Mach vs Polycam

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

Analysis reviewed Live tool data as of 2026-08-23
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At a glance

DimensionMachPolycam
PricingContact sales (enterprise, no public tier)Freemium (Pro ~$13.25/mo annual)
Primary UseCivil road feature extraction from mobile LiDAR3D scanning objects, interiors, floor plans, drones
AI StrengthAutomated extraction of paint lines, curbs, poles, signsPhotogrammetry, Gaussian splatting, AI model/texture generator
Output FormatsAutoCAD, Microstation, ESRI Feature ServiceGLTF, OBJ, FBX, USDZ, PLY, LAS, STL, DAE, ESX, DXF
Hardware IntegrationRiegl, Trimble, Leica, NavVis (mobile mapping)iOS LiDAR, Android ARCore, drones, photos/video
Target IndustryCivil engineering, transportation, surveying, telecomArchitecture, forensics, product design, media, AEC

Polycam and Mach serve entirely different use cases. Choose Polycam if you need affordable, versatile 3D scanning (objects, interiors, floor plans, drones) with a free tier and rich exports. Choose Mach if you are a civil engineering firm that needs automated, design-grade road feature extraction from mobile LiDAR data (100x faster). Most buyers will not cross-shop them; the decision is about domain, not features.

Try MachTry Polycam
Mach
Mach

AI-powered CAD for automated road feature extraction from mobile LiDAR, trusted by engineers and surveyors.

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Polycam
Polycam

AI-powered 3D scanning, floor plans, and reality capture for mobile, drones, and teams.

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Pricing
Contact Sales
Freemium
Plans
—
$0/mo
$12.50/mo (yearly) or $30/mo (monthly)
$25/mo per user (yearly) or $400/mo per user (monthly)
$1200/yr per seat (3 seats minimum)
Popularity
0 views
7.5k views
Skill Level
Intermediate
Beginner-friendly
API Available
Platforms
WebDesktop
WebMobileAPI
Categories
👷 Construction & Field Service
🧊 3D Generation & Scanning🏠 Interior Design & Architecture👷 Construction & Field Service
Features
AI-powered automatic extraction of road features from LiDAR
Automated-assisted extraction with real-time AI suggestions
Manual extraction tools within CAD environment
Data-agnostic ingest pipeline supporting major formats
Leica LGSx integration eliminates custom exports
Digital Surveyor 2 delivers projects up to 100x faster
Built-in quality control and validation
Export to AutoCAD, Microstation, and ESRI Feature Service
Cloud-based project management
Scalable processing for large corridors
Support for broadband design (utility poles)
Works with Riegl, Trimble, Leica, NavVis scanners
AI-assisted drafting
Real-time suggestions for extraction and validation
Project delivery metrics: 23,000+ miles, 500+ projects
LiDAR spatial scanning for rooms and buildings
Object capture with AI-assisted processing
Photogrammetry from photos/video (up to 2000 images on Business)
Drone photogrammetry processing for aerial models
2D and 3D floor plan generation with editable walls
AI 3D model generator (beta)
AI texture generator (beta)
Gaussian splatting tool
HDRI lighting with 5 presets (iOS and Web)
Virtual Walkthrough (full on Business, preview on Free/Basic)
Apple Vision Pro viewing
Point cloud exports (PLY, LAS, Geo-LAS, PTS, XYZ, DXF)
Mesh exports (GLTF, OBJ, FBX, DAE, STL, USDZ, ESX)
360 photosphere capture
API access (Enterprise)
Integrations
Trimble
Riegl
Leica
NavVis
AutoCAD
Microstation
ESRI Feature Service
Leica LGSx
Xactimate
SketchUp
Apple Vision Pro

What real users say: Mach 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.

Mach

66 mentions across 5 sources · 10% positive — critical

Hacker News, Product Hunt, Bluesky, Stack Overflow, Lemmy

What users praise

  • • AI automates road feature extraction from LiDAR and imagery.
  • • Integrates with major scanners: Riegl, Trimble, Leica, NavVis.
  • • Claims 2-10x faster extraction than manual methods.
  • • Output compatible with AutoCAD, Microstation, ESRI FE.

What frustrates them

  • • Almost no independent user reviews or testimonials online.
  • • Contact-only pricing hides actual cost from buyers.
  • • Niche civil engineering focus may not suit general GIS work.
  • • No free tier or trial to evaluate before purchase.

Researched Jul 28, 2026

Polycam

61 mentions across 4 sources · 55% positive — mixed

Hacker News, YouTube, Product Hunt, App Store

What users praise

  • • Fast, easy LiDAR scans with minimal learning curve.
  • • Generates mesh, floor plan, and idealized model from one scan.
  • • Cross-platform with iOS, Android, and web support.
  • • Free tier includes valuable tools like AI generator and Gaussian splat.

What frustrates them

  • • Scan reliability is spotty: failed uploads, lost tracking, backdrop capture.
  • • Dimensions and full floor plans locked behind $400 paywall.
  • • Curved walls and stairs render angular, forcing Matterport for pros.
  • • Confusing free/paid feature split, feels like dark patterns.

Researched Aug 18, 2026

Who should pick which

  • Solo architect
    Pick: Polycam

    Polycam offers affordable floor plans, LiDAR scanning, and photogrammetry from any device. Free tier to start, then low-cost Pro.

  • Civil engineering firm
    Pick: Mach

    Mach automates road feature extraction from mobile LiDAR (Riegl, Leica, etc.) and delivers design-grade CAD output. 100x faster per v2.

  • Forensic analyst
    Pick: Polycam

    Polycam's photogrammetry and LiDAR scanning produce accurate scene captures. Exports to PLY, LAS, OBJ for evidence documentation.

  • Transportation agency
    Pick: Mach

    Mach extracts paint lines, curbs, signs, and poles from mobile mapping data with standard-compliant exports to AutoCAD/Microstation.

  • Gaming/VFX artist
    Pick: Polycam

    Polycam's Gaussian splatting, AI textures, and HDRI presets streamline prop scanning. Exports to GLTF, FBX, USDZ for game engines.

Frequently Asked Questions

Mach vs Polycam: which should you choose?

Polycam and Mach serve entirely different use cases. Choose Polycam if you need affordable, versatile 3D scanning (objects, interiors, floor plans, drones) with a free tier and rich exports. Choose Mach if you are a civil engineering firm that needs automated, design-grade road feature extraction from mobile LiDAR data (100x faster). Most buyers will not cross-shop them; the decision is about domain, not features.

Can Polycam generate floor plans from LiDAR scans?

Yes, Polycam automatically generates floor plans from LiDAR scans, with a floor plan editor that can drag overlapping objects (as of March 2026).

Does Mach support drone or photogrammetry data?

No, Mach is designed for mobile LiDAR and imagery data from ground vehicles. It ingests data from Riegl, Trimble, Leica, and NavVis systems.

What is the free tier of Polycam?

Polycam's free tier allows limited captures and exports. For unlimited usage, subscribe to Pro (~$13.25/mo annual) or Team plans.

What file formats can Mach export to?

Mach exports to AutoCAD (DWG), Microstation (DGN), and ESRI Feature Service (geodatabase). It is tailored for engineering design workflows.

Which tool is better for 3D scanning objects?

Polycam is built for object and interior scanning with LiDAR, photogrammetry, and Gaussian splatting. Mach extracts road features, not general objects.

Can I use Mach for telecom infrastructure mapping?

Yes, Mach can extract utility poles and assets from mobile LiDAR, making it useful for telecom planners needing design-grade deliverables.

Does Polycam support drone photogrammetry?

Yes, Polycam processes drone-captured photos and video for photogrammetry, allowing 3D models of large areas.

Is there a free trial for Mach?

Mach requires contacting sales for a demo or trial. There is no public free tier.

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Explore each tool further

Mach
View Mach reviewMach alternatives
Polycam
View Polycam reviewPolycam alternatives

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Last reviewed: July 3, 2026