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Developer Tools · head to head

Cortex vs Spline

Cortex logo

Cortex

Developer Tools

Internal developer portal that scores service ownership and maturity rather than just cataloguing services

From
On request
Free plan
No
Visit CortexFull review
Spline logo

Spline

Design

3D design tool for the web

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit SplineFull review

The short version

  • Spline is a free 3D design software.
  • Spline starts at $9/mo; Cortex prices on request.
  • Only Cortex lists service catalogue; only Spline lists 3D modeling.
  • Where Spline falls short: AI generation features produce inconsistent and often distorted results, failing at basic depth perception tasks.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Cortex and Spline actually diverge.

Attributes where Cortex and Spline differ
AttributeCortexSpline
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelQuoteFreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, APIWeb, iOS, Android, VR and AR
CategoryDeveloper ToolsDesign

Not yet recorded: founded for Cortex.

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Cortex

  • Service catalogue
  • Scorecards
  • Initiatives
  • Self-service templates
  • Query language
  • Eng intelligence
  • Integrations layer
  • On-call and ownership mapping

Only in Spline

  • 3D modeling
  • Real-time collaboration
  • Animations
  • Interactions
  • Code export
  • React
  • Next.js
  • Webflow

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Cortex

  • A platform team that needs to prove to leadership how far a Kubernetes or framework migration has actually progressed across hundreds of servicesnot Spline
  • An organisation where ownership of production services is genuinely unknown after reorganisations or acquisitionsnot Spline
  • Enforcing production readiness standards on new services at creation time rather than at incident reviewnot Spline
  • Replacing a self-hosted Backstage that is consuming a full-time engineer or two just to stay upgradednot Spline

Spline

  • Web 3D experiencesnot Cortex
  • Interactive prototypesnot Cortex
  • Product visualizationnot Cortex

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Cortex

  • Pricing is quote only, so a platform team cannot build a business case or compare against the true cost of self-hosted Backstage without entering a sales cycle first
  • The catalogue is only as accurate as the metadata you supply, so an organisation with inconsistent repository conventions spends its first quarter cleaning data before any scorecard means anything
  • Scorecards create political friction: publishing a per-team grade turns an engineering standard into a performance metric, and teams will game the rules rather than fix the underlying issue
  • It is closed source and hosted, so organisations with strict data residency or air-gap requirements have limited options compared with running Backstage themselves
  • Value scales with organisation size, so a company with fifty engineers and thirty services will find the catalogue tells them nothing they did not already know while still paying an enterprise contract

Spline

  • AI generation features produce inconsistent and often distorted results, failing at basic depth perception tasks
  • Limited to simpler designs - not suitable for high-poly, detailed production models
  • Performance degrades with complex scenes containing many objects and materials
  • Limited non-Apple platform coverage compared to cross-platform design tools
  • Tutorials are either too fast for beginners or too basic for advanced users

Pricing, plan by plan

Cortex

On request
  • CortexOn request
    • Service catalogue and ownership mapping
    • Scorecards and initiatives
    • Self-service templates

Spline

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited projects
    • Basic exports
    • Community support
  • Pro$9/mo
    • Advanced exports
    • Custom domains
    • Password protection
  • Team$19/mo
    • Team collaboration
    • Version control
    • Admin controls

Which should you pick?

Choose Cortex if

  • You need service catalogue.
  • You work on Web, API.
  • You also want scorecards.
Cortex review

Choose Spline if

  • You need 3d modeling.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, VR and AR.
  • You also want real-time collaboration.
Spline review

Questions people ask

Is Cortex or Spline better?
Neither clearly leads. Cortex starts at On request and Spline at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Cortex or Spline?
Spline has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Cortex and Free for Spline.
Does Cortex or Spline run on more platforms?
Cortex runs on Web, API. Spline runs on Web, iOS, Android, VR and AR.
Can I use Spline for free?
Yes. Spline has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Cortex starts at On request.
What is Cortex best used for?
Cortex is most often used for a platform team that needs to prove to leadership how far a kubernetes or framework migration has actually progressed across hundreds of services, an organisation where ownership of production services is genuinely unknown after reorganisations or acquisitions, enforcing production readiness standards on new services at creation time rather than at incident review, replacing a self-hosted backstage that is consuming a full-time engineer or two just to stay upgraded. Of those, a platform team that needs to prove to leadership how far a kubernetes or framework migration has actually progressed across hundreds of services and an organisation where ownership of production services is genuinely unknown after reorganisations or acquisitions are not what Spline is typically brought in for.
What can Cortex do that Spline cannot?
Cortex covers Service catalogue, Scorecards, Initiatives, Self-service templates. Spline covers 3D modeling, Real-time collaboration, Animations, Interactions.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Cortex: How is Cortex different from Backstage?

Backstage is an open source framework you build and staff. Cortex is a hosted product with scorecards and initiatives out of the box and no platform team required to keep it running.

Spline: What is Spline's pricing?

Spline offers a Free plan with watermarked web exports, Starter at $12/month (billed annually) removing watermarks, Professional at $20/month with unlimited projects, and Enterprise with custom pricing. Viewers are unlimited on all plans.

Source
Cortex: Is pricing published?

No. Cortex requires a sales conversation and prepares a custom proposal.

Spline: Can Spline export 3D models to other tools?

Spline's export/import format support is more limited compared to traditional 3D tools like Blender. It focuses on web-first exports and native app code generation.

Source
Cortex: Can it self-host?

It is offered as a hosted product; on-premise arrangements are handled through sales rather than published.

Cortex: What is the main adoption risk?

Bad or missing service metadata. The catalogue and every scorecard on top of it inherit whatever quality your repositories already have.

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