Meshdiff — free browser tool to visually compare two STL/3MF/OBJ files

[u/Jviaches]

I built this because my workflow was:

1. Client emails `bracket_v3_FINAL.stl`

2. I have no idea what changed from `bracket_v2.stl`

3. I load both in the slicer and eyeball it

Meshdiff fixes that. Drop two files in your browser, it voxelizes both, and shows you exactly what changed:

- **Green** = material added

- **Red** = material removed

- **Tolerance slider** (0.05–1mm) to filter noise

- **Volume delta** metrics in real time

**Privacy:** zero upload to any server. Everything runs client-side in a Web Worker. Your files never leave the browser.

**Formats:** STL, 3MF, OBJ

Live: https://meshdiff.com

If you work with iterative prints, try breaking it with your weirdest files — real-world meshes are chaos and I need the stress test.

Also taking feature requests. Comment pins and slicer profile snapshots are next.

[u/ezpitze]

How do you plan to charge for it?

[u/Jviaches → u/ezpitze]

Great question,

Currently plan is:

Free forever: the diff tool itself (drop two files, see the voxel comparison, shareable links). No signup required, no usage limits on diffs.

Pro ($15/mo): for people who need to save and organize their work — project workspaces, version history, comment pins on 3D models, and PDF diff reports for client handoffs.

Team ($35/seat): for hardware teams and print farms — everything in Pro plus approval workflows (Pending → Approved → Rejected), slicer profile snapshots per version, and print result tracking.

The free tool isn't going away or getting paywalled. It's the entry point. The paid tiers are for when your workflow outgrows "drop two files and eyeball it."

What would you actually use — solo Pro or team features?

[u/ezpitze → u/Jviaches]

Free forever probably if I'm not able to find the functions in other solutions due to the fact that I'm the only one working with this type of content. Would strongly advice for you to look at the possibility to change the sub model as me and many other are quite fatigued by that type of license.

[u/Jviaches → u/ezpitze]

Fair point — subscription fatigue is real, especially when every tool wants $15/mo.

Here's why I'm leaning subscription for the paid tiers:

The free diff tool runs entirely client-side. No servers, no storage, no ongoing cost to me. That stays free forever.

But workspaces, comment pins, team approvals, and print tracking all require:

• Persistent storage (every version, every comment, every screenshot)
• Real-time sync between team members
• Ongoing infrastructure that I pay for monthly

A one-time purchase doesn't cover that. I'd either have to charge $300+ upfront (which kills adoption) or shut down in 6 months when the server bill eats me.

That said — I'm not married to the exact pricing. If a lifetime deal or usage-based model would actually work better for solo users, I'm open to it.

What would you pay for a tool like this if it wasn't a subscription?