Polycam
AI reality capture for professional 3D scanning, floor plans, and drone mapping.
Polycam remains the most versatile cross-platform reality capture tool for pros who need fast, accurate 3D scanning across devices. The free tier is a teaser; true value comes from the Business plan at $34/user/month yearly, still a strong bargain versus Matterport. Limited enterprise features may require a custom plan.
- Architects and engineers needing on-site floor plans and measurements
- Forensics teams requiring fast, accurate scene documentation for claims
- Product designers scanning physical prototypes for digital review and manufacturing
- Media creators scanning sets, props, and locations for VFX or game development
- Casual users wanting free, unlimited 3D scanning (free tier limited to 3 captures)
- Large-scale AEC projects needing enterprise SLAs or advanced BIM integration
- Complete beginners wanting one-click automation (some manual steps in photogrammetry)
We scan live Reddit threads, YouTube comments, X posts, G2 reviews and other communities — and hand you an honest verdict in under a minute.
- Honest verdict, not marketing
- Real pros & cons from real users
- Attributed quotes with receipts
3 free scans · no card needed
Skip Polycam if you need fully offline scanning with no internet dependency, enterprise-grade BIM integration, or unlimited free 3D captures.
Yearly billing is required for the Basic plan at $150/yr ($12.50/mo); monthly billing is $30/mo, so you pay more without annual commitment.
Polycam's pricing is affordable for small to mid-size teams: Free for tasters, Basic at $12.50/mo yearly for freelancers, Business at $34/mo/user yearly for professionals. Compared to Matterport's $69–$99/mo plans, Polycam offers significant savings. For large enterprises, custom Enterprise pricing applies.
In short
Polycam — AI reality capture for professional 3D scanning, floor plans, and drone mapping. Best for Architects and engineers needing on-site floor plans and measurements, Forensics teams requiring fast, accurate scene documentation for claims, Product designers scanning physical prototypes for digital review and manufacturing. Free to start; paid plans from $12.5015/mo.
What's new in Polycam
Checked 11 days agoAcross the latest 8 updates: 7 feature updates and 1 news mention.
Polycam vs. Matterport: Which 3D scanning platform fits your workflow in 2026?
Comparison of Polycam and Matterport for 3D scanning workflows in 2026.
How to Clean & Optimize 3D Scans in MeshLab: Polycam Export Tutorial
Tutorial on cleaning and optimizing Polycam scans in MeshLab for rendering or 3D printing.
How to Georeference Polycam Scans with Ground Control Points in CloudCompare
Guide on georeferencing Polycam point clouds using CloudCompare and QGIS.
How to Optimize Polycam 3D Scans in Blender — Mesh Cleanup, Textures & Rendering Tutorial
Tutorial on exporting Polycam captures to Blender for mesh cleanup and rendering.
How to Capture As-Built Drawings with Polycam | iPhone LiDAR for AEC
Tutorial on using Polycam with iPhone LiDAR for as-built documentation in AEC.
High Resolution Interior Photogrammetry: Full Walkthrough
Multi-pass workflow for high-resolution interior photogrammetry using Polycam.
How to Make 3D Scans for Blender With Polycam (FREE Edition)
Tutorial on capturing museum objects with Polycam and animating in Blender and After Effects.
How to Export Polycam Gaussian Splats to Unreal Engine 5 — Full Workflow Tutorial
Workflow for exporting Polycam Gaussian splats to Unreal Engine 5 for real-time rendering.
What independent users actually report about Polycam
We ran a structured research pass across product reviews, community discussions, and post-purchase forum threads to surface the patterns vendors won't publish themselves. Below: the recurring strengths, the hidden costs people mention most, and the cohort that consistently regrets adopting this tool.
41 mentions across 3 sources (Hacker News, Product Hunt, Bluesky).
- +Fast, accurate room scans and floor plans on iPhone LiDAR.
- +Easy sharing and collaboration with shareable links (free feature).
- +Editable floor plans with measurements, wall thickness, and room labels.
- +Multiple export formats (GLTF, OBJ, FBX, USDZ, point cloud).
- +HDRI lighting presets improve model appearance in presentations.
- −Subscription pricing is high for casual or hobbyist users.
- −Free tier heavily limited (3 captures, basic exports only).
- −Pricing transparency is poor—users report dark patterns.
- −Photogrammetry struggles with shiny, reflective, or transparent surfaces.
- −Android scanning lacks LiDAR precision compared to iOS.
- • Subscription required for more than 3 captures; no pay-per-scan option
- • Pro tier needed for floor plan exports and advanced features
- • Business plan adds team features but at a higher per-user price
Viability Score
How likely is Polycam to still be operational in 12 months? Based on 4 signals — momentum (how recently it shipped), wrapper dependency, revenue model, and web presence.
Last calculated: July 2026
How we score →Key Features
- AI-assisted photogrammetry from photos and video
- LiDAR spatial scanning for detailed 3D objects and interiors
- Automatic floor plan generation with measurements
- Drone photogrammetry processing
- Gaussian splatting tool for real-time 3D rendering
- HDRI lighting with 5 presets (iOS and Web)
- AI 3D model generator (beta)
- AI texture generator (beta)
- Virtual walkthrough with shareable links
- Editable floor plans with wall thickness and room labels
- Export to GLTF, OBJ, FBX, USDZ, PLY, LAS, STL, DAE, ESX, DXF, Geo-LAS, PTS, XYZ
- Point cloud export for BIM and geospatial workflows
- Shared team library for collaboration
- Capture sync across iOS, Android, and Web
- Apple Vision Pro viewing
About Polycam
Polycam is a cross-platform AI reality capture and 3D scanning tool used by half the Fortune 500. It enables professionals in architecture, construction, forensics, product design, and media to create 3D models, floor plans, and digital twins from any device—iOS LiDAR, Android ARCore, or photos and video. Key capabilities include AI-assisted photogrammetry, LiDAR spatial scanning, automatic floor plan generation with editable measurements, drone photogrammetry, Gaussian splatting, HDRI lighting with 5 presets, and beta AI 3D model/texture generators. Exports span 15+ formats (GLTF, OBJ, FBX, USDZ, point cloud), and the platform supports virtual walkthroughs, team libraries, and collaboration. The Business plan at $34/user/month (yearly) undercuts Matterport significantly, while the free tier limits users to 3 captures and basic exports, making it ideal for serious professionals rather than casual hobbyists.
Behind the Verdict
We'd reach for Polycam when speed and device flexibility matter most—it works on iPhone, iPad, Android, and even processes drone footage. The floor plan generation is genuinely impressive: you can walk a site with LiDAR and have editable 2D/3D plans with measurements before leaving. That alone justifies the Business tier for AEC and forensics teams. Where it slips a bit: the free tier is extremely restrictive (3 captures, GLTF only), and the AI 3D model/texture generators are still beta—useful but not production-ready. If you need enterprise SSO, custom branding, or dedicated support, you'll have to negotiate a custom plan. Compared to Matterport, Polycam offers more flexible capture methods (photos, video, drone) and lower per-user pricing, but Matterport's polished walkthrough experience and broader real estate integrations might win over agents who prioritize client presentations. For product designers scanning prototypes, the unlimited captures on Basic or Business make it a great companion to CAD—export directly to OBJ, FBX, or STL for 3D printing. Just be aware heavy users may hit the 2000-image cap per capture (Business) or need cloud uploads—there's no offline-only mode.
Researching Polycam? Get your full AI stack in 60 seconds.
Free, no signup — tell us your goal and get tools matched to your budget & existing stack.
Real-world workflow fit
Concrete scenarios for the personas Polycam actually fits — and what changes day-one when you adopt it.
You need to quickly capture a room and generate a floor plan with measurements for a renovation.
Outcome: Use Polycam's Space mode with LiDAR to scan the room in minutes, auto-generate a 2D floor plan with dimensions, furniture detection, and export as PDF or DXF. Share with client via private link.
You need to document an accident scene accurately for insurance claims.
Outcome: Capture the scene with LiDAR or photo series, create a 3D model with measurements, generate a virtual walkthrough and AI report. Export point clouds for analysis. All within an hour.
You need to scan a physical prototype and import the mesh into CAD for digital iteration.
Outcome: Use Object mode with LiDAR or photogrammetry, capture 200 images, process in Polycam, export as OBJ or STL, and import into Fusion 360 or Blender for modification.
Use Cases
- Capture a room and instantly generate a dimensioned 2D floor plan with furniture and fixture detection.
- Scan a construction site using Space or Drone mode to create a digital twin for progress monitoring.
- Photograph a physical product from multiple angles and export a textured 3D model for e-commerce or CAD.
- Document an accident scene with LiDAR captures and generate virtual walkthroughs for insurance claims.
- Aerial scan a roof or solar installation using drone footage processed through Polycam's cloud photogrammetry.
- Use AI-generated captures to quickly prototype 3D models from minimal reference photos.
Limitations
- Free plan has limited captures and exports.
- Business/Enterprise plans have a 2000-image limit per photogrammetry capture and 30-minute video limit.
- Cloud processing requires internet access.
as of 2026-07-01
12-month cost
Project the real annual outlay, including the implied monthly cost when only an annual tier is published.
Vendor list price only. Add-on usage, seat overages, and contract minimums are surfaced under Hidden costs & gotchas.
Plans compared
For each published Polycam tier: who it actually fits, and what it adds vs. the previous tier. Cross-reference the cost calculator above for projected annual outlay.
Free
$0/mo
Ideal for
Beginners exploring 3D scanning with limited needs: 10 photogrammetry captures, 3 AI captures, and basic exports.
What this tier adds
Free entry point with limited captures and public sharing; no floor plans or private links.
Basic
$12.50/mo (billed yearly $150/yr)
Ideal for
Freelancers and creators producing small-scale work who need unlimited captures and multiple export formats.
What this tier adds
Unlimited captures, 6 export formats, private link sharing, and higher limits (300 images, 5 min videos).
Business
$34/mo/user (billed yearly $400/yr/user)
Ideal for
Teams and professionals who require floor plans, advanced measurements, point clouds, and team collaboration.
What this tier adds
Adds 2D/3D floor plans, advanced measure tools, point cloud exports, shared team library, virtual walkthroughs, and AI reports.
Enterprise
Contact sales
Ideal for
Large organizations needing custom branding, SSO, dedicated support, and enhanced data privacy.
What this tier adds
Custom branding, SSO, admin-controlled features, dedicated customer success, capture API access.
Where the pricing makes sense
The company stage and team size where Polycam's pricing actually pencils out — and where peers do it cheaper.
Polycam's pricing is affordable for small to mid-size teams: Free for tasters, Basic at $12.50/mo yearly for freelancers, Business at $34/mo/user yearly for professionals. Compared to Matterport's $69–$99/mo plans, Polycam offers significant savings. For large enterprises, custom Enterprise pricing applies.
Setup time & first value
How long it actually takes to get something useful out of Polycam — broken out by persona, not the marketing-page minute.
For a first-time user, capturing a space with LiDAR takes about 5 minutes; processing time varies from seconds to a few minutes. Floor plan generation is nearly instant. Photogrammetry from photos may take longer depending on image count. Reviewing export formats takes a few minutes.
Switching to or from Polycam
How to bring data in from common predecessors and how to get it back out — written for the switcher, not the buyer.
- →From Matterport: Export your existing Matterport tours (if allowed) and re-capture spaces with Polycam; no direct import.
- →From manual photogrammetry: Use Polycam's AI-assisted capture to speed up your workflow; import existing photo sets.
- ↗To Matterport: Export Polycam captures as E57, PLY, or OBJ and import into Matterport; some manual rework may be needed.
- ↗To professional photogrammetry software (RealityCapture, Agisoft): Export point clouds (PLY, LAS) or meshes (OBJ, FBX) and import into those tools.
Resources & Guides
- Resourcepoly.cam
Digital Twin Workflows: Why Floor Plans Are the Anchor
Helpful link from poly.cam
- Resourcepoly.cam
3D Scan to Floor Plan: Streamlining Your Drafting Workflow
Helpful link from poly.cam
- Resourcepoly.cam
Best Matterport Alternatives for Small Teams & Creators in 2026
Helpful link from poly.cam
- Resourcepoly.cam
How to Create As-Built Drawings with Your Phone
Helpful link from poly.cam
Official links
Tools that pair well with Polycam
Common stack mates teams adopt alongside Polycam, with the specific reason each pairing earns its keep.
Featured Head-to-Head Comparisons
Reels Story Maker vs Polycam
Abound vs Polycam
Supercool vs Polycam
Sd Ppp vs Polycam
Carefree Creator vs Polycam
Visme vs Polycam
Overlay vs Polycam
Microsoftcloudlogos vs Polycam
Floor Plan Ai Home vs Polycam
Kiri Engine vs Polycam
Playground vs Polycam
Openui vs Polycam
Logo Maker vs Polycam
Mody vs Polycam
Sekai vs Polycam
Logo Maker Ai Design Creator vs Polycam
3d Scanner App vs Polycam
Impresso vs Polycam
Jaaz vs Polycam
Thememe vs Polycam
Openframeworks vs Polycam
Themepack vs Polycam
Aesthetic Kit vs Polycam
Boon vs Polycam
Ai Logo Maker vs Polycam
Magiscan vs Polycam
Ui Ux Pro Max Skill vs Polycam
Arloopa vs Polycam
Portfolio vs Polycam
Windchat Extension vs Polycam
Web Builder vs Polycam
Lux Ui vs Polycam
Upage vs Polycam
Mcp Ui vs Polycam
React Email Editor vs Polycam
Hue vs Polycam
Taste Skill vs Polycam
Onlook vs Polycam
Next Ai Draw Io vs Polycam
Open Design vs Polycam
Puck vs Polycam
Figma Context Mcp vs Polycam
Wwwai Site vs Polycam
Zoviz vs Polycam
Mobirise Ai Website Builder vs Polycam
Qr Code Ai vs Polycam
Mymap Ai vs Polycam
Pikto Ai Studio vs Polycam
Slideteam Ai Presentation Generator vs Polycam
Architectgpt vs Polycam
Components Ai vs Polycam
Bazaart Ai Photo Editor Design vs Polycam
Presenti Ai vs Polycam
Andalusi Ai Design Photo Video vs Polycam
Rivet vs Polycam
Sol vs Polycam
Topological vs Polycam
Fifth Door vs Polycam
Lotas vs Polycam
Archilabs vs Polycam
Artifact vs Polycam
Repaint vs Polycam
Midrender vs Polycam
Remade vs Polycam
Ion Design vs Polycam
Star vs Polycam
Slidely Ai vs Polycam
Mach vs Polycam
Iliad vs Polycam
Magic Patterns vs Polycam
Dyspatch vs Polycam
Asim vs Polycam
Dream3d vs Polycam
Vectr vs Polycam
Octopus Do vs Polycam
Fudge vs Polycam
Villa vs Polycam
Shader App vs Polycam
Form3d vs Polycam
Quiverai vs Polycam
Experimently vs Polycam
Iconly vs Polycam
Frontman vs Polycam
Boast Image vs Polycam
Archrender vs Polycam
Storyblocker vs Polycam
Pageai vs Polycam
Open Lovable vs Polycam
Kombai vs Polycam
Dorik vs Polycam
Codeparrot vs Polycam
Jetboost vs Polycam
Eraser Io vs Polycam
Cubeone Ai vs Polycam
Candyicons vs Polycam
Chronicle vs Polycam
Banani vs Polycam
Yep So vs Polycam
Visualsitemaps vs Polycam
Zarla Ai Website Builder vs Polycam
Rork vs Polycam
Looking Glass Blocks vs Polycam
Plurana vs Polycam
Moodboard Creator vs Polycam
Postshot vs Polycam
Neosvg vs Polycam
Netjet Io vs Polycam
Elementor Ai Website Builder vs Polycam
Postnitro vs Polycam
Macaly vs Polycam
Dgm vs Polycam
Playbook Ai vs Polycam
Plusvector vs Polycam
Flexbe vs Polycam
Draftaid vs Polycam
Artisk Ai vs Polycam
Webwave vs Polycam
Vossle vs Polycam
Gizmo Party vs Polycam
Get Floor Plan vs Polycam
Slatebox vs Polycam
Sivi vs Polycam
Modyfi vs Polycam
Distinkt Ai vs Polycam
Genius vs Polycam
Vector To 3d vs Polycam
Woodle Ai vs Polycam
Creately Viz vs Polycam
Wizi vs Polycam
Rooms vs Polycam
Logo Diffusion vs Polycam
Makelanding vs Polycam
Screenshot To Code vs Polycam
Monster Mash vs Polycam
Backflip Ai vs Polycam
Colormind vs Polycam
Ai Interior Room Planner vs Polycam
Motionit vs Polycam
Pixelicious vs Polycam
Decktopus Ai vs Polycam
Glide Design Ai vs Polycam
Figma To Wordpress Beta vs Polycam
Designerbot By Beautiful Ai vs Polycam
Design System Automation vs Polycam
Figcopy vs Polycam
Vivid vs Polycam
Taste Lab vs Polycam
Heygen X Canva vs Polycam
Phaie Ai vs Polycam
Opine vs Polycam
Launched vs Polycam
Autodevs vs Polycam
Correctify vs Polycam
Polymet vs Polycam
Locofy Pro vs Polycam
Presenton Data Presentations vs Polycam
No Code Map App vs Polycam
Magic Animator Beta vs Polycam
Alai vs Polycam
Vibe Design vs Polycam
Livespace Ai vs Polycam
Ai Design vs Polycam
Vibecss vs Polycam
Appforcestudio vs Polycam
There Is A Logo For That vs Polycam
Marketing Blocks Web App vs Polycam
Thefrontkit vs Polycam
Varchive vs Polycam
Finesse By Skippr Ai vs Polycam
Invoke vs Polycam
Shipper Visual Edit vs Polycam
Loki Build vs Polycam
Redesign vs Polycam
Pageon Ai vs Polycam
Design Md vs Polycam
Figma For Agents vs Polycam
V0 Design Systems vs Polycam
Ai Slide Editor vs Polycam
Floor Plan Maker vs Polycam
Vnovels vs Polycam
Branda Co vs Polycam
Artifyslide vs Polycam
Areza Digital vs Polycam
Digigo Studio vs Polycam
Carve vs Polycam
Snapblock vs Polycam
Agentcad vs Polycam
House Of Esse vs Polycam
Image To 3d Ai vs Polycam
Flint vs Polycam
Xten Av vs Polycam
Fontdance vs Polycam
Presspilot vs Polycam
We0 Ai vs Polycam
Floor Plan Ai vs Polycam
Prompt2cad vs Polycam
Oria vs Polycam
Graphicinfo vs Polycam
Charios vs Polycam
Room Ai vs Polycam
Kittl vs Polycam
Miricanvas vs Polycam
Codedesign Ai vs Polycam
Astrocade vs Polycam
Mixfont vs Polycam
Pixelied Image Ai vs Polycam
Studio vs Polycam
Tesana vs Polycam
Zawa vs Polycam
Iconscout vs Polycam
Knowlens Ai vs Polycam
Whimsical vs Polycam
Design Arena vs Polycam
Weavy vs Polycam
Tilda Publishing vs Polycam
Template Net vs Polycam
Icons8 vs Polycam
Refero Design vs Polycam
Prezi vs Polycam
Planner 5d vs Polycam
Motionsites vs Polycam
Lovart vs Polycam
Befunky vs Polycam
Fliphtml5 Ai Ebook Generator vs Polycam
Coohom vs Polycam
Creative Fabrica vs Polycam
Redesignr Ai vs Polycam
Limecube Ai Website Builder vs Polycam
Postermywall vs Polycam
Screenmind vs Polycam
Airtable vs Polycam
Notion vs Polycam
Figma vs Polycam
Lm Studio vs Polycam
Miro vs Polycam
Penpot vs Polycam
Sketch vs Polycam
Linear vs Polycam
Alternatives to Polycam
View allFrequently Asked Questions
Categories
Best-of guides
Topics
Used Polycam? Help shape our editorial sentiment research.