3D Scratchpad vs PLAN 3D
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
3D Scratchpad
Create 3D models with a user-friendly design tool. Freehand draw in 3D using primitive shapes and gestures. Manipulate objects with augmented reality and share your creations as .usdz files.
- Freehand 3D drawing
- Primitive solid shapes
- Intuitive gestures
- Augmented reality manipulation
- Share as .usdz files
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3D Scratchpad is an easy-to-use, full-featured design tool for creating 3D models. Freehand draw in three dimensions using simple primitive solid shapes and intuitive gestures. Manipulate objects as if they were in the real world with augmented reality, and share your models as .usdz files for viewing in augmented reality. 3D Scratchpad creates a short path between design ideas and useful 3D models for designers, modelers, makers, gamers, 3D-printing enthusiasts, hobbyists, educators, engineers, and architects. Use 3D Scratchpad to create and fabricate prototypes, to model new products, parts, and structures, and to create and share 3D art and designs. 3D Scratchpad enables you to design in the real world. Built to enable immersive, intuitive, and interactive design, 3D Scratchpad unlocks your design creativity and gives you the tools you need to create and share 3D models. Purchasing an auto-renewing 3D Scratchpad Subscription enables the ability to save and share 3D models.
PLAN 3D
Create and explore immersive 3D information spaces. This app allows you to build your own metaverse-style environments, place interactive 3D models, and collaborate with others. It features multi-tasking tabs, a web browser within 3D spaces, and various channels for chat, notes, and data.
- Visualize and interact in 3D spaces
- Place and make 3D models interactive
- Multi-tasking interface windows
- Design and build 3D spaces
- Web browser within 3D environments
- Collaborative channels for chat and notes
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PLAN 3D is being developed by PLAN Systems for realtime collaboration and information exchange. It brings together immersive spaces, 3D models, information channels, and Web links & information. Build your own "metaverse"style information spaces. The default community is hosted by PLAN Systems and lets you access and explore all the 3D content, features, and current functionality of the native PLAN client interface. To sponsor content, or get information on implementing your own PLAN community, please set up a consultation appointment with our team via admin@plan-systems.org. Help us keep developing PLAN by supporting and contributing to PLAN Systems - Technology 501(c)(3)! Features of PLAN: - Visualize and interact in 3D spaces and environments - Place 3D models & glyphs at any location in a Space - Make 3D glyphs interactive by adding Web Links and Channel functionality - Arrange and view multiple interface windows – Multi-tasking tabs snap to any edge - Design and build 3D spaces. Move, scale, and rotate 3D models and glyphs - Change the skybox backdrop from cosmic, abstract, to 360 images - Browse the web from Links in your 3D spaces. Includes an ultra-simple browser - A Space Channel lets you dive into Spaces within Spaces - A Talk Channel lets you leave a simple message in a simple chat interface - A Sheets Channel lets you create a simple 4x100 table of information - A Notes Channel lets you place a collaborative notebook at any location in a Space - Automatically connects to the default PLAN community and content library PLAN Systems is developing solutions that enable collaboration, media, and 3D world building. The default community is an introduction to PLAN Systems' technology and vision for real-time collaborative communications. To get started, download 3D content using the crate manager by clicking the crate icon on the system screen and select "get." Learn more about our effort by selecting the System "cog" icon in the launch bar and selecting "PLAN Website" in the visor menu. Welcome to PLAN (getting started) - https://plan-systems.org/plan-3d/welcome-to-plan.html Homepage - http://plan-systems.org Why PLAN? - https://www.plan-systems.org/charitable-purpose-faq/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: PLAN 3D at 100% against 3D Scratchpad's 19%. PLAN 3D also leads on rating (4.2 vs 2.7) and in-app purchases (none vs 3). On price, ratings volume, ads 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. 3D Scratchpad sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. PLAN 3D asks for nothing beyond the download.
PLAN 3D holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 2.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 12 and 9 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 19% of 3D Scratchpad's written reviews are positive against 100% of PLAN 3D's.
3D Scratchpad ships an update every 15 months, PLAN 3D every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | 3D Scratchpad | PLAN 3D |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.7 (12 ratings) | 4.2 (9 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 18.5% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 12 — better | 9 |
| Update frequency | Every 15 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 7 MB | 502 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Engineered Stuff | PLAN Systems |
Customer experience
3D Scratchpad
PLAN 3D
In-app purchases
3D Scratchpad
- One Month Subscription$1.991 Month
- Six Month Subscription$6.996 Months
- One Year Subscription$9.991 Year
PLAN 3D
No in-app purchases









