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 |
| 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 |

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 turns phone LiDAR, photos, and drone footage into 3D models, floor plans, and point clouds.
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
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 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
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
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
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Last reviewed: July 3, 2026