3D modeling has gone portable! Check out our selection of the best 3D design apps for modeling with iPad and Android.
Only the Essentials
We’re truly lucky that phones and tablets have evolved to a point where they’re capable of 3D design, a task traditionally reserved for heavyweight desktop systems. Here we’ve listed some stellar options for 3D modeling on mobile devices, and there are solutions for many different use cases.
But before jumping head-long into the world of mobile 3D modeling, it’s important to set some standards. Though we were told to scrap putting a selection committee together, we did take a few aspects into consideration when making our picks…
3D Printing Focus
A quick search will reveal that there are many mobile apps made for “3D design” out there, so you might have some trouble sifting through everything to find one that’s reliable and functional. Things get even more complicated when you realize that most 3D design apps are targeted towards visualization or fun rather than functional 3D models, whether for 3D printing or other applications.
Fortunately, we were able to find some of the best 3D design apps for mobile devices that actually fit into a casual 3D printing workflow, with one noteworthy exception that has its own significant use case.
Platforms
As you can imagine, a tablet form factor is more suitable for 3D design than a tiny 6-inch phone screen, and the tablet landscape is dominated by iOS devices. For these reasons, many developers target this platform with their apps, which means some of our selections are only available for iOS.
It’s also worth noting that we’re only listing apps made for mobile operating systems. Because, although Microsoft Surface devices are technically “tablets”, they run a desktop operating system and desktop software, which means they have full access to SolidWorks, Fusion 360, and any other extremely capable professional software.
Alright then, time to dive in to the world of mobile 3D modeling.
Shapr3D
Let’s start off with a heavyweight: the parametric modeling powerhouse, Shapr3D. This app, with 16.4K ratings on the App Store and a 4.7-star average, is powered by the same modeling engine as the professional modeling software SolidWorks.
It doesn’t take much browsing of its user interface and feature set to see that this app is targeted towards professional engineers and industrial designers. Shapr3D allows you to create concepts on the go, all of which can be exported to desktop software for more granular editing at any time.
In a nutshell, if you’re looking for an app for even a semi-professional use case, look no further. Shapr3D is one of the most functional and reliable mobile apps out there for parametric modeling.
- Platform: iOS
- Price: Limited free version, ~$150/year for hobbyists
Qubism
Qubism is a 3D modeling app that aims to provide a simple touch-centric modeling environment where you can manipulate the shape “qubes”, which is what the app calls its geometric building blocks. Although the toolset is narrowly focused on a few types of shape transformations, Qubism is more than competent at sculpting simple and quick geometries, once you get the hang of how the app works.
The user interface is less intuitive and sleek in comparison to some of the other apps in the list, but the free price tag offers a low barrier to entry for those willing to give it a try. Just keep in mind that you may need to convert the DAE or JSON output file from your device if you decide to transfer your model over to your PC.
- Platform: Android
- Price: Free
Sculptura
What fun would a touch-centric operating system be without sculpting apps? That’s where Sculptura comes in: It’s an app that hopes to satisfy all your virtual clay-morphing cravings. It’s a fairly intuitive sculpting tool similar to ZBrushCoreMini, the desktop software commonly referred to as a “light version of ZBrush“.
The simple set of tools available in Sculptura makes it most suitable for creating base meshes, which are then exported to desktop modeling software for more granular edits. The interface is clean, and the performance is smooth. It’s a modeling experience clearly optimized for mobile, so if the functionality fits your workflow, you won’t be disappointed.
- Platforms: iOS
- Price: ~$10
3DC.io
3DC.io is a 3D design app that aims to be a simple tool to enable anyone to create their own 3D designs. Aiming to enable teachers and educators to teach people the basic concepts of 3D modeling, this app works by allowing you to place, transform, and color different shapes in order to create a larger model.
This app has a very similar look and feel to Qubism but with a slightly more modern user interface that adds on a web-hosted gallery where users can share their models with others. The app has an average rating of 3.8 on Android and 3.6 stars for the iOS version.
- Platform: Android, iOS
- Price: ~$6 for Android, ~$4 for iOS
uMake
The one app that always seems to make it onto a list of 3D design apps is uMake. Perhaps that’s because it takes a unique approach to modeling: touch input.
Though you mainly use 2D sketches to form 3D shapes, the experience somehow feels more like 2D drawing with an added dimension instead of traditional parametric modeling with planes and sketches. It’s difficult to explain in words – you just have to try it yourself.
A nice bonus with uMake is the ability to view your 3D designs in augmented reality. You can literally project your supercar concept onto a live video view of your garage to see if it will fit (next to your imaginary Porsche 911).
However, a word of warning: Perhaps due to the way the interface is designed, uMake naturally invites the creation of organic shapes, even though it’s not a sculpting tool, per se. It’s more suitable for concept work and visualization rather than physical manufacturing with 3D printing.
Though you could export the 3D files you design with uMake to more sophisticated software like Fusion 360 and Meshmixer, the import options hint at a more design-centric (as opposed to manufacturing-centric) purpose.
For example, Photoshop, Procreate, Sketchbook, and other popular 2D drawing programs are among the supported import sources. This might allude to the developers’ intention to make uMake an app for concept artists primarily working with 2D sketches and visualizations.
- Platform: iOS
- Price: 14-day free trial, then ~$96/year
Morphi
With an emphasis on simplicity, Morphi is an iPad app that aims to please a diverse range of use cases and audiences. Morphi is a cross between Sculptura and uMake, trying to utilize the intuitiveness of 2D drawing in a 3D environment.
There are some great bonus features that make designing in Morphi handy while on the go. For example, you can transform high-contrast images (which you can capture on your iPad) and convert them automatically into 3D objects.
- Platform: iOS
- Price: ~$5
Putty
The best way to sum up Putty is “a cheaper Sculptura”. It hasn’t got as many ratings, but it gets the job done for about half the price.
Compared to Sculptura, Putty’s modeling tools are slightly more limited. However, you still get the mobile-optimized modeling experience, file export to desktop apps, and clean user interface, so if budget is a concern of yours, here’s your chance to work on those base meshes on the go.
- Platform: iOS
- Price: ~$5
Onshape
Professional users should definitely be interested in the Onshape 3D CAD design platform. The Onshape mobile apps are meant to be companions to the main PC platform, focusing on making small changes to your larger projects while on the go. Both the Android and iOS versions of the app have precise multi-touch gesture controls that allow you to accurately interact and edit all the different parts of your model.
On average, the Onshape apps have a 4-star rating in both the Play Store and the Apple Store, with over 100,000 installations. Keep in mind that if you’re thinking of using this app, it’s only free for non-commercial projects, otherwise you’ll need to subscribe to the Onshape platform for about $1,500 per year.
- Platform: Android, iOS
- Price: Free for non-commercial use
AutoCAD Mobile
This popular DWG viewer and editor is quite a solid option for architecture- or BIM-related functions. Just bear in mind that you won’t be using this if your interest is to make something for a 3D printer.
Under the free plan, the mobile version of AutoCAD can be used to view and share DWG files, while the two subscription plans, Premium and Ultimate, offer editing and additional storage, respectively. That said, if you already have an AutoCAD or AutoCAD LT subscription, all of the Premium features are already available to you.
Despite all of this, we’re almost obligated to mention AutoCAD because of its notoriety in the 3D design space. It’s in a completely different category than the other apps mentioned here, but at least now you won’t mistake it as a 3D modeling option for your printing needs.
- Platforms: iOS, Android
- Price: Free (for viewing), ~$5/month for Premium (editing), ~$50/month for Ultimate (additional storage)
Tinkercad
Many of the well-known design elements of Autodesk’s Tinkercad, like its simplicity and easy-to-use interface, have transferred over to the free-to-use Tinkercad iOS app. Expect to see similar functionality to the browser-based platform but with the addition of full Apple Pencil and augmented reality (AR) support. While using AR to superimpose your 3D object is beneficial in limited use cases, being able to sketch using your finger or a stylus is what makes designing on tablets so great.
The app has over 1,800 reviews with a 4.6-star average rating. It fully integrates and syncs with all of your models in the Tinkercad platform.
- Platform: iOS
- Price: Free
Bonus: Luna Display
And now for something completely different (but still worth it).
Picture this: your shiny iPad, with its pressure sensitivity and spectacular stylus support, running desktop modeling software. That describes the reality created by Luna Display, a solution that allows your iPad to function as a second display and input method for your Mac.
To get it set up, you first plug tiny dongles into the iPad and the computer, which establishes a wireless connection between the two machines. Then, the iPad mirrors your desktop screen, and you can use the touch input of the iPad with your favorite desktop modeling apps.
The beauty of this approach lies in the fact that it combines the hardware of the iPad, which is suitable for modeling, with the power of desktop software, which is superior in functionality to mobile apps.
- Platform: iOS
- Price: ~$80
Alternative Approach
The creators of Luna Display provide another solution that’s similar in function: Astropad. Astropad does the same thing as Luna Display, except it works with more versions of the iPad and uses WiFi or a USB connection instead of a dongle pair.
If you don’t want to break the bank, or if you just want to see what all the fuss is about with this unique solution to modeling on mobile devices, Astropad is a good option.