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CAD · head to head

Shapr3D vs Substance 3D Designer

Shapr3D logo

Shapr3D

CAD

CAD software for iPad and Mac

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Substance 3D Designer logo

Substance 3D Designer

CAD

Node-based material authoring

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Shapr3D has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Shapr3D the free Basic plan is limited to 2 projects; Substance 3D Designer as of a 1 January 2023 archived capture, Adobe Substance 3D Designer is not sold standalone; it requires the Substance 3D Collection subscription plan at US$49.99 per month
  • They diverge on capability: Shapr3D covers Direct modeling, Substance 3D Designer covers Node-based workflow.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Shapr3D and Substance 3D Designer actually diverge.

Attributes where Shapr3D and Substance 3D Designer differ
AttributeShapr3DSubstance 3D Designer
Starting priceFree$29/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsIPadOS, MacOS, WindowsWindows, MacOS, Linux
Founded20151982

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (CAD).

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 Shapr3D

  • Direct modeling
  • Parametric history
  • Visualization
  • 2D drawings
  • Apple Pencil support
  • Import/export
  • Annotations
  • Fusion 360

Only in Substance 3D Designer

  • Node-based workflow
  • Procedural generation
  • PBR materials
  • Patterns
  • Filters
  • Custom nodes
  • MDL export
  • Painter

Both cover

  • MacOS support
  • Windows support

What people use each for

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

Shapr3D

  • Direct modelling CAD on iPad with Apple Pencilnot Substance 3D Designer
  • Producing manufacturable solid models and technical drawingsnot Substance 3D Designer
  • Sharing CAD projects with collaborators on desktop and tabletnot Substance 3D Designer

Substance 3D Designer

  • Material creationnot Shapr3D
  • Procedural texturesnot Shapr3D

Where each one falls short

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

Shapr3D

  • The free Basic plan is limited to 2 projects
  • Free plan exports only basic resolution 3MF and STL, so no STEP or IGES output
  • Free plan caps generative renders at 3 per day; Pro raises this to 50 per day and only Enterprise is unlimited
  • Importing SLDPRT and SLDASM SolidWorks files requires Pro
  • Importing NX, JT, CREO, Solid Edge and Rhino files requires Enterprise
  • Exporting ACIS, FBX, Parasolid and PRC requires Enterprise
  • On premises and single tenant data storage is Enterprise only
  • Enterprise pricing is by quote with no published rate

Substance 3D Designer

  • As of a 1 January 2023 archived capture, Adobe Substance 3D Designer is not sold standalone; it requires the Substance 3D Collection subscription plan at US$49.99 per month

Pricing, plan by plan

Shapr3D

Free
  • BasicFree
    • 2 projects
    • cloud storage
    • basic import/export (XT, STEP, IGES, DWG, STL)
  • Pro$299/year
    • unlimited shared team projects
    • up to 2 contributors
    • high-resolution exports
  • Enterprise$null/custom
    • granular access control
    • flexible data storage (single tenant/private cloud/on-premises)
    • unlimited renders

Substance 3D Designer

$29/month
  • Substance 3D Collection$49.99/month
    • All Substance apps

Which should you pick?

Choose Shapr3D if

  • You need direct modeling.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on IPadOS, MacOS, Windows.
  • You also want parametric history.
Shapr3D review

Choose Substance 3D Designer if

  • You need node-based workflow.
  • You work on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
  • You also want procedural generation.
Substance 3D Designer review

Questions people ask

Is Shapr3D or Substance 3D Designer better?
Neither clearly leads. Shapr3D starts at Free and Substance 3D Designer at $29/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Shapr3D or Substance 3D Designer?
Shapr3D has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Shapr3D and $29/month for Substance 3D Designer.
Does Shapr3D or Substance 3D Designer run on more platforms?
Shapr3D runs on IPadOS, MacOS, Windows. Substance 3D Designer runs on Windows, MacOS, Linux.
Can I use Shapr3D for free?
Yes. Shapr3D has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Substance 3D Designer starts at $29/month.
What is Shapr3D best used for?
Shapr3D is most often used for direct modelling cad on ipad with apple pencil, producing manufacturable solid models and technical drawings, sharing cad projects with collaborators on desktop and tablet. Of those, direct modelling cad on ipad with apple pencil and producing manufacturable solid models and technical drawings are not what Substance 3D Designer is typically brought in for.
What can Shapr3D do that Substance 3D Designer cannot?
Shapr3D covers Direct modeling, Parametric history, Visualization, 2D drawings. Substance 3D Designer covers Node-based workflow, Procedural generation, PBR materials, Patterns. Both handle MacOS support, Windows support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Shapr3D: How much does Shapr3D cost?

Shapr3D Basic tier is free. Pro tier is $299 per year or available monthly with price not specified on the pricing page. Enterprise pricing is custom and requires contacting sales.

Source
Shapr3D: Is there a free trial for Shapr3D Pro?

Yes, Shapr3D offers a 14-day free trial for Pro tier that requires a credit card, plus a 14-day money-back guarantee on purchases.

Source
Shapr3D: What is the difference between Shapr3D Pro and Enterprise?

Pro tier includes up to 2 contributors on unlimited shared team projects, 50 renders daily, technical drawings, and AR on iPad. Enterprise provides granular access control, flexible data storage options (single tenant, private cloud, on-premises, or cloud off), unlimited renders, extended import/export formats, and dedicated account management.

Source
Shapr3D: Does Shapr3D offer educational pricing?

Yes, Shapr3D is free for students and educators with annual license renewal through an in-app application form.

Source
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