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Custom 3D configurator vs Threekit and Expivi

Short answer

Threekit and Expivi are software platforms you license and configure. 3dconfigurator.dev builds a custom configurator that you own. The right choice depends on how many products you sell, how much your own team will manage, and whether you want to rent a platform or own the code. We explain each below, with sources.

Last checked: . Vendors change their pages. Check their sites for current details.

The longer explainer is Threekit vs Expivi vs a custom 3D configurator.

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At a glance

Custom build compared with Threekit and Expivi
Topic3dconfigurator.dev (custom build)ThreekitExpivi
How you buy itFixed-price projectCustom quote based on use case, number of products, type of visualization, and approximate timeline and budgetDemo, then a proposal. Prices not shown on the pages we checked
Published starting pricePilot $2,500. Starter from $7K, Professional from $14K, Enterprise from $24KNone publishedNone published
ModelCustom code, owned by the clientSoftware platform (headless), vendor-hosted playerComposable software platform: 3D, Visual CPQ, Design to Print
Who owns the resultClient owns code, 3D models and files"You do. 100%" (Threekit on assets and content)Not stated on the pages we checked
Typical timelinePilot about two weeks. Focused builds 4 to 12 weeks"creating a timeline to go-live is dependent on scope and scale of the visuals"Depends on your catalogue, starts with one product line
Integrations (as published)Shopify, WooCommerce, CRM, custom CMS, spec exportEcommerce, OMS, ERP, PIM, DAMShopify, Magento, WooCommerce, Shopware, Sana Commerce, Salesforce, SAP Commerce Cloud, API, ERP/PIM/CRM
Where it is strongestIndustrial and made-to-spec B2B, direct contact with the people building it, owned codeLarge manufacturers that want a CPQ platform with AI-assisted quotingMade-to-order manufacturers that want to manage rules and prices themselves

Sources are listed at the end of the page. The "where it is strongest" row is our reading of how each vendor describes itself, not a ranking.

The options

How each option works

Custom build (3dconfigurator.dev)

We write each configurator in Three.js and WebGL, with React and Next.js for the interface, and prepare the 3D models in the tool that suits the source files, such as Blender or 3ds Max, and export them as glTF. The result is code and 3D files that you own, hosted where you choose. There is no subscription.

We start from a short written brief and give a fixed price. A $2,500 Pilot puts one product live in about two weeks, and that fee is credited toward a full build within 6 months. Full builds start from $7K and run to $24K and above for admin tools and system integrations. Extra products: $1.5K to $3K each.

You have direct contact with the people building it. We are not the right fit if you want a self-service tool where your own team sets up hundreds of products without a developer. We have also built on third-party platforms when a project was better served that way, and say so in the proposal.

Threekit

Threekit describes itself as an "AI-Native CPQ for Manufacturers" and says it turns customer requirements into valid configurations, applies pricing rules and builds a quote. It states it is trusted by 150+ manufacturers, is ISO 27001 certified, and offers quote PDFs, pricing visibility for dealers and internal teams, and configuration handoff as JSON or XML. Its pricing page says pricing is custom and varies by use case, number of products, type of visualization, and approximate timeline and budget. It lists 3D, photorealistic 2D, AR, a hosted player and integrations with ecommerce, OMS, ERP, PIM and DAM, and says you own your assets and content 100%.

What this means in practice: Threekit is a platform for companies that want CPQ capability across a large catalogue, dealers and sales teams. It is quoted per project. We have not built a project on Threekit, so we do not describe what the implementation or day-to-day use is like. Ask Threekit for references and a written quote.

Expivi

Expivi describes itself as a platform for made-to-order manufacturers: configure, price and quote, with a bill of materials sent to the ERP. Visualization (2D, real-time 3D and AR), modular configuration and Design to Print are add-ons. It lists integrations with Shopify, Magento, WooCommerce, Shopware, Sana Commerce, Salesforce and SAP Commerce Cloud, plus an API. It says product options, prices and rules are managed by your own team without developers. It states a 4.8 out of 5 rating on G2 and ISO 27001 certification, and names customers including Eduard (trailers) and Kimberly-Clark. Pricing is not shown on the pages we checked.

What this means in practice: Expivi suits a company with a large or fast-changing catalogue that wants its team to manage rules and prices. We have built on Expivi with custom integration for a European trailer maker and a furniture client, so we know its strengths and where custom work was needed.

Fit

Which fits which situation

  • Large catalogue, many dealers, a sales team that needs full CPQ: a platform such as Threekit or Expivi is built for this. A custom configurator can cover the visual and quote-request part, but we do not replace a full CPQ system.
  • One to three products, owned code, no subscription: a custom build, and direct contact with the people building it.
  • You want to test first, with a small budget: our Pilot, or ask any vendor for a paid proof of concept.
  • Your own team will change prices and rules weekly, without a developer: weigh a platform, or a custom build where an admin area scoped in the project lets your team manage products, options and rules.

Cost

What it costs and how it is bought

Platforms are bought as licences or contracts, usually with recurring fees, so total cost depends on the contract term. Custom builds are bought as projects, with a one-time fee and optional support. Over several years the difference depends on how many products you have, how often they change, and how much of the work your own team will do. Our cost guide shows the arithmetic we use. It should be treated as one input, not a verdict.

Ownership

Who owns what

With a custom build, you own the code and the 3D models, and can move to another developer. With a platform, the vendor owns the software and you own your content and data. Threekit states you own your assets and content. Check the contract of any vendor for what happens to the configurator if you stop paying.

FAQ

FAQ

Is a custom 3D configurator better than Threekit or Expivi?
Neither is better in general. A platform is built for large catalogues, many users and full quoting workflows. A custom build is built for one or a few products where you want owned code and direct contact with the people building it. The better choice depends on catalogue size, who maintains the configurator, and budget.
Do Threekit and Expivi publish their prices?
Not on the pages we checked on 25 October 2026. Threekit says pricing is custom and varies by use case, number of products, type of visualization, and approximate timeline and budget. Expivi asks you to book a demo. Third-party sites quote estimates, but those are not vendor prices, so ask each vendor for a written quote.
How much does a custom 3D configurator cost compared with a platform?
At 3dconfigurator.dev, a Pilot is $2,500, and full builds start at $7K, $14K and $24K, with a one-time fee and no subscription. Platform prices are quoted individually and recur, so compare total cost over three years, not the first invoice.
Can a custom configurator connect to our CRM or shop?
Yes, within the scope agreed in the proposal. We build CRM, e-commerce and quote-request links, and can export quote and configuration data as PDF, email or JSON for your own systems. A platform may offer ready-made connectors, which can be quicker to start.
Can I switch from a platform to a custom build later?
Yes. A custom build starts from your product data, 3D models and option rules. Check what files and rules you can export from the platform, and who owns the 3D assets, before you sign a contract.

Next step

Not sure which fits?

Send us your product and the number of options. We will tell you plainly if a platform is the better answer. Book a 30 minute call or start with the $2,500 Pilot.

Send us your productBook a 30 minute call

Or start with the $2,500 Pilot

Sources

Sources

Last checked: . Each link is a page a fact above was read from.