Hue vs Polycam

Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, and ratings

Analysis reviewed Live tool data as of 2026-10-18
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At a glance

DimensionHuePolycam
Primary FunctionDesign system generation for AI coding assistants3D scanning & reality capture
Output FormatDesign tokens, HTML components3D models, floor plans, point clouds
Device/PlatformClaude Code, CodexiOS LiDAR, Android ARCore, photo/video
Best ForDevelopers & designers using AI coding toolsAEC, forensics, product design
Latest NewsNo recent newsHDRI lighting, floor plan editor improvements

Polycam and Hue solve completely different problems. Polycam is an advanced 3D scanning platform for professionals needing accurate reality capture; Hue is a free open-source skill for AI coding assistants to generate brand-consistent UI. Choose based on your workflow: if you scan physical spaces or objects, go Polycam; if you build interfaces with Claude or Codex, go Hue.

Try HueTry Polycam
Hue
Hue

Open-source skill that turns any brand into a design system Claude Code and Codex can build with

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Polycam
Polycam

Polycam turns phone LiDAR, photos and drone footage into 3D models, floor plans and point clouds for AEC and real estate teams.

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Pricing
Free
Freemium
Plans
$0
$0
$150/year ($12.50/mo billed yearly; $30/mo billed monthly)
$400/year per user ($33/mo per user billed yearly)
$1200/year per user (3 users minimum, billed yearly)
Popularity
19 views
7.5k views
Skill Level
Intermediate
Beginner-friendly
API Available
Platforms
PluginCLI
WebMobile
Categories
💻 Code & Development🎭 Design & UI
🧊 3D Generation & Scanning🏠 Interior Design & Architecture👷 Construction & Field Service
Features
Capture a brand from a live URL, Figma screenshot, moodboard, or written brief
Three-step pipeline: drop a source, capture it as a system, have every UI match
Extracts colors, type, radii, motion, and voice into a structured design language
Generates semantic tokens the model can reason about, stored in design-model.yaml
Writes six files per brand: SKILL.md, design-model.yaml, tokens.md, component-library.html, landing-page.html, preview.html
Browseable HTML component library with 40 components and 156 variants
95 tokens covering typography, radii, elevation, buttons, inputs, cards, and 30 more components
Dark and light mode output included
Runs as a skill inside Claude Code
Runs as a skill inside Codex
Install by git cloning the repo into ~/.claude/skills/hue or ~/.agents/skills/hue
No account, API key, or subscription required
Runs against your own model
All output is static, version-controllable files on disk
Ships with 17 example skills, including the Halcyon brand page
LiDAR and non-LiDAR space capture of rooms, buildings and interiors
360 photosphere capture with an in-app 360 image viewer
Object capture turning phone photos into shareable 3D models
AI Capture generating 3D models from low photo counts
Instant 3D and editable 2D floor plans with auto fixture and furniture detection
Advanced measure tools: interior measure, pen measure and auto measure
Automated measurements, floor area, blueprints, room labels and compass
Editable wall thickness and custom color themes on floor plans
Drone and aerial photogrammetry processed into site-scale 3D models
Photogrammetry up to 2000 images and 30-minute videos per capture on Business and Enterprise
Gaussian splatting with unlimited splats on Basic and up
AI generated reports on all tiers
Virtual walkthroughs and shared team library on Business and up
Mesh exports: GLTF, OBJ, FBX, DAE, STL, USDZ, ESX
Point cloud exports: PLY, LAS, Geo-LAS, PTS, XYZ, DXF
Integrations
Claude Code
Codex
Xactimate
SketchUp
Unity
Blender
Unreal Engine
Maya
3ds Max
Rhino
Three.js
Apple Vision Pro

What real users say: Hue 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.

Hue

65 mentions across 4 sources · 50% positive — mixed (averaged across 4 sources)

Hacker News, App Store, GitHub, Lemmy

What users praise

  • • Completely free and open-source under MIT license.
  • • Works offline against your own model, no API key required.
  • • Learns brand from a URL or single screenshot.
  • • Generates 40+ components with 156+ variants and 95+ tokens.

What frustrates them

  • • No user testimonials or community validation exists yet.
  • • Solo developer may not provide timely support or updates.
  • • Only compatible with Claude Code and Codex, limited scope.
  • • Generated design system may still require manual refinement.

Researched Jul 3, 2026

Polycam

64 mentions across 5 sources · 49% positive — mixed (weighted across 5 sources)

Reddit, Hacker News, YouTube, Product Hunt, App Store

What users praise

  • • Fast one-visit site capture with phone LiDAR — no dedicated scanner hardware required
  • • Floor plan generation with editable walls, fixtures, and room labels is genuinely useful for AEC walkthroughs
  • • Wide export coverage: seven mesh formats plus six point cloud formats including LAS and Geo-LAS
  • • Cross-platform (iOS, Android, web) means teams can scan on the phone they already carry

What frustrates them

  • • Auto-renew after the 7-day trial has produced multiple 1-star 'scam' App Store reviews
  • • Support is 'slow' and 'the worst' per Reddit — no phone line, weeks of silence on billing issues
  • • Measurement accuracy is inconsistent — one App Store reviewer calls results 'very inaccurate'
  • • Free tier feels like adware: 3 AI captures, 150 images, features that used to be free are paywalled

Researched Oct 14, 2026

Who should pick which

  • Architect needing floor plans of a building
    Pick: Polycam

    Polycam generates floor plans automatically with measurements and offers drone scanning for large sites.

  • Solo developer building a UI with Claude Code
    Pick: Hue

    Hue creates a full brand-consistent design system in one shot, free and open-source.

  • Forensics team documenting a crime scene
    Pick: Polycam

    LiDAR and photogrammetry capture accurate 3D scenes for forensic analysis.

  • Product designer scanning a prototype
    Pick: Polycam

    Polycam converts physical objects into digital models for CAD review.

  • Open-source enthusiast wanting free design tooling
    Pick: Hue

    Hue is MIT-licensed, works offline, and requires no fees.

Frequently Asked Questions

Hue vs Polycam: which should you choose?

Polycam and Hue solve completely different problems. Polycam is an advanced 3D scanning platform for professionals needing accurate reality capture; Hue is a free open-source skill for AI coding assistants to generate brand-consistent UI. Choose based on your workflow: if you scan physical spaces or objects, go Polycam; if you build interfaces with Claude or Codex, go Hue.

Can Hue generate 3D models?

No, Hue only generates design systems (CSS tokens, HTML components) for AI coding assistants.

Does Polycam work offline?

Polycam requires cloud processing for most features; offline capture is possible but full exports need internet.

Is Hue free forever?

Yes, Hue is open-source (MIT) and free to use with no limits.

What integrations does Polycam have?

Polycam exports to GLTF, OBJ, FBX, USDZ, PLY, LAS, STL, DAE, ESX, DXF; no direct coding assistant integration.

Can I use Hue without Claude Code or Codex?

No, Hue is designed specifically for these AI assistants.

Does Polycam have a free tier?

Yes, but it limits exports to 3 per month and lower resolution.

Which tool is better for a web developer?

Hue, if they use Claude Code/Codex for UI generation; Polycam is irrelevant for web dev.

Can Polycam replace a tape measure?

Polycam generates floor plans with measurements, but accuracy depends on capture quality.

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Explore each tool further

Hue
View Hue reviewHue alternatives
Polycam
View Polycam reviewPolycam alternatives

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Last reviewed: July 3, 2026