Puck vs Polycam
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, and ratings
At a glance
| Dimension | Puck | Polycam |
|---|---|---|
| Category | React visual editor & AI page builder | 3D scanning & reality capture |
| Pricing | Free open-source; Cloud plans start at $99/mo | Free (limited exports); Pro ~$79/mo; Enterprise custom |
| AI Features | AI page generation bound to design system, chat with file attachments, headless API | AI photogrammetry, 3D model generator (beta), texture generator (beta) |
| Platform | React.js (Next.js, etc.) | iOS, Android, Web, Drone |
| Export | Renders React components; no static file export | GLTF, OBJ, FBX, USDZ, PLY, LAS, STL, DAE, ESX, DXF |
| Latest News | v0.22 theming with CSS vars; AI 0.7 file attachments | HDRI lighting now on iOS/Web; floor plan editor drag overlap fix |
Polycam and Puck serve entirely different needs. Choose Polycam if you're an architect, engineer, or media creator needing to scan real-world objects and spaces into 3D models or floor plans. Choose Puck if you're a React developer or design system team wanting an open-source, brand-constrained visual editor for building pages. They are not competitors.
Embeddable visual editor for React that lets non-coders and agents build on-brand pages.
Visit Website
AI-powered 3D scanning, floor plans, and reality capture for mobile, drones, and teams.
Visit WebsiteWhat 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
48 mentions across 3 sources · 17% positive — critical
Reddit, Hacker News, Lemmy
What users praise
- • Open source (MIT) with full code access
- • Uses your own React components as building blocks
- • AI page generation constrained to brand design system
- • Headless API for programmatic page editing
What frustrates them
- • Almost no community feedback exists for evaluation
- • Name collision with Steam Controller hardware
- • Cloud features (AI, collaboration) not yet proven
- • No evidence of production usage or case studies
Researched Jul 3, 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
- Architect needing on-site floor plansPick: 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 CMSPick: 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 documentationPick: 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 editorsPick: 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 reviewPick: 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
Puck vs Polycam: which should you choose?
Polycam and Puck serve entirely different needs. Choose Polycam if you're an architect, engineer, or media creator needing to scan real-world objects and spaces into 3D models or floor plans. Choose Puck if you're a React developer or design system team wanting an open-source, brand-constrained visual editor for building pages. They are not competitors.
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.
More Puck or Polycam comparisons
Polycam and Airtable serve completely different needs: Polycam is a dedicated 3D scanning and reality capture tool for AEC and media professionals, while Airtable is a collaborative database platform
Polycam and Notion serve completely different purposes. Polycam is a specialized 3D scanning tool for professionals needing photogrammetry, floor plans, and drone mapping, while Notion is a general-pu
Polycam and Miro serve entirely different needs: Polycam is a specialized tool for capturing real-world 3D data (scanning, floor plans, drone mapping) while Miro is a broad collaboration platform for
Choosing between LM Studio and Polycam is straightforward: they solve completely different problems. LM Studio is ideal for developers who need private, offline LLM inference on their own hardware, wh
If you need reality capture and 3D scanning for architecture, construction, or forensics, Polycam is the clear choice. For product development teams seeking AI-native issue tracking, triage, and agent
Choose Polycam if you need reality capture—3D scanning objects, interiors, or floor plans for AEC, forensics, or game dev. Choose Sketch if you’re a macOS UI/UX designer who values native performance,
Explore each tool further
Browse these categories
One email a week — new tools, honest comparisons, no spam.
Last reviewed: July 3, 2026