Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Instructables VS Thangs3D

Compare Instructables VS Thangs3D and see what are their differences

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Instructables logo Instructables

DIY How To Make Instructions

Thangs3D logo Thangs3D

Thangs3D is an online community for engineers and visual designers that provides unlimited downloads of 3D models and CAD designs.
  • Instructables Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-09
  • Thangs3D Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-30

Instructables features and specs

  • Diverse Range of Projects
    Instructables offers a wide variety of projects across multiple categories, including technology, crafts, cooking, and more, catering to diverse interests and skill levels.
  • Community Engagement
    The platform fosters a strong sense of community with user-generated content, allowing individuals to share their projects, comment on others, and collaborate with like-minded hobbyists.
  • Step-by-Step Instructions
    Most projects come with detailed step-by-step guides and pictures, making it easier for users to follow along and successfully complete projects.
  • Educational Resource
    Instructables serves as a valuable educational tool, providing tutorials that can help users learn new skills and gain knowledge in various fields.
  • Free Access
    A significant portion of the content on Instructables is accessible for free, allowing users to explore and create without any financial commitment.

Possible disadvantages of Instructables

  • Quality Variation
    The quality of projects can vary greatly, as the content is user-generated. Some instructions may lack clarity or be incomplete, leading to potential frustration.
  • Ad Distractions
    The free version of the site includes advertisements, which can be distracting and hinder the user experience while browsing or following instructions.
  • Premium Membership
    Access to some of the more advanced features or ad-free browsing requires a premium membership, which can be a downside for users looking for a completely free experience.
  • Overwhelming Choices
    With a vast number of projects available, users might find it overwhelming to locate the most suitable or high-quality instructions for their needs.
  • Inconsistent Updates
    Not all categories or projects are consistently updated, which might lead to outdated information or limited new project inspirations in certain areas.

Thangs3D features and specs

  • Comprehensive Model Repository
    Thangs3D offers a vast library of 3D models across different categories, providing users with a wide range of options for their projects.
  • Advanced Search Capabilities
    The platform features powerful search tools, including geometric search, allowing users to find models based on shape and structure.
  • Collaborative Features
    Thangs3D supports collaboration by enabling users to share models and work on joint projects, which can enhance productivity and creativity.
  • Automatic Version Control
    Users can benefit from the platform's version control system that tracks modifications, making it easy to manage and revert changes in models.
  • Free Access
    Thangs3D offers substantial functionality for free, making it accessible to hobbyists, students, and professionals without significant budget constraints.

Possible disadvantages of Thangs3D

  • Limited Offline Capabilities
    The platform is cloud-based, which means users need an active internet connection to access and work with models, limiting offline usage.
  • Learning Curve
    New users may find the interface and advanced features somewhat complex, requiring a learning period to become fully proficient.
  • Dependency on Cloud Storage
    All models are stored in the cloud, which can raise concerns about data privacy and security for some users.
  • Potential for Content Overlap
    With a vast library of models, there can be redundancy and overlap in content, making it essential to sift through similar models to find the most suitable ones.
  • Limited Customization in Free Version
    While the free version has significant features, some advanced tools and customization options may be restricted to paid versions or require subscription.

Instructables videos

Instructables Electronics Class: Project Review

Thangs3D videos

Thangs3D Superhero Challenge Riddlers Cane Entry

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Instructables and Thangs3D)
Additive Manufacturing
100 100%
0% 0
3D Modeling
0 0%
100% 100
Digital Fabrication
33 33%
67% 67
Development
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Thangs3D should be more popular than Instructables. It has been mentiond 105 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Instructables mentions (37)

  • Broken Samsung charger
    Note that I could not find much documentation on references written on these components and that I am pretty new to electronics but it's something I'm interested in and I love to experiment (I have already went through hackster.io and instructables.com tutorials). Source: about 2 years ago
  • A compilation of bragging about how much money Beggy claims she has taken (read: scammed) her followers for. All of these have been posted in the past 3 DAYS. Her smug desperation is positively RANCID. Poor little Audrey-Prop is just dangling there.
    This person would have better luck participating in contests run by Instructables. Write a tutorial, submit it to one of the contests that are run every 6 weeks(themes and subjects vary from cooking, computer themed, design) for a chance to win an Amazon gift card worth $100-500 depending on the contest. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Over 11 hrs since she posted this and not a single 🔥 in the comments - I really do love that for her. She's now offering to help you figure out what you are passionate about/want to sell courses on 🙄
    Want to know how to make a tutorial? Go to Instructables. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Help me validate my idea for StrideDoc - an all-in-one solution for creating interactive demos, step-by-step tutorials, and product documentation!
    From your comment, I would say that we will work in a completely different niche than the one instructables.com tried to work. Source: about 2 years ago
  • looking for good free plans to build a shed/barn
    Instructables.com is a good place to start. Source: about 2 years ago
View more

Thangs3D mentions (105)

  • Does anyone know where I can file a stl file for a headband like this?
    You might be able to create this yourself, if you were unable to find it on the well-known sources like printables.com; thangs.com; thingyverse.com. Source: over 1 year ago
  • 3D printed bike attachments to hold your totem while riding on the playa!
    For sure! Check out thangs.com when searching for models! They search through models posted on multiple sites. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Where/how can I find something similar to this wobbly "Happy Owl" without spending money?
    Yeggi.com and thangs.com are a good place to start, they're search engines specifically for print files. The results will link to several different sites where you can browse more models. There's also a search filter to look for just the free models as well. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • My first battlestation. Desc. and more pics in comments.
    Well in that case just hit up https://thangs.com/ plenty of models folks already made on there. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Specific Parts Online?
    Https://thangs.com is a site that both hosts 3d models, and acts as a search engine for models on other sites. Source: almost 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Instructables and Thangs3D, you can also consider the following products

edX - Best Courses. Top Institutions. Learn anytime, anywhere.

Thingiverse - Thingiverse.com is the place to share digital designs for fabricating real, physical objects.

Treehouse - Treehouse is an award-winning online platform that teaches people how to code.

Cults 3D - Cults is a marketplace that connects designers and people who want to 3D print some objects.

Pantheon - The professional website platform for Drupal & WordPress sites.

STLFinder - The 3d models search engine.