Makers Empire and Tinkercad | 3D Design Software Comparison

Tinkercad and Makers Empire 3D are both 3D design apps suitable for elementary, primary and middle school students. However, Tinkercad is more suitable for older students while Makers Empire is designed specifically for students from kindergarten to grade 8.

Tinkercad is a browser-based app while Makers Empire works on all computers and devices including touch devices like iPads, which many younger children find easier to use. Makers Empire can also be used in offline mode, which is helpful when internet access is limited.

Tinkercad and Makers Empire can both be used at school and at home. For school customers, Makers Empire 3D software is bundled together with everything educators need to successfully integrate 3D printing into their everyday teaching practice.

Makers Empire was rated second out of 180 EdTech products in Common Sense Education’s Best EdTech of 2018 List.

Tinkercad 3D Software
Tinkercad 3D app
Suitable for grades 5-8
Compatible with Windows, Macs, and Chromebooks
Unlimited classes
Unlimited student accounts
Unlimited teacher accounts
For each student, educators must provide the student's country, birthdate, username, password, and parent's email address.
Students use non-identifiable avatars and usernames. Teachers control students' design community.
Shaper design module
Blocker design module
Training lab with tutorials
Curriculum-aligned design missions
Integrated video training
3D Game Creators like Maze Mania
Free draw shapes
Collaborative design
Pair with an overseas school for design challenge and cultural exchange
Design Thinking competitions
Can design offline
Teacher's Dashboard and class management tools
2 hours of online professional development
Built-in assessment tools
150+ Curriculum-aligned lesson plans
Live chat/support
Analytics
Can download 3D designs (STLs) for printing
FREE

Makers Empire 3D Software
Limited Makers Empire 3D app
Suitable for grades K-8
Compatible with iPads, Windows, Macbooks, Tablets (Android) & Chromebooks (Android)
Unlimited classes
1 student account
Unlimited teacher accounts
Multiple login options include username / email and password, and Google Classroom, Schoology and Clever integrations.
Students use non-identifiable avatars and usernames. Teachers control students' design community.
Shaper design module
Blocker design module
Training lab with tutorials
Curriculum-aligned design missions
Integrated video training
3D Game Creators like Maze Mania
Free draw shapes
Limited collaborative design
Pair with an overseas school for design challenge and cultural exchange
Design Thinking competitions
Can design offline
Teacher's Dashboard and class management tools
2 hours of online professional development
Built-in assessment tools
150+ Curriculum-aligned lesson plans
Live chat/support
Analytics
Can download 3D designs (STLs) for printing
FREE

Makers Empire School Subscription
Full Makers Empire 3D app
Suitable for grades K-8
Compatible with iPads, Windows, Macbooks, Tablets (Android) & Chromebooks (Android)
Unlimited classes
Unlimited student accounts
Unlimited teacher accounts
Multiple login options include QR code, username/email and password, and Google Classroom, Schoology and Clever integrations.
Students use non-identifiable avatars and usernames. Teachers control students' design community.
Shaper design module
Blocker design module
Training lab with tutorials
Curriculum-aligned design missions
Integrated video training
3D Game Creators like Maze Mania
Free draw shapes
Limited collaborative design
Pair with an overseas school for design challenge and cultural exchange
Design Thinking competitions
Can design offline
Teacher's Dashboard and class management tools
2 hours of online professional development
Built-in assessment tools
150+ Curriculum-aligned lesson plans
Live chat/support
Analytics
Can download 3D designs (STLs) for printing
$1,999 per school

Comparison of Makers Empire and TinkerCad by Stemshare

Want to read a third-party comparison of Makers Empire and Tinkercad?

Check out this detailed review of 3D design software for primary schools by STEMshare.

You can also view interviews with teachers who chose Makers Empire over Tinkercad.

The Makers Empire Difference

The Makers Empire’s 3D app is the cornerstone of our 3D products for schools. Makers Empire school products include everything you need to effectively and efficiently integrate 3D technology into your classroom, school or school district.

Makers Empire helps K-8 educators harness the power of 3D technology to teach Design Thinking, STEM and 21st-century learning skills. With Makers Empire, students learn how to identify and solve real-world problems and prototype, test and iterate 3D printed solutions.

Makers Empire is at the forefront of D esign Thinking in schools: Makers Empire is used by 850,000 students and 15,000 teachers in 40 countries around the world.

Already have a 3D printer? Great. Our 3D printing learning program is a great way to make the most of your existing hardware and expand your current program. The Makers Empire 3D program is compatible with all 3D printers and works on Ipads, Macs, Windows and Android devices (including select Chromebooks).

What Teachers Say About Makers Empire

"After having tried several softwares I can say hands down that Makers Empire has been the easiest for my students in grades 3-5 to access and manipulate."

Christopher Burdman, STEM Teacher

Joseph P Tynan Elementary School, Boston, USA

"The students love it. They picked it up very quickly. Now, they are better at it than I am!"

Colleen Small, Media Specialist

Groveland Elementary School, Minnesota, USA

“Makers Empire is a more student-friendly version of TinkerCAD for your primary kids. It’s so much easier and there are games to teach the kids how to design and how to manoeuvre the build plate… TinkerCAD, Sketchup – they are all for upper grades.”

Robin McGinnis, North/South/Jr. High Lead Teacher – STEAM

Mount Healthy City School District, USA

"I was trying to start 3D printing in our school for a while, but I found it very difficult to start from nothing. I needed a lot of resources and easy access to resources. This program has provided everything that I needed. It was wonderful!... All of my students learned how to use Makers Empire design software during my STEM classes. I used Makers Empire lessons: “Let’s Get Decorated” with 5th-8th grade students and “Mazes” with 8th grade students. They all loved learning about 3D printing... I enjoyed teaching this, observing their enjoyment, learning and looking at their awesome designs,"

Meltem Albayrak DiLeo, Teacher

Holy Trinity Catholic School, Pennsylvania, USA

“Before I started with Makers Empire I had no idea how 3D printing worked. I avoided coding and anything to do with the DigiSpace... Definitely, do the PD (professional development) from Makers Empire. It was very clear and helped me put 3D printing into practice… I think it’s wonderful for someone who is a bit fearful… it really helped me develop confidence in it.”

Jane Doherty, Teacher Librarian

Kelvin Grove State College, Australia

“I am so much better prepared and motivated to tackle our 3D printer dilemma. I am so glad you clarified that the goal is not necessarily to print but to be creative, have the kids explore and problem solve... This makes so much more sense. Of course, we will have a printing party to inaugurate our new journey through the Design Thinking Process in Makers Empire, but we will focus on having the kids grow into becoming better designers and problem solvers. Thank you!!!"

Martha Garibay, 1st Grade Teacher & Robotics Coach

52nd Street Elementary School, California, USA

"I have worked with several design software but Makers Empire is the easiest to use... One of the best things students learned is that it is okay to not get the "right" answer the first time, or second time. Students know that "failing" is part of the design process and problem solving. Students have expanded their problem solving skills to think more outside of the box... Before, my students were limited in their STEM applications and designs due to financial issues and materials available. Now each student is able to have an account for their designs and can work at their pace which is meeting them on their individual need. Through this, my after school STEM club has gained interested to where students had to be put on a waiting list. Students have discussed participating in STEM clubs in middle school and high school as well as more interest in engineering type careers."

Casey Corn, STEM Teacher

Chesnee Elementary School, South Carolina, USA

"As a school, this has been a game changer in the 3D design game for our students of all ages. This is a great design and creation tool that teachers and students can use to be innovative and share ideas with a vibrant community of makers. With Makers Empire, students learn how to identify needs and opportunities and then create, prototype, test and refine designs of solutions using 3D printing."

Craig Kemp, Head of Educational Technology

Stamford American International School, Singapore

"Software is great, very user friendly... Kids loved it."

Bryan Couts, Technology Teacher

Titusville Middle School, Pennsylvania, USA

"Makers Empire has been a great tool for many of my students that find other CAD software difficult. Some students have difficulty visualizing in a 3D workspace; 3D modelling is great practice to build spatial sense... This is linked to a skill in our math curriculum, so it's great to give a real world application for students to practice... Originally I started with my whole class using TinkerCAD. However, when given the choice many of my students gravitated to Makers Empire. I'm not sure if they prefer using the touch screen on the tablets to manipulate their designs, the gamification, or something else, but many have been successful with it and have made some great designs! 3D printing tech lets my students see themselves as creators and how it can help others. They feel empowered by the possibilities of the technology and the leadership they are able to take in their school."

Jeff Hennigar, Grade 4/5 Teacher

BLT Senior Elementary School, Nova Scotia, Canada

From the beginning, the students had no trouble. They absolutely loved it... The students' favorite part was going from the computer screen to something they can hold in their hand...It’s always better if you can give students an authentic reason to communicate."

Sandra Wiseman, Library Media & Technology Integration Specialist

Woodsdale Elementary School, West Virginia, USA

How Schools Are Using Makers Empire

Why Groveland Elementary School Switched From Tinkercad’s App to Makers Empire’s 3D Learning Program

Colleen Small is the media specialist at Groveland Elementary in Minnesota, USA. She started using Makers Empire only a few months ago but is very happy she made the switch from Tinkercad. Compared to Tinkercad, both she and her students have found Makers Empire to be easier to use and more engaging…“Tinkercad is kinda clunky, enrolling kids is a disaster and I was very frustrated with it,” she says.

So You Have a 3D printer – Now What? A Frank Account of 3D Printing in the Classroom

This guest post was written by Christopher Burdman, a grade 3-5 STEM teacher at Joseph P Tyan Elementary School. Here he shares a frank and engaging account of his 3D printing journey, through unexpected windfalls, false starts, new beginnings and eventual success. A must-read for any educator wanting to use 3D design and 3D printing in the classroom as a truly effective, cross-curricula teaching tool.

How A Teacher is Using 3D Printing to Transform STEAM Learning In Her School District

Since our last interview with Robin a year ago, her passion for teaching with 3D printing has led to a new, STEAM-focused job within her school district. Robin explains: “When (my colleagues) saw what I was doing in my classroom last year many of them came to me and said, ‘Robin, I would really like to try to do that.’ So I was going into classrooms during my breaks and showing teachers what I was doing…”