GridPilot vs Tooltrace: Which Gridfinity Tool Is Right for You?

Both GridPilot and Tooltrace let you turn a photo of your tools into a custom Gridfinity tray. Both use AI to detect tool outlines. But the two tools take very different approaches to what happens after detection — and the differences matter when your tray comes off the print bed.

This is a honest comparison. We built GridPilot, so we're obviously biased — but we'll lay out the facts and let you decide what fits your workflow.

Feature Comparison

The Biggest Difference: 2D Outlines vs Full 3D Models

This is the fundamental difference between the two tools. Tooltrace generates 2D tool outlines and exports them as flat profiles (STL/DXF/SVG). You get a tray insert with cutout shapes — essentially a flat plate with holes punched through it.

GridPilot generates a complete 3D model. Each pocket has proper walls with controlled depth, the tray has a solid floor, and the bottom includes Gridfinity-standard stacking feet that snap onto any Gridfinity baseplate. The output is a ready-to-slice 3MF — no post-processing in CAD needed.

If you're printing Gridfinity inserts for your drawer, this matters. Stacking feet are what lock the tray into a Gridfinity baseplate so it doesn't slide around. Without them, you just have a tray sitting loosely in a grid — which defeats half the purpose of Gridfinity.

When Tooltrace Is the Better Choice

Tooltrace is a better fit if you're cutting foam shadowbox inserts (Kaizen foam) for toolbox drawers or cases. That's Tooltrace's original strength — the 2D outline approach works perfectly for foam cutting where you want a flat profile, and their foam export workflow is polished. If you need magnet holes in your Gridfinity inserts, Tooltrace also has that built in, which GridPilot currently doesn't.

When GridPilot Is the Better Choice

GridPilot is a better fit if you want a complete, print-ready Gridfinity tray with proper 3D pockets, stacking feet, and labels — without touching CAD software. If your goal is "photo of my tools → file → slicer → printer → tray snaps into baseplate," GridPilot handles that full pipeline. It's also the better choice if you want non-Gridfinity custom dimensions or embossed pocket labels.

Bottom Line

Both tools solve the same core problem: turning a photo into a custom organizer without CAD. They diverge on output format.

Both have free tiers, so the best way to decide is to try each with the same set of tools and see which output you prefer.