ScreenMind vs Polycam

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

Analysis reviewed Live tool data as of 2026-09-29
Cross-checked through our multi-step verification ·
Saved

At a glance

DimensionScreenMindPolycam
Primary UseLocal screen memory & AI analysis of desktop activity3D scanning & photogrammetry for objects, spaces, floors, drones
PlatformmacOS only (currently)iOS, Android, Web, Drone
AI ModelGoogle Gemma 4 (local, 4GB GPU)Proprietary AI for photogrammetry & 3D reconstruction
Key DifferentiationPrivacy-first, on-device screen activity search & recapReal-world spatial capture to 3D models & floor plans
IntegrationMCP Server, Claude, Cursor, VS Code, Obsidian, Notion, SlackSketchUp, 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.

ScreenMind
ScreenMind

Open-source macOS app that captures your screen, analyzes it locally with Gemma 4, and builds a searchable, chat-able AI memory.

Visit Website
Polycam
Polycam

Polycam turns phone LiDAR, photos, and drone footage into AI 3D scans, floor plans, and point clouds

Visit Website
Pricing
Free
Freemium
Plans
$0
$0
$150/year ($12.50/mo billed yearly) or $30/mo billed monthly
$400/year per user ($33/mo per user, billed yearly)
$1200/year per user (3 users minimum, billed yearly)
Popularity
7 views
7.5k views
Skill Level
Advanced
Beginner-friendly
API Available
Platforms
Desktop
WebMobile
Categories
📝 Notes & Knowledge Management💾 Local & On-Device AI
🧊 3D Generation & Scanning🏠 Interior Design & Architecture👷 Construction & Field Service
Features
Smart capture using pHash content-change detection instead of a fixed timer
Gemma 4 vision analysis: app detection, activity categorization, mood, scene description, spatial layout
Hybrid search combining MiniLM semantic embeddings with FTS5 keyword matching
Conversational RAG chat over screen history with follow-up context
Voice memos via Ctrl+Shift+V, transcribed by Gemma 4's native audio encoder (no Whisper)
Auto-detected Zoom, Teams, and Google Meet transcription with structured summaries
Three analysis modes: Accurate (~76s), Balanced (~40s), Fast (~12s)
Per-app pHash cache with 3-tier caching and app-aware staleness
Chat-first GPU priority that cancels in-flight analysis in under 1 second
Auto-pause for games, video editors, and 3D software
Sensitive data filter redacts credit cards, SSNs, API keys, and passwords before storage
AES encryption at rest (Fernet + OS keyring) with dashboard PIN lock
Incognito mode: one-click pause, nothing recorded
Model Hub with in-app downloads: Gemma 4 E2B, E4B, 12B in Q4_0, Q8_0, BF16
Agent platform for Markdown or Python automation agents
LiDAR and non-LiDAR spatial capture of rooms, buildings, and interiors
AI-assisted object capture that turns phone photos into shareable 3D models
Instant 2D and 3D floor plan generation with auto fixture and furniture detection
Advanced measure tools including interior measurements, pen measure, and auto measure
Editable wall thickness, room labels, compass, blueprints, and floor area calculations
Drone and aerial photogrammetry processed into large 3D models
Photogrammetry up to 2000 images and 30-minute videos on Business and Enterprise
Gaussian splatting with unlimited splats on paid tiers
Free AI 3D model generator and AI texture generator
AI generated reports and custom branding on Business and Enterprise
360 photosphere capture and 360 image viewer
Virtual Walkthroughs and shared team library on Business and above
Mesh exports: GLTF, OBJ, FBX, DAE, STL, USDZ, ESX
Point cloud exports: PLY, LAS, Geo-LAS, PTS, XYZ, DXF
Viewable on Apple Vision Pro
Integrations
Claude Desktop
Cursor
VS Code
Obsidian
Notion
Slack
Discord
IFTTT
Apple Vision Pro
SketchUp
Xactimate
Unity
Blender
Unreal Engine
Maya
3ds Max
Rhino
Three.js

What 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 (averaged across 5 sources)

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

68 mentions across 5 sources · 44% positive — mixed (weighted across 5 sources)

Reddit, Hacker News, YouTube, Product Hunt, App Store

What users praise

  • • Capture is genuinely fast and beginner-friendly on iPhone LiDAR and plain photos
  • • Export breadth is excellent — OBJ, FBX, LAS, DXF, USDZ, PLY and Gaussian splats
  • • Instant floor plans with auto fixture and furniture detection impress AEC reviewers
  • • Underground space mode and cross-section measurements earn real enterprise adoption

What frustrates them

  • • Aggressive interstitial upsell modals pester even paying subscribers constantly
  • • Reports of $400 charges after cancelling and credit-card-gated free trials
  • • Support is slow or silent on billing, upgrades, and broken scans
  • • Dimensions and core measurement tools sit behind a $400-tier paywall

Researched Sep 29, 2026

Who should pick which

  • Architect needing on-site floor plans
    Pick: Polycam

    Polycam's automatic floor plan generation with measurements and LiDAR capture is purpose-built for AEC professionals.

  • Privacy-conscious developer wanting screen search
    Pick: ScreenMind

    ScreenMind runs 100% locally with AES encryption and zero telemetry, ideal for developers who cannot use cloud services.

  • Product designer scanning physical prototypes
    Pick: Polycam

    Polycam's AI photogrammetry and LiDAR scanning create detailed 3D models for digital review in CAD tools.

  • Meeting-heavy worker needing local transcriptions
    Pick: ScreenMind

    ScreenMind provides meeting transcription for Zoom/Teams/Meet without any cloud subscription, all locally.

  • Forensics team documenting scenes
    Pick: 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).

More ScreenMind or Polycam comparisons

Explore each tool further

Browse these categories

Still deciding? Get the weekly AI tools brief

One email a week — new tools, honest comparisons, no spam.

Last reviewed: June 18, 2026