ScreenMind vs Polycam
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, and ratings
At a glance
| Dimension | ScreenMind | Polycam |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free (open-source) | Freemium; Pro ~$12/mo, Business ~$50/mo |
| Primary Use | Local screen memory & AI analysis of desktop activity | 3D scanning & photogrammetry for objects, spaces, floors, drones |
| Platform | macOS only (currently) | iOS, Android, Web, Drone |
| AI Model | Google Gemma 4 (local, 4GB GPU) | Proprietary AI for photogrammetry & 3D reconstruction |
| Key Differentiation | Privacy-first, on-device screen activity search & recap | Real-world spatial capture to 3D models & floor plans |
| Integration | MCP Server, Claude, Cursor, VS Code, Obsidian, Notion, Slack | SketchUp, Blender, AutoCAD, Revit, Unity, Unreal Engine |
Don't pit them head-to-head — they solve completely different problems. If you need high-fidelity 3D scanning of real-world spaces with floor plans and drone support, Polycam is the clear choice, especially at under $12/mo for Pro. If you want a private, local screen memory that indexes your entire desktop activity and lets you chat with it, ScreenMind is a unique, free, and powerful tool — provided you're on macOS.
Free local screen memory with AI — privacy-first Microsoft Recall alternative
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AI-powered 3D scanning, floor plans, and reality capture for mobile, drones, and teams.
Visit WebsiteWhat real users say: ScreenMind 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.
ScreenMind
21 mentions across 5 sources · 73% positive
Hacker News, YouTube, Product Hunt, Bluesky, GitHub
What users praise
- • 100% local – no cloud dependency or telemetry at all.
- • Free and open-source (MIT license) – no subscription or hidden fees.
- • Uses Gemma 4 with vision, audio, and reasoning on-device.
- • Smart content-change capture avoids pointless screenshots.
What frustrates them
- • Linux Wayland capture is completely broken for many users.
- • Frequently misidentifies applications as VSCode or Programming.
- • Only captures main screen on multi-monitor setups.
- • No Windows multi-monitor support confirmed.
Researched Jul 26, 2026
Polycam
63 mentions across 4 sources · 55% positive — mixed
Hacker News, YouTube, Product Hunt, App Store
What users praise
- • Easy to use — HN users call it quick and intuitive.
- • High-quality LiDAR and photogrammetry capture on iPhone.
- • Gaussian splat support added early, impressing creatives.
- • Floor plan generation with editable walls is handy for AEC.
What frustrates them
- • Costly subscriptions with a $400 tier for full features.
- • Free tier is confusingly limited; features unclear.
- • Unjustified $400 charges and poor refund policies.
- • App crashes and lost scans on large spaces.
Researched Aug 13, 2026
Who should pick which
- Architect needing on-site floor plansPick: Polycam
Polycam's automatic floor plan generation with measurements and LiDAR capture is purpose-built for AEC professionals.
- Privacy-conscious developer wanting screen searchPick: ScreenMind
ScreenMind runs 100% locally with AES encryption and zero telemetry, ideal for developers who cannot use cloud services.
- Product designer scanning physical prototypesPick: Polycam
Polycam's AI photogrammetry and LiDAR scanning create detailed 3D models for digital review in CAD tools.
- Meeting-heavy worker needing local transcriptionsPick: ScreenMind
ScreenMind provides meeting transcription for Zoom/Teams/Meet without any cloud subscription, all locally.
- Forensics team documenting scenesPick: Polycam
Polycam's fast, accurate 3D scene capture and measurement exports are trusted by forensics professionals.
Frequently Asked Questions
ScreenMind vs Polycam: which should you choose?
Don't pit them head-to-head — they solve completely different problems. If you need high-fidelity 3D scanning of real-world spaces with floor plans and drone support, Polycam is the clear choice, especially at under $12/mo for Pro. If you want a private, local screen memory that indexes your entire desktop activity and lets you chat with it, ScreenMind is a unique, free, and powerful tool — provided you're on macOS.
Can Polycam run on any smartphone?
Polycam works on iOS (LiDAR supported on newer models) and Android (ARCore). Photogrammetry works with any camera; LiDAR scanning requires a LiDAR-equipped iOS device.
Does ScreenMind work on Windows or Linux?
Currently, ScreenMind is macOS-only. There's no announced support for Windows or Linux.
How do ScreenMind's analysis modes differ?
ScreenMind offers Accurate (~76s per screenshot), Balanced (~40s), and Fast (~12s). Faster modes use a lighter version of the Gemma 4 model, trading detail for speed.
Can I export Polycam scans to CAD software?
Yes, Polycam integrates with SketchUp, Blender, AutoCAD, Revit, Unity, Unreal Engine, Maya, and Cinema 4D. Exports include OBJ, FBX, PLY, and point clouds.
Is ScreenMind's meeting transcription speaker-labeled?
ScreenMind provides meeting transcription for Zoom/Teams/Meet. Speaker labeling is based on system audio streams, but accuracy depends on audio quality and overlap.
Does Polycam have a free tier?
Yes, Polycam has a free tier with limited exports and lower resolution. Pro ($12/mo) unlocks HD exports and floor plans; Business ($50/mo) adds advanced features.
Can I use ScreenMind offline?
Yes, ScreenMind works entirely offline as all processing is local. No internet connection is required for capture, analysis, or search.
What is Polycam's Gaussian splatting?
Polycam's Gaussian splatting tool creates view-dependent 3D representations from photos, especially useful for real-time rendering in Unreal Engine as shown in the latest tutorial (2026-05-28).
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Last reviewed: June 18, 2026