DraftAid vs Polycam
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, and ratings
At a glance
| Dimension | DraftAid | Polycam |
|---|---|---|
| Primary use | Automated 2D fabrication drawings from 3D CAD | 3D scanning & reality capture from photos/LiDAR/drone |
| Target users | Engineering teams with existing CAD (Inventor, SolidWorks, etc.) | Architects, engineers, forensics, designers needing on-site capture |
| Key differentiator | Batch drawing generation from 3D models (hundreds per month) | Versatile scanning (objects, interiors, floor plans, drones) with photogrammetry |
| Integrations / exports | Inventor, SolidWorks, CATIA, Solid Edge, Siemens NX; outputs PDF, DWG, DXF | Exports GLTF, OBJ, FBX, USDZ, PLY, LAS, STL, DXF (15+ formats) |
| Latest news | 2026-06-15: Launch HN: Drafted (YC P26) – models for residential architecture (not DraftAid) | 2026-06-25: Tutorials on cleaning scans in MeshLab, Blender, georeferencing; 2026-03-13: Library UI compacted, floor plan editor improvements |
Choose DraftAid if your team lives inside SolidWorks or Inventor and needs to automate production of hundreds of fabrication drawings from existing 3D models—it crushes manual drafting. Choose Polycam if you need to capture real-world objects, spaces, or sites with any device and generate 3D models, floor plans, or digital twins on a flexible budget. They solve different problems, so your decision hinges on whether you're generating drawings from CAD or scanning reality.
DraftAid turns your 3D CAD models into production-ready 2D fabrication drawings in one click, inside the CAD tool you already use.
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Polycam turns phone LiDAR, photos, and drone footage into 3D models, floor plans, and point clouds.
Visit WebsiteWhat real users say: DraftAid vs Polycam
Not marketing copy and not our opinion — a structured sweep of public discussion (reviews, forums, communities and video comments), showing what people praise and what they complain about for each tool.
DraftAid
3 mentions across 1 sources · 90% positive (averaged across 1 source)
Product Hunt
What users praise
- • One-click 2D generation from 3D CAD saves massive time.
- • Batch processing hundreds of drawings in the background.
- • Integrates natively with Inventor, SolidWorks, CATIA, NX.
- • Automated dimensioning and annotations reduce manual work.
What frustrates them
- • No community data on failure modes or edge cases.
- • AI may misplace dimensions on complex assemblies.
- • Requires existing native CAD integration — not standalone.
- • Cannot import or output STEP/IGES formats?
Researched Jul 3, 2026
Polycam
68 mentions across 5 sources · 42% positive — mixed (weighted across 5 sources)
Reddit, Hacker News, YouTube, Product Hunt, App Store
What users praise
- • Produces usable point clouds and meshes from a plain iPhone in a single site visit
- • Genuinely fast — users report scan-to-model turnaround in minutes, not days
- • Broad export coverage: seven mesh formats plus six point cloud formats
- • Fire investigators use it for measurements, 3D models, and Meta Quest walkthrough training
What frustrates them
- • Aggressive trial auto-billing: multiple users report $400/yr charges after 7-day trials
- • Long-standing Pro users report older scans reverting to unprocessable Draft status
- • Measurements and dimensions sit behind an expensive tier above the monthly plan
- • Floor plans described as poor and measurements 'very inaccurate' by paying users
Researched Oct 7, 2026
Who should pick which
- Engineering manager at a manufacturing firmPick: DraftAid
Automates 2D drawing generation from existing 3D models (Inventor, SolidWorks), reducing manual drafting time and allowing scalability without new hires.
- Architect needing on-site floor plansPick: Polycam
Polycam's LiDAR scanning and automatic floor plan generation with accurate measurements capture a space quickly for documentation or client presentations.
- Solo product designerPick: Polycam
Affordable freemium tool to scan physical prototypes into 3D models for digital review, exportable to common formats (OBJ, STL).
- Industrial design team with high drawing outputPick: DraftAid
Batch processing for hundreds of consistent, production-ready drawings without manual layout and dimensioning, integrated with existing CAD tools.
Frequently Asked Questions
DraftAid vs Polycam: which should you choose?
Choose DraftAid if your team lives inside SolidWorks or Inventor and needs to automate production of hundreds of fabrication drawings from existing 3D models—it crushes manual drafting. Choose Polycam if you need to capture real-world objects, spaces, or sites with any device and generate 3D models, floor plans, or digital twins on a flexible budget. They solve different problems, so your decision hinges on whether you're generating drawings from CAD or scanning reality.
Can DraftAid create 3D models from photos?
No. DraftAid is a 2D drawing generator from 3D CAD models; it does not perform reality capture or photogrammetry.
Does Polycam integrate with CAD software like SolidWorks?
Polycam exports to many formats but does not natively integrate with CAD. You must export/import manually.
What file formats does DraftAid output?
PDF, DWG, DXF—standard formats for fabrication drawings.
What file formats does Polycam output?
GLTF, OBJ, FBX, USDZ, PLY, LAS, STL, DAE, ESX, DXF (15+ formats).
Is there a free trial for DraftAid?
Pricing is contact-based; trials are likely available upon request for enterprise prospects.
Can Polycam generate floor plans with measurements?
Yes, automatic floor plan generation with measurements is a key feature. The floor plan editor allows drag overlapping fix (2026-03-13 update).
Which tool is better for drone mapping?
Polycam supports drone photogrammetry processing; DraftAid does not.
Which tool is better for producing 2D drawings from 3D models?
DraftAid exclusively and excellently does this; Polycam cannot.
More DraftAid or Polycam comparisons
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Last reviewed: July 3, 2026