i23d API vs Rodin: Image-to-3D API Comparison

Evaluating i23d API vs Rodin for adding image-to-3D generation to your product pipeline? Here is what changes: PixelAPI's image-to-3D API (i23d) produces a fully textured 3D model from one photo, returning your choice of GLB, OBJ, FBX, USDZ, or STL with PBR, Shaded, or no-material output. At $4.495 per model, it is cost-plus pricing with no monthly subscription required and an automatic credit refund if generation fails.

Quick start — one API call

Sign up and upgrade to any paid plan. POST your image to /v1/image-to-3d with an optional format and material parameter. Poll GET /v1/image-to-3d/{generation_id} until status=completed, then download your 3D file from output_url.

# Step 1 — submit image
curl -X POST https://api.pixelapi.dev/v1/image-to-3d \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -F "image=@product.jpg" \
  -F "format=glb" \
  -F "material=PBR"
# Response: {"generation_id": "uuid", "status": "processing", "estimated_seconds": 180}

# Step 2 — poll until completed (~3 min)
curl https://api.pixelapi.dev/v1/image-to-3d/UUID \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"
# Response: {"status": "completed", "output_url": "https://..."}

pip install pixelapi
---
import time
from pixelapi import PixelAPI

client = PixelAPI(api_key="YOUR_API_KEY")

# Submit
job = client.image_to_3d(
    image="product.jpg",
    format="glb",        # glb | obj | fbx | usdz | stl
    material="PBR",      # PBR | Shaded | All | None
    prompt="white ceramic mug, product photo"
)
generation_id = job["generation_id"]

# Poll
while True:
    result = client.get_generation(generation_id)
    if result["status"] == "completed":
        client.download(result["output_url"], "product.glb")
        break
    if result["status"] == "failed":
        print("Failed — credits refunded:", result["error_message"])
        break
    time.sleep(15)

npm install pixelapi
---
import { PixelAPI } from "pixelapi";
import { setTimeout } from "timers/promises";

const client = new PixelAPI({ apiKey: process.env.PIXELAPI_KEY });

const job = await client.imageTo3D({
  image: "./product.jpg",
  format: "glb",
  material: "PBR",
});

let result;
while (true) {
  result = await client.getGeneration(job.generation_id);
  if (result.status === "completed") break;
  if (result.status === "failed") throw new Error(result.error_message);
  await setTimeout(15000);
}
await result.save("product.glb");

composer require pixelapi/pixelapi
---
<?php
use PixelAPI\Client;

$client = new Client(getenv("PIXELAPI_KEY"));
$job = $client->imageTo3D([
    "image"    => "product.jpg",
    "format"   => "glb",
    "material" => "PBR",
]);

do {
    sleep(15);
    $result = $client->getGeneration($job["generation_id"]);
} while ($result["status"] === "processing");

if ($result["status"] === "completed") {
    file_put_contents("product.glb", $client->download($result["output_url"]));
}

gem install pixelapi
---
require "pixelapi"

client = PixelAPI::Client.new(api_key: ENV["PIXELAPI_KEY"])
job = client.image_to_3d(image: "product.jpg", format: "glb", material: "PBR")

loop do
  sleep 15
  result = client.get_generation(job["generation_id"])
  break if result["status"] == "completed"
  raise result["error_message"] if result["status"] == "failed"
end

File.binwrite("product.glb", client.download(result["output_url"]))

go get github.com/pixelapi/pixelapi-go
---
import (
    "time"
    "github.com/pixelapi/pixelapi-go"
)

client := pixelapi.New("YOUR_API_KEY")
job, err := client.ImageTo3D("product.jpg", pixelapi.ImageTo3DOptions{
    Format:   "glb",
    Material: "PBR",
})
if err != nil { panic(err) }

for {
    time.Sleep(15 * time.Second)
    result, err := client.GetGeneration(job.GenerationID)
    if err != nil { panic(err) }
    if result.Status == "completed" {
        result.Save("product.glb")
        break
    }
    if result.Status == "failed" {
        panic(result.ErrorMessage)
    }
}

i23d API vs Rodin: Pricing Comparison

The table below compares PixelAPI's image-to-3D API (i23d) against Rodin and other mainstream competitors. PixelAPI uses cost-plus pricing that covers provider, processing, taxes, and the auto-refund guarantee. Rodin and Meshy use subscription-pooled credits; Tripo3D is flat per-call.

Pricing verified from each rival's public pricing page, November 2026. Rodin: fal.ai/models/fal-ai/hyper3d/rodin ($0.40/generation stated on page). Meshy: docs.meshy.ai/en/api/pricing (20–30 credits/model; Pro plan 1,000 credits for $20 = $0.020/credit). Tripo3D: developers.tripo3d.ai ($0.20 no-texture, $0.30 standard texture). CSM.ai: site unreachable during verification — see csm.ai/pricing. PixelAPI cost-plus pricing reflects provider cost, 18% RCM tax, forex, overhead, and 30% margin; failed jobs are refunded.

What you get back

The image-to-3D API returns a downloadable 3D file at output_url. The exact format and material mode depend on your request parameters.

Request parameters

Common workflows

The image-to-3D API is the foundation for these production use cases. Each links to a full setup guide:

Integrations & SDKs

Comparison vs alternatives

Rate limits & error handling

The image-to-3D API enforces a maximum of 2 concurrent generation jobs per account at any time (across all plans). Submitting a third concurrent job while two are still processing returns HTTP 429 with code: "too_many_inflight". Standard rate limits by plan tier also apply:

Rate limit errors return HTTP 429 with a Retry-After header. Inflight limit errors include credits_charged: 0 — no credits are spent when the job is rejected before submission. Use exponential backoff starting at 15 seconds for polling and 2 seconds for submission retries.

# Submission with retry in Python
import time, httpx

def submit_with_retry(api_key, image_path, max_attempts=3):
    for attempt in range(max_attempts):
        resp = httpx.post(
            "https://api.pixelapi.dev/v1/image-to-3d",
            headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}"},
            files={"image": open(image_path, "rb")},
            data={"format": "glb", "material": "PBR"},
        )
        if resp.status_code == 429 and "too_many_inflight" in resp.text:
            time.sleep(30 * (attempt + 1))  # wait for inflight slot
            continue
        resp.raise_for_status()
        return resp.json()
    raise RuntimeError("Max submission attempts exceeded")

If a generation ends in status=failed, credits are automatically refunded. You can confirm the refund by polling the generation endpoint — the response will show the error message and confirm that you were not charged.

Frequently asked questions