Icons8 vs Polycam

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

Analysis reviewed Live tool data as of 2026-10-09
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At a glance

DimensionIcons8Polycam
Primary FocusDesign assets & AI image tools3D scanning & reality capture
AI FeaturesAI photo generator, face swap, upscaler, background remover, human generator, icon replacerAI photogrammetry, AI 3D model generator (beta), AI texture generator (beta)
Key IntegrationsFigma, Photoshop, Sketch, Adobe XD, MCP, CDN77Export to 15+ formats (GLTF, OBJ, FBX, USDZ, etc.)
Best ForUI/UX designers, content creators, indie devsArchitects, engineers, forensics, product designers, media creators
Latest NewsFree MCP server to automate icon search (Jul 2026); Liquid Glass icon generator (Jun 2026)Tutorials for MeshLab, CloudCompare, Blender optimization (Jun 2026); HDRI lighting (Feb 2026)

Choose Icons8 if you need a vast library of consistent design assets and AI image tools for UI/UX or content creation at a low price. Choose Polycam if you require professional 3D scanning, floor plans, and reality capture for architecture, engineering, or forensics. They serve completely different needs, so pick the one that matches your primary workflow.

Try Icons8Try Polycam
Icons8
Icons8

Icons8 combines a large in-house icon and illustration library with AI image tools — generators, face swap, upscaling — plus the free Lunacy design app.

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Polycam
Polycam

Polycam turns phone LiDAR, photos, and drone footage into 3D models, floor plans, and point clouds.

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Pricing
Paid
Freemium
Plans
$6.50/mo billed monthly
$24/mo billed monthly
$199/mo billed monthly
$0
$150/year ($12.50/month billed yearly; $30/month billed
$400/year per user ($33/month per user billed yearly)
$1200/year per user (3 users minimum, billed yearly)
Popularity
4 views
7.5k views
Skill Level
Beginner-friendly
Beginner-friendly
API Available
Platforms
WebDesktopAPIPlugin
WebMobile
Categories
🗂️ Stock & Design Assets🖌️ Graphic Design🎨 Image Generation✨ Photo Editing & Enhancement
🧊 3D Generation & Scanning🏠 Interior Design & Architecture👷 Construction & Field Service
Features
130+ icon styles with free SVG, PNG and animated GIF downloads
330+ illustration styles across 2D, 3D and animated variants
800+ subdivision-ready FBX 3D models
AI icon generator for infinite packs in consistent styles
AI illustration generator for series in a single art style
Full-body Human Generator for unique people photos in real time
Face Swapper for production-quality face swaps
Smart Upscaler for AI image resolution enhancement
Background Remover for automatic photo cutouts
GenYOU AI portrait generation
Brila: turns Google reviews into publishable website sections
Icons8 MCP server for Claude Code, Cursor and other MCP clients
Free Lunacy design app with Figma file import
Pichon desktop app for asset management
Iconizer online tool for icon generation
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 instantly shareable 3D models
AI Capture mode 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
Drone and aerial photogrammetry processed into expansive site models
Photogrammetry up to 2000 images and 30-minute videos on Business and Enterprise
Gaussian splatting with unlimited splats on Basic and up
AI 3D model generator and AI texture generator (free web tools)
AI generated reports and custom branding on Business and Enterprise
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
Figma
Google
Illustrator
Photoshop
Miro
Lucid
MCP
Claude Code
Cursor
SketchUp
Xactimate
Unity
Blender
Unreal Engine
Maya
3ds Max
Rhino
Three.js
Apple Vision Pro

What real users say: Icons8 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.

Icons8

19 mentions across 3 sources · 70% positive (averaged across 3 sources)

Hacker News, YouTube, Product Hunt

What users praise

  • • Huge, consistent icon library with 15,000+ icons across many styles
  • • 2000+ illustration styles including 2D, 3D, and animated options
  • • Free Lunacy design app that imports Figma and Sketch files
  • • Generous free tier with attribution, great for prototyping

What frustrates them

  • • Free tier requires attribution, inconvenient for commercial projects
  • • AI tools hit credit limits quickly for heavy users
  • • Stock photos lack authenticity; not for realistic photography needs
  • • Lunacy isn't open source, unlike competitors like Penpot

Researched Aug 11, 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

  • UI/UX Designer
    Pick: Icons8

    Access to 15,000+ consistent icons and AI generation tools plus Figma/Photoshop plugins streamline design workflows.

  • Architect
    Pick: Polycam

    Polycam's floor plan generation, LiDAR scanning, and drone support are essential for on-site measurements and 3D documentation.

  • Content Creator
    Pick: Icons8

    AI photo generation, face swap, and millions of assets enable rapid visual content creation without leaving the platform.

  • Forensics Investigator
    Pick: Polycam

    Accurate 3D scene capture with measurements and point cloud exports supports evidence documentation.

  • Indie Developer
    Pick: Icons8

    Free tier and open-source-friendly policy provide high-quality icons and assets without licensing worries.

Frequently Asked Questions

Icons8 vs Polycam: which should you choose?

Choose Icons8 if you need a vast library of consistent design assets and AI image tools for UI/UX or content creation at a low price. Choose Polycam if you require professional 3D scanning, floor plans, and reality capture for architecture, engineering, or forensics. They serve completely different needs, so pick the one that matches your primary workflow.

Can I use Icons8 assets in commercial projects?

Yes, Icons8 assets are royalty-free. Pro subscription allows commercial use; open-source projects can use for free.

Does Polycam require LiDAR hardware?

No. Polycam works with iOS LiDAR, Android ARCore, or photos/video. LiDAR provides more detail but isn't mandatory.

What export formats does Polycam support?

GLTF, OBJ, FBX, USDZ, PLY, LAS, STL, DAE, ESX, DXF, and more.

Does Icons8 have a desktop app?

Yes, Lunacy (UI design app) and Pichon (icon manager) are free desktop apps.

Can I generate 3D models from photos with Polycam?

Yes, using AI-assisted photogrammetry from photos or video. AI 3D model generator (beta) is also available.

Does Icons8 offer a free trial of Pro?

Yes, a free tier is available with limited downloads and AI generations. Pro pricing is $12/mo billed annually.

Are there any tutorials available for Polycam?

Yes, recent tutorials (Jun 2026) cover exporting to MeshLab, CloudCompare, and Blender for optimization.

What is the Icons8 MCP server?

A free Model Context Protocol server released Jul 2026 that automates icon search, claiming to save hours daily.

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Explore each tool further

Icons8
View Icons8 reviewIcons8 alternatives
Polycam
View Polycam reviewPolycam alternatives

Browse these categories

Best AI Stock & Design Assets toolsBest AI 3D Generation & Scanning toolsBest AI Graphic Design toolsBest AI Interior Design & Architecture tools
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Last reviewed: July 2, 2026