Wax vs SimplerCAD
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Wax
Create 3D models, characters, and scenes on your mobile device. Sculpt, paint, and animate your creations with intuitive tools and modifiers. Save and share your projects in editable formats.
- 3D modeling with vertex, edge, and face editing
- Sculpting and painting tools with symmetry
- Keyframe animation with timeline and curve editor
- Editable project files for cross-device work
- Import OBJ and GLB/glTF models
- Export to OBJ, STL, PNG, MP4, GLB, and USDZ
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Make 3D props, characters and scenes on iPhone and iPad. Start with a shape, import a model, or open one of five editable examples. MODEL Edit vertices, edges and faces. Extrude faces, inset details, bevel edges and add loop cuts. Mirror, Subdivision Surface, Array and Smooth modifiers stay editable. SCULPT AND PAINT Push, pull and smooth a mesh with brushes, symmetry and masks. Paint vertex colors on separate layers with Normal, Multiply, Screen, Overlay and Add blend modes. Adjust opacity, lock coverage with Alpha Lock, and hide or reveal paint with editable layer masks. Sample colors with the eyedropper, reorder layers, and merge visible paint while keeping hidden layers. Visible-surface painting protects the far side of thin models. Subdivide for finer vertex detail; this is not UV texture painting. Add image textures and reference images. Apple Pencil pressure can control brush size and strength. ANIMATE Keyframe position, rotation and scale. Adjust timing on the timeline and motion in the curve editor. Add cameras to frame your scene. KEEP YOUR PROJECT EDITABLE Save and share .waxproject files with the full scene, including paint layers, layer masks, materials, textures, modifiers and animation. Open them on another device to keep working. Older .wax projects still open, and importing a project creates a separate copy. Import OBJ and self-contained GLB or glTF models. GLB/glTF files must contain their own mesh data and textures; separate buffer and image files are not supported. Model import does not bring in animation. Use Wax project files to transfer an editable Wax scene. FREE TO USE Modeling, sculpting, painting, animation, modifiers, model import and unlimited projects are free. Export editable Wax projects, OBJ, STL, SDS and PNG images without buying Pro. WAX PRO • Combine shapes, cut holes and find intersections with booleans. • Rebuild a mesh for sculpting with voxel remesh. • Export animations and turntables as MP4 videos. • Export GLB files with materials and animation for use in other 3D apps, games and the web. • Export USDZ files to view your models in AR. Wax Pro is a one-time purchase with Family Sharing. No subscription. LEARN BY EDITING Open a robot, spacecraft, painted creature, speaker or animated example and change it yourself. Guided modeling and paint-layer tours, gesture help, keyboard shortcuts and a left-handed layout are included. No account is required. Projects are stored on your device and are available in Files.
SimplerCAD
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Turn your ideas into 3D designs with SimplerCAD. Build models from basic shapes, adjust dimensions, and combine objects in a hands-on CAD workspace. CREATE AND EDIT Add shapes, move, rotate and scale objects, and use grid and snap controls for precise placement. Switch between different model views as you work. SAVE AND SHARE Save editable projects locally, open them again to keep working, and export models in formats including STL, OBJ and GLB. Use your device's sharing options to send files to the destination you choose. LEARN AS YOU GO Explore the built-in Help center for guides to the workspace and modeling tools. Designed for makers, hobbyists and anyone learning 3D modeling. Designed for iPhone. This version saves projects locally and does not require an account. Contains banner advertising.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: SimplerCAD at none against Wax's 1. SimplerCAD also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 3 weeks) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). Wax's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price 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
Both are free to download. Wax sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. SimplerCAD asks for nothing beyond the download.
Wax ships an update every 3 weeks, SimplerCAD every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Wax | SimplerCAD |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 5 MB | 45 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | John Haas | TOMMASO POTRICH |
In-app purchases
Wax
- Wax Pro$14.99
SimplerCAD
No in-app purchases









