Configurator vs. Customizer: which one fits your store?

Introduction

Customers love personalization; brands love a predictable checkout. That’s where confusion creeps in: do you need a 3D product configurator or a 3D customizer to enable full product personalization online? Choosing the wrong tool can lengthen the path to cart, hurt conversion, and inflate support costs. The right choice shortens purchase to a few clicks and lifts customer satisfaction.

Here’s the short version:

• 3D product configurator — shoppers pick predefined options (color, size, material, print method) with 3D/AR previews and real-time pricing.
• 3D customizer — shoppers can add images, text, patterns, QR codes directly on the product (2D/3D), then you generate mockups and print-ready files for production.

In this guide you’ll see when each tool wins (apparel, mugs, packaging, merch), how to embed with an iframe in 5 minutes, and how to connect postMessage/API to your cart. You’ll also get a comparison table and practical examples to pick confidently—without technical jargon.

Want to lift conversion, reduce time-to-market, and cut returns with photorealistic 3D/AR previews? This article is for you. Check whether a 3D product configurator or a 3D customizer for e-commerce is the better fit. At the end you’ll find a quick checklist and links to live demos.

What’s the difference?

Configurator

Shoppers choose predefined variants (e.g., size, color, material, print type). They get 3D/AR previews and real-time pricing. Perfect for made-to-order catalogs and offers where the decision is a set of options.

Example: a classic T-shirt with a store-provided graphic available in 3 colors and 5 sizes.

Customizer

Shoppers create/edit the design on the product: they can add images, text, patterns, QR codes in 2D/3D. You generate mockups and print-ready files ready for production — end-to-end product personalization.

👉 Try it live: Configurator & Customizer Demos

Quick comparison

Feature	Configurator	Customizer
Core goal	Choose variants	Create/edit design
Typical use cases	MTO catalogs, option sets	POD, merch, personalized gifts
Preview	3D + AR	2D + 3D + render/mockup
Real-time pricing	Yes (all plans)	Yes
Print-ready files	–	Yes (from Personal)
White-label (logo/branding)	Business / Business PRO	Business / Business PRO
Create your own Customizers	–	Business PRO
Integration	iframe + postMessage + API	iframe + postMessage + API (orders)

Plan notes:

• Real-time pricing — in all plans.
• Print-ready & mockups — from Personal
• White-label — from Business
• Create your own Customizers — Business PRO
• API — available in every plan.

When to choose the Configurator

• You have a closed set of options (color/size/material) and want the fastest path to cart.
• You need a controlled, consistent UX (no risk of “wild” user designs).
• You want 3D/AR previews and real-time pricing without involving your design team.

Examples: furniture (finishes), packaging (material/weight), apparel with predefined graphics or solid colors (sizes/colors).

When to choose the Customizer

• You sell personalized products (POD, merch, gifts) and want to give your customers possibility to design on products they want to order.
• Shoppers should upload logos/photos, add text or QR codes and see it directly on the product (2D/3D).
• You need mockups and print-ready export of purchased products for production purposes (saves time, reduces rework).

Examples: corporate tees, printed mugs, event swag, personalized packaging.

Conversion & UX impact

• Realistic 3D/AR boosts trust — shoppers see true scale and lighting.
• Real-time pricing removes checkout surprises and lowers cart abandonment.
• Shareable design links streamline B2B approvals (e.g., marketing ↔ sales).
• Fewer returns thanks to photorealistic previews and renders.

Pro tip: Add a tiny “how it works” note above Add to cart — clarify 3D/AR, real-time pricing, and print-ready files. It nudges faster decisions.

5-minute integration (iframe + postMessage)

1. Embed: open Share in your project, set public visibility and copy a generated iframe HTML code.
2. Style: use URL params — nav, add_to_cart, bcg, env, light_intensity — plus container CSS.
3. Communicate:
   • For configurator check documentation: Messages sent by the Configurator
   • For customizer check documentation: Messages sent by the Customizer
4. Security: whitelist your domain in E-commerce Settings → Integration.
5. API (Customizer): fetch/update orders (statuses, quantities); auto-lock editing when leaving status pending.

Plans & pricing — quick guide

• Free — embed, 3D/AR, real-time pricing, API (project limits).
• Personal — print-ready export and mockups.
• Business — white-label (your logo/colors), private 3D models.
• Business PRO — your branded 3D Customizer + private template/graphics library.

Shortcut: need white-label + private 3D models → Business. Want to publish your own Customizers for clients → Business PRO.

Decision checklist (2 minutes)

• Does the shopper need to upload their own image/text/QR? → Customizer
• Can your offer be expressed as option lists only? → Configurator
• Do you need print-ready files and mockups? → Customizer
• Should the UI be white-label (your logo/colors)? → Business / Business PRO
• Do you want to create and embed your own Customizers? → Business PRO

What’s next?

• Sign up/Sign, create your first design and change sharing visibility
• Embed the iframe on a test page and try postMessage with your cart.
• Pick a plan that unlocks what you need (print-ready, white-label, your own Customizer).

FAQ

Is real-time pricing available in every plan?

Yes — price updates in real time across all plans.

Can I try before I buy?

Yes — Free plan + a 7-day trial on paid plans.

Do you create custom 3D models?

Yes — We can prepare 3d models for you as an additional service. Such models can be exclusive for your account (Business/PRO/Enterprise).

Can I embeding on any platform?

Yes — via iframe, with postMessage and API for deeper integrations.