Comparison

3D Scratchpad vs ShapeScript Mobile

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Freehand 3D drawing
  • Primitive solid shapes
  • Intuitive gestures
  • Augmented reality manipulation
  • Share as .usdz files
Features
Read full description

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.

About

ShapeScript Mobile

Define 3D models using a simple, structured text language instead of traditional graphical interfaces. Ideal for users who find typical 3D modeling complex, it allows for procedural generation of geometry through code. Export models for games or 3D printing.

Highlights
  • Code-based 3D model definition
  • Procedural geometry generation
  • Structured text language parser
  • Export for games and 3D printing
  • No artistic skills required
Features
Read full description

ShapeScript is a 3D modeling program for people who don’t like 3D modeling programs. Instead of dragging polygons and vertices around in a GUI, ShapeScript lets you define your models precisely using code. No artistic skills are required - ShapeScript does all the drawing for you. The ShapeScript app includes a parser for a simple language (also called “ShapeScript”). ShapeScript (the language) is a cross between a markup language and a programming language. You don’t need to be a programmer to use ShapeScript. If you have ever worked with any kind of structured text like JSON or HTML then it should come naturally. But if you do have experience with programming, then you can apply those skills to create even more complex models by using loops, functions and variables to procedurally generate geometry. Models can be rendered as images or exported in a variety of formats suitable for use in games or 3D printing (export functionality is a premium feature, unlockable via in-app purchase).

Screenshots

3D Scratchpad4 screens
ShapeScript Mobile4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: ShapeScript Mobile at 67% against 3D Scratchpad's 19%. ShapeScript Mobile also leads on rating (5.0 vs 2.7) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 15 months). 3D Scratchpad's advantage is ratings volume (12 vs 4). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. 3D Scratchpad sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and ShapeScript Mobile sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ShapeScript Mobile holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 12 and 4 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 19% of 3D Scratchpad's written reviews are positive against 67% of ShapeScript Mobile's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

3D Scratchpad ships an update every 15 months, ShapeScript Mobile fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
3D Scratchpad versus ShapeScript Mobile: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameter3D ScratchpadShapeScript Mobile
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.7 (12 ratings)5.0 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews18.5% of reviews66.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings12 — better4
Update frequencyEvery 15 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.014.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperEngineered StuffCharcoal Design

Customer experience

3D Scratchpad

All ratings12 ratings
Positive41.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative58.3%
Written reviews27 reviews
Positive18.5%
Neutral7.4%
Negative74.1%

ShapeScript Mobile

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral33.3%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

3D Scratchpad

Subscriptions3
  • One Month Subscription$1.991 Month
  • Six Month Subscription$6.996 Months
  • One Year Subscription$9.991 Year
1 purchases

ShapeScript Mobile

One-time1
  • Unlock Export$9.99

Questions

Is 3D Scratchpad free?
3D Scratchpad is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ShapeScript Mobile free?
ShapeScript Mobile is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, 3D Scratchpad or ShapeScript Mobile?
ShapeScript Mobile is rated higher. 3D Scratchpad averages 2.7 out of 5 from 12 ratings, while ShapeScript Mobile averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.
Do 3D Scratchpad or ShapeScript Mobile have ads?
Neither 3D Scratchpad nor ShapeScript Mobile shows ads.
Which is updated more often, 3D Scratchpad or ShapeScript Mobile?
3D Scratchpad ships an update every 15 months, and ShapeScript Mobile fortnightly. Most recently, 3D Scratchpad was updated on September 22, 2026 and ShapeScript Mobile on September 18, 2026.

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