Overlay vs Polycam
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, and ratings
Overlay or Polycam: which should you choose?
| Dimension | Overlay | Polycam |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | iOS only (iPhone/iPad) | iOS, Android, Web |
| Primary Use | 2D graphic design and photo editing | 3D scanning and reality capture |
| AI Features | Background removal, generative fill & expand | AI photogrammetry, AI 3D model generator (beta), AI texture generator (beta) |
| Export Formats | PNG, JPEG, PSD, PDF | GLTF, OBJ, FBX, USDZ, PLY, LAS, STL, DAE, ESX, DXF, Geo-LAS, PTS, XYZ, point cloud |
| Best For | Social media creators, mobile graphic designers | Architects, engineers, forensics, product designers |
If your work is 2D design on the go — making social graphics, montages, or quick edits — Overlay is a capable, affordable mobile-first tool, but it's iOS-only and lacks vector support. For anyone who needs to capture the real world in 3D — floor plans, LiDAR scans, drone mapping — Polycam is the superior choice with cross-platform support, pro-grade exports, and a Business plan that undercuts rivals like Matterport. Pick Overlay for mobile creative design; pick Polycam for professional 3D capture.
Overlay is an iPhone and iPad app for layered photo compositing with AI cutouts and generative fill.
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Polycam turns a phone or drone into a 3D scanner for rooms, objects, floor plans and point clouds.
Visit WebsiteWho should pick Overlay, and who should pick Polycam?
- Social media creatorPick: Overlay
Overlay provides quick layer composites, templates, and AI background removal perfect for Instagram stories or thumbnails, all from an iPhone. Its low subscription cost fits tight budgets.
- Architect capturing as-built floor plansPick: Polycam
Polycam's automatic floor plan generation with editable measurements and LiDAR scanning directly addresses this need. Recent news emphasizes its use in AEC for as-built documentation.
- Forensics investigator documenting a scenePick: Polycam
Polycam's fast, accurate 3D scanning with point cloud exports (LAS, PLY) and measurement tools is ideal for incident reconstruction, as noted in its best-for forensics teams.
- Android user needing mobile designPick: Overlay
No — Overlay is iOS-only. For Android users, Overlay is not an option. Polycam is cross-platform, but if the goal is 2D design, neither fits well for Android.
- Product designer scanning prototypesPick: Polycam
Polycam turns physical prototypes into digital models for review or 3D printing, with exports like STL and OBJ. Its AI texture generator (beta) adds realism.
Frequently Asked Questions
Overlay vs Polycam: which should you choose?
If your work is 2D design on the go — making social graphics, montages, or quick edits — Overlay is a capable, affordable mobile-first tool, but it's iOS-only and lacks vector support. For anyone who needs to capture the real world in 3D — floor plans, LiDAR scans, drone mapping — Polycam is the superior choice with cross-platform support, pro-grade exports, and a Business plan that undercuts rivals like Matterport. Pick Overlay for mobile creative design; pick Polycam for professional 3D capture.
Can Overlay create 3D models or scan objects?
No, Overlay is strictly a 2D graphic design app. For 3D scanning, use Polycam.
Does Polycam have a desktop app for editing floor plans?
Polycam offers a web platform for editing floor plans and viewing scans, but there is no dedicated native desktop app. However, exports can be used in third-party desktop software.
Is Overlay available on Android?
No, Overlay is exclusive to iPhone and iPad. There is no Android version.
Can Polycam generate AI 3D models from text prompts?
Polycam has a beta AI 3D model generator, but it is not a text-to-3D tool; it likely assists in generating models from captures. Specific input methods are not detailed.
Does Overlay support team collaboration or shared libraries?
No collaboration features are mentioned for Overlay. It’s a single-user mobile app. Polycam offers team libraries and collaboration on Business plan.
What export formats does Overlay support?
Overlay exports to PNG, JPEG, PSD, and PDF with transparency support. No 3D formats.
Is there a free trial for Polycam's Pro plan?
The free tier is limited to 3 captures, which serves as a trial. Pro and Business are subscription-based with no explicit free trial mentioned beyond the free tier.
Can I use Polycam with a drone?
Yes, Polycam supports drone photogrammetry processing, allowing you to upload drone-captured photos to generate 3D models and maps.
What else are Overlay and Polycam compared with?
Don't cross-shop these. Polycam is a capture tool that turns the physical world — rooms, prototypes, job sites — into 3D models, floor plans, and point clouds you export to SketchUp, Blender, or Unity
These are not competitors and you should never be choosing between them — Polycam is a capture tool that turns a phone, drone, or LiDAR scan into a 3D model, floor plan, or point cloud, and Notion is
These two don't compete — a buyer almost never chooses between them. Polycam is a capture tool: you point a phone, drone or LiDAR at a physical space and get floor plans, meshes and point clouds you c
These two products never meet in a buying decision, and treating them as rivals would mislead you. If your problem is documenting a physical site — rooms, buildings, props, a claims scene — Polycam is
These tools don't compete — they solve unrelated problems, and no buyer shortlists both. If your problem is running open models locally (GLM, Kimi, DeepSeek, Qwen3.8) for private agentic work, LM Stud
You are not choosing between these. Polycam and Sketch solve different problems for different people, and no buyer with one budget and one job shortlists both. Pick Polycam if you need to digitise a p
Where can you read more about Overlay and Polycam?
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