Software Alternatives & Startups

Thingiverse VS SolveSpace

Compare Thingiverse VS SolveSpace and see what are their differences

Thingiverse

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

Thingiverse Landing page
Rating
0 reviews
SolveSpace

SOLVESPACE is a parametric 3D CAD program with extrude, revolve, union and difference functions.

SolveSpace Landing page
Rating
0 reviews
Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Thingiverse should be more popular than SolveSpace. It has been mentioned 227 times since March 2021.

social mentions
227 vs 25
3D Modeling popularity
83% vs 17%
alternatives listed
73 vs 114

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

Thingiverse
SolveSpace
Website thingiverse.com solvespace.com
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Thingiverse 5 features
SolveSpace 5 features
  • Large User Community
    Thingiverse boasts a large and active user community, which ensures a steady influx of new designs and models. This can be beneficial for users looking for a variety of 3D printable objects.
  • Free to Use
    Thingiverse is free to use, which makes it accessible for hobbyists, educators, and professionals alike, without any subscription fees or costs tied to downloads.
  • Extensive Library
    The platform offers a vast library of 3D models across various categories, making it easy to find designs that meet your specific needs or interests.
  • Search and Filter Options
    Thingiverse provides comprehensive search and filtering options, enabling users to quickly find designs based on popularity, date added, category, and other criteria.
  • Community Engagement
    Users can engage with the community through features such as comments, likes, and collections, fostering a collaborative environment where feedback and improvements are common.

Possible disadvantages

  • Quality Variability
    Due to the open nature of the platform, the quality of designs can vary dramatically. Some models may require significant modifications or may not be printable at all.
  • Slow Website Performance
    Some users report that the website can be slow or experience downtime, which can be frustrating when looking for files or uploading new designs.
  • Intellectual Property Concerns
    There have been instances of intellectual property violations, where users upload designs without proper attribution or permission from the original creators.
  • Limited File Formats
    Thingiverse primarily supports STL files, and while it does support other formats to some extent, the emphasis on STL can be limiting for users who prefer other formats.
  • User Interface
    The user interface can be somewhat outdated and clunky, making it less intuitive for new users to navigate and find the resources they need.
  • Open Source
    SolveSpace is open-source software, which means it is free to use, modify, and distribute. This encourages community contributions and allows users to customize the software to their needs.
  • Lightweight
    The software is relatively lightweight compared to other CAD programs, making it suitable for older systems or for users who prefer a minimal footprint.
  • Parametric Modeling
    SolveSpace offers parametric modeling, allowing users to define geometric constraints and dimensions that can easily be adjusted to alter the design.
  • Cross-Platform
    SolveSpace is available on multiple platforms including Windows, Linux, and macOS, enhancing accessibility for users on different operating systems.
  • 2D and 3D Design
    The software supports both 2D and 3D design capabilities, making it versatile for various design projects ranging from basic sketches to complex 3D models.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited Features
    Compared to more advanced and commercial CAD software, SolveSpace has limited features that might be insufficient for complex engineering projects.
  • User Interface
    The user interface of SolveSpace might seem outdated or less intuitive to users accustomed to more modern design environments.
  • Learning Curve
    New users may face a steep learning curve due to the program's unconventional approach and lack of comprehensive documentation or tutorials.
  • Performance
    While lightweight, SolveSpace can struggle with performance issues when handling complex or large 3D models, which may affect users working on detailed projects.
  • Limited Community Support
    As a lesser-known tool, the community around SolveSpace is smaller, which could lead to challenges in finding help or resources for troubleshooting.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

Thingiverse
SolveSpace

Overall verdict

  • Thingiverse is generally considered a good platform for hobbyists and professionals looking to explore and contribute to a diverse collection of 3D printable models. Despite some drawbacks, its extensive community and vast range of designs make it a valuable resource.

Why this product is good

  • Thingiverse is a popular platform for sharing and discovering 3D printable designs. It has a large community of creators and offers a vast library of designs that can be downloaded and used for free. The website is user-friendly and provides detailed information about the designs, including instructions, tips, and user feedback. However, some users have expressed concerns about the site's outdated interface and occasional performance issues.

Recommended for

  • 3D printing enthusiasts
  • Designers looking for inspiration
  • Educators seeking educational models
  • Hobbyists interested in DIY projects

No analysis of SolveSpace yet.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Thingiverse 3 videos + Add
SolveSpace 3 videos + Add

3D Printing A Coin Sorter! [Thingiverse Print Review]

More videos

  • Review - 3D Printing A Crossbow! [Thingiverse Print Review]
  • Review - 3D Printed Working Wrench! [Thingiverse Print Review]

Solvespace Tutorial 0: Basics and User Interface

More videos

  • Demo - SOLVESPACE 2.0 demo
  • Tutorial - Solvespace Tutorial 1 - a Simple Plate

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
Thingiverse
SolveSpace
83% 83%
17% 17%
0% 0%
3D
100% 100%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using Thingiverse and SolveSpace. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

Thingiverse no reviews yet
SolveSpace no reviews yet

We have no reviews of SolveSpace yet. Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

Thingiverse 227 mentions
SolveSpace 25 mentions
  • How can I improve the sound?
    Since I don't live in the forest, the instrument's high volume was always a big problem, it came with a bundle of standard wooden reeds (2.5). I did some research and found that with a softer and thinner reed you need less air to create... Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Ender 3 printer for my 13 yr old?
    There are millions of free designs on printables.com and thingiverse.com and other sites. There is certainly no need to buy models. Commercial models do exist but they are usually highly elaborate decorative pieces. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • How I made a cool T-Rex Carving - workflow
    I found a 3D model of a T-Rex on thingiverse.com that I liked. I used The T-Rex Skull by MakerBot - Thingiverse. This method lets you use any 3D model. Source: about 3 years ago

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  • Ask HN: What are your top open source apps/software?
    Love OBS and Blender. Recently started using Kdenlive and it is awesome. Big fan of OpenSCAD[1] and solvespace[2] for making functional 3D prints. I'm going to branch out a bit here and say GrapheneOS is my favorite thing going on right... - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
  • FreeCAD is an open-source parametric 3D modeler
    Just checked it out [1] but it appears the last version released was in 2022? Makes me wonder if it is still active. [1] https://solvespace.com/index.pl. - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago
  • Ink and Switch Constraint System (2023)
    The comment on constraints which still blows me away is the footnote on the readme for Dune 3D: https://github.com/dune3d/dune3d Probably a bit more approachable for folks is: https://www.cadsketcher.com/ which adds the Solvespace... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago

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Alternatives to Thingiverse and SolveSpace

When comparing Thingiverse and SolveSpace, you can also consider the following products.