renew subscriptions: - 1 year (Gold) | 3 month (Silver) | 1 month (Bronze) subscriptions* - Access to all material database ABOUT SUBSCRIPTIONS • Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. • Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period.

 • Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal.
 • Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase.
 • Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable. 

• Terms of use (EULA): https://www.termsfeed.com/live/faff17b4-8765-4690-b57e-9aabde3d2950

Screenshots

Onshape 3D CAD4 screens
Design Materials4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Design Materials at 4.5 against Onshape 3D CAD's 3.5. Onshape 3D CAD's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ratings volume (414 vs 2). On price, ads, monetization model and device support 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

Both are free to download. Design Materials sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Onshape 3D CAD asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Design Materials holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Onshape 3D CAD has 414 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 47% of Onshape 3D CAD's written reviews are positive against 33% of Design Materials's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Onshape 3D CAD ships an update every 3 weeks, Design Materials every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Onshape 3D CAD versus Design Materials: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOnshape 3D CADDesign Materials
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.5 (414 ratings)4.5 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews47.3% of reviews — better33.3% of reviews
Number of ratings414 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS18.0 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size77 MB28 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPTC Inc.Chrystian Enriquez

Customer experience

Onshape 3D CAD

All ratings412 ratings
Positive61.7%
Neutral5.8%
Negative32.5%
Written reviews425 reviews
Positive47.3%
Neutral6.4%
Negative46.4%

Design Materials

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative66.7%

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

Design Materials

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Onshape 3D CAD

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Design Materials

Subscriptions3
  • Bronze member$7.991 Month
  • Silver member$17.993 Months
  • Gold member$49.991 Year

Questions

Is Onshape 3D CAD free?
Onshape 3D CAD is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Design Materials free?
Design Materials is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Onshape 3D CAD or Design Materials?
Design Materials is rated higher. Onshape 3D CAD averages 3.5 out of 5 from 414 ratings, while Design Materials averages 4.5 from 2 ratings.
Do Onshape 3D CAD or Design Materials have ads?
Neither Onshape 3D CAD nor Design Materials shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Onshape 3D CAD or Design Materials?
Onshape 3D CAD ships an update every 3 weeks, and Design Materials every 3 months. Most recently, Onshape 3D CAD was updated on October 28, 2026 and Design Materials on October 18, 2026.

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