Puck vs Polycam

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

Analysis reviewed Live tool data as of 2026-10-08
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At a glance

DimensionPuckPolycam
CategoryReact visual editor & AI page builder3D scanning & reality capture
AI FeaturesAI page generation bound to design system, chat with file attachments, headless APIAI photogrammetry, 3D model generator (beta), texture generator (beta)
PlatformReact.js (Next.js, etc.)iOS, Android, Web, Drone
ExportRenders React components; no static file exportGLTF, OBJ, FBX, USDZ, PLY, LAS, STL, DAE, ESX, DXF
Latest Newsv0.22 theming with CSS vars; AI 0.7 file attachmentsHDRI lighting now on iOS/Web; floor plan editor drag overlap fix
Puck
Puck

Embeddable visual editor for React that turns your components into a drag-and-drop page builder, with AI generation constrained to your own brand and

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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
Freemium
Freemium
Plans
$0
Metered
$199/mo billed monthly
$799/mo billed monthly
Custom
$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
0 views
7.5k views
Skill Level
Intermediate
Beginner-friendly
API Available
Platforms
WebAPI
WebMobile
Categories
🎭 Design & UI🚀 AI App & Website Builders
🧊 3D Generation & Scanning🏠 Interior Design & Architecture👷 Construction & Field Service
Features
Embeddable WYSIWYG drag-and-drop page builder for React apps
Build pages from your own React components as editing blocks
AI copilot inside the editor for in-app page generation
Headless AI page generation via API for programmatic workflows
Design mode to generate new components within defined guardrails
Bring your own key (BYOK) to route AI requests through your provider
Multi-column layouts with nested components and advanced CSS layouts
Dynamic props and dynamic fields driven by user input
External data sources including third-party CMS and backend APIs
React Server Components opt-in support
Store and serve all page output as JSON on your own backend
Feature toggling via the permissions API
Plugin API for custom fields and UI overrides
Root configuration to customize the wrapper component
Rich text editing
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
SketchUp
Xactimate
Unity
Blender
Unreal Engine
Maya
3ds Max
Rhino
Three.js
Apple Vision Pro

What real users say: Puck 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.

Puck

No verifiable community signal. We scanned public discussion on Sep 23, 2026 and found posts matching the name “Puck”, 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

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

  • Architect needing on-site floor plans
    Pick: Polycam

    Polycam's auto floor plan generation with measurements is purpose-built for this. It works with LiDAR on iOS and drone photogrammetry, and exports to DXF/ESX for CAD.

  • React developer building a custom CMS
    Pick: Puck

    Puck is an open-source visual editor that uses your own React components. You can embed it in Next.js or any React app, and AI generates pages on-brand.

  • Forensics team needing scene documentation
    Pick: Polycam

    Polycam captures detailed 3D scenes and point clouds (export PLY, LAS) for accurate measurements. LiDAR scanning works fast on-site.

  • Design system team empowering non-technical editors
    Pick: Puck

    Puck's drag-and-drop is constrained to your library. Editors can't break brand rules. AI further speeds up page creation while respecting design constraints.

  • Product designer scanning prototypes for review
    Pick: Polycam

    Polycam's LiDAR and AI photogrammetry turn physical models into 3D digital assets. Export to GLTF/OBJ/FBX for use in CAD or game engines.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Polycam be used for indoor floor plans?

Yes, Polycam automatically generates floor plans with measurements from LiDAR scans. The editor can fix overlapping objects (news: drag overlap fix added in March 2026).

Does Puck require a server?

Puck itself is a headless editor that runs in the browser. For persistence and AI features, you need either self-hosted storage or Puck Cloud. The open-source core is free.

What export formats does Polycam support?

Polycam exports to GLTF, OBJ, FBX, USDZ, PLY, LAS, STL, DAE, ESX, and DXF – covering mesh, point cloud, and CAD needs.

Can Puck AI generate pages from scratch?

Yes, Puck AI can generate full pages using your components. The latest v0.7 adds file attachments so you can include images or PDFs as context.

Is Polycam free?

Yes, there's a free tier, but it limits exports and features. Pro is ~$79/mo for full access.

Does Puck work with non-React projects?

No, Puck requires a React.js environment. It is built for React developers and works best with Next.js.

Which tool is better for beginners?

It depends on the domain. Polycam has a learning curve for 3D scanning best practices. Puck requires React knowledge to set up components. Neither is a 'beginner' tool for non-professionals.

Can I use both Polycam and Puck together?

They are unrelated. You could scan a physical space with Polycam, export a 3D model, and display it in a React app built with Puck – but they solve different problems.

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Last reviewed: July 3, 2026