Looking Glass Blocks 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

DimensionLooking Glass BlocksPolycam
Core Functionality2D image to hologram conversion via AI depth estimationPhotogrammetry, LiDAR scanning, floor plans, drone mapping, Gaussian splatting
Export FormatsEmbed code only; no 3D file exportGLTF, OBJ, FBX, USDZ, PLY, LAS, STL, DAE, ESX, DXF (15+)
Device SupportDesktop browser; no mobile appiOS (LiDAR), Android (ARCore), web browser, drone image processing
Best ForArtists, photographers, hobbyists creating holographic displays from 2DAEC, forensics, product design professionals needing accurate 3D scans
Latest NewsNo recent updates capturedHDRI lighting with 5 presets (Feb 2026); floor plan drag overlap fix (Mar 2026)

Polycam wins for professionals needing precise 3D scanning, floor plans, and multi-format exports. Looking Glass Blocks is a niche tool for quickly turning 2D images into holograms for casual sharing, but lacks 3D scanning, video, or export capabilities. Choose Polycam if you need measurable accuracy and file interoperability; choose Blocks only if your sole goal is creating embeddable holographic art from photos.

Looking Glass Blocks
Looking Glass Blocks

Looking Glass Blocks turns a 2D image into an embeddable hologram using built-in AI depth conversion — no 3D software required.

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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
Freemium
Freemium
Plans
—
$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
4 views
7.5k views
Skill Level
Beginner-friendly
Beginner-friendly
API Available
Platforms
WebDesktop
WebMobile
Categories
🧊 3D Generation & Scanning
🧊 3D Generation & Scanning🏠 Interior Design & Architecture👷 Construction & Field Service
Features
AI depth conversion from a 2D image to a hologram
Automatic depth map generation within seconds of upload
Accepts JPEG and PNG image uploads
One-line HTML embed for any webpage
Cast holograms directly to Looking Glass displays
View holograms on any device without a Looking Glass display
Share holograms via link across the internet
No lighting or texture adjustments needed — output matches the source
Community feed of holograms from other creators
Web-based creator flow: upload, convert, share
Resources section on the vendor site
Accounts with sign up and log in
Connect to Looking Glass device pairing
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
Xactimate
SketchUp
Unity
Blender
Unreal Engine
Maya
3ds Max
Rhino
Three.js
Apple Vision Pro

What real users say: Looking Glass Blocks 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.

Looking Glass Blocks

No verifiable community signal. We scanned public discussion on Jul 3, 2026 and found posts matching the name “Looking Glass Blocks”, but could not establish that they are about this product rather than something else sharing its name. Rather than publish a score built on the wrong subject, we publish none.

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 with accurate measurements
    Pick: Polycam

    Polycam generates automatic floor plans from LiDAR or photos, with editable drag overlap fix and measurements exportable to DXF.

  • Artist creating interactive holographic photo galleries
    Pick: Looking Glass Blocks

    Blocks converts any 2D image into a hologram instantly and provides an embed code for websites, perfect for immersive portfolios.

  • Forensic investigator documenting a crime scene
    Pick: Polycam

    Polycam captures detailed 3D scenes with LiDAR or photogrammetry, exports point clouds (PLY, LAS) and standard formats for analysis.

  • Hobbyist wanting to try holography without investing
    Pick: Looking Glass Blocks

    Blocks is free, requires no special hardware, and turns any photo into a shareable hologram with zero learning curve.

  • Product designer scanning prototypes for digital review
    Pick: Polycam

    Polycam exports high-quality meshes in OBJ/FBX/GLTF for CAD or rendering software, with HDRI preview for material assessment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Looking Glass Blocks vs Polycam: which should you choose?

Polycam wins for professionals needing precise 3D scanning, floor plans, and multi-format exports. Looking Glass Blocks is a niche tool for quickly turning 2D images into holograms for casual sharing, but lacks 3D scanning, video, or export capabilities. Choose Polycam if you need measurable accuracy and file interoperability; choose Blocks only if your sole goal is creating embeddable holographic art from photos.

Can I export a 3D model from Looking Glass Blocks?

No. Blocks only provides an embed HTML code to display holograms in a browser or cast to Looking Glass displays. It does not export OBJ, GLTF, or any 3D file format.

Does Polycam work without an internet connection?

Polycam requires internet for cloud processing (photogrammetry, floor plans) and some features. Captures can be done offline on iOS, but processing needs connectivity.

Which tool is better for creating floor plans?

Polycam. It has automatic floor plan generation with measurements and a floor plan editor (drag overlap fix added March 2026). Blocks has no floor plan capability.

Can I use Looking Glass Blocks for video?

No. Blocks only accepts static 2D images (JPEG, PNG, etc.). It does not support video-to-hologram conversion.

Does Polycam support drone photogrammetry?

Yes. Polycam processes drone-captured images into 3D models and point clouds, supporting PLY and LAS export.

Is Looking Glass Blocks free forever?

Currently yes. Looking Glass has not announced premium tiers. Hologram creation and hosting are free, but future pricing may change.

Which format can Polycam export for CAD software?

Polycam exports to DXF and FBX, compatible with AutoCAD, Revit, and other CAD tools. Also exports STL for 3D printing.

Can I embed a Polycam model into a website?

Polycam does not offer native embed code like Blocks. You can export to GLTF and use third-party viewers (e.g., Sketchfab) for embedding.

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Last reviewed: July 3, 2026