Polycam
3D modeling software
3D design software
- Features
- Ease of use
- Ease of management
- Quality of support
- Affordability
- Market presence
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$150 per year
Free TrialFree version
Small
Medium
Large
- Real estate and property management
- Education and training
- Retail and wholesale
What is Polycam
Polycam is a mobile-first 3D capture and modeling application that creates 3D models from smartphone scans using LiDAR (on supported devices) and photogrammetry. It is used by individuals and teams to digitize spaces and objects for visualization, documentation, and downstream use in 3D workflows. The product emphasizes fast capture on iOS/Android with cloud processing and export to common 3D formats for use in other design and content tools.
Mobile LiDAR and photogrammetry
Polycam supports both LiDAR-based scanning (on compatible devices) and photo-based capture, which broadens the range of capture scenarios. This enables quick creation of meshes and point clouds without dedicated scanning hardware. For many field workflows, capture can start and finish on a phone rather than requiring a desktop-first setup.
Practical export format support
Polycam exports to widely used 3D formats (commonly including OBJ, FBX, GLTF/GLB, STL, and point cloud formats such as PLY), which helps users move scans into other modeling, rendering, or real-time engines. This interoperability is important when the scan is only the first step in a larger pipeline. It reduces the need for custom converters compared with tools that keep assets in proprietary formats.
Fast capture-to-share workflow
The product is designed around rapid capture, processing, and sharing from mobile devices, which suits on-site documentation and quick iteration. Cloud processing options can offload heavier reconstruction tasks from the device. Built-in viewing and sharing features support lightweight collaboration when stakeholders primarily need to review geometry rather than edit it.
Not a full CAD modeler
Polycam focuses on scan-derived meshes and point clouds rather than parametric CAD or precision solid modeling. Users typically need additional software for dimension-driven design changes, feature-based editing, or manufacturing-grade outputs. This can add steps when the end goal is engineering design rather than visualization or reference geometry.
Quality depends on capture conditions
Results vary with lighting, surface reflectivity, occlusion, and user capture technique, especially for photogrammetry. LiDAR-equipped devices can improve consistency, but fine details and thin features may still reconstruct poorly. Teams may need repeat scans and cleanup work to reach acceptable quality for downstream use.
Device and plan constraints
Some capabilities depend on specific mobile hardware (for example, LiDAR availability on certain iOS devices) and may not be uniform across platforms. Advanced exports, higher-resolution processing, or commercial usage terms can be tied to paid plans. These constraints can complicate standardization across mixed-device teams.
Plan & Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key features & notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Limited Space, Object, and AI captures; GLTF exports; Public link sharing. (Free for everyone). |
| Basic | $150 per year ($12.50 / month when billed annually) or $30 / month (billed monthly) | All Free features + Unlimited Object captures and Gaussian Splats; Unlimited Space captures (with & without LiDAR); Unlimited AI generated captures; 6 export formats; Private link sharing. |
| Business | $400 per year per user ($34 / month per user when billed annually) | All Basic features + 2D & 3D floorplans; Advanced measurement tools; Shared team library; Point cloud exports; Virtual walkthroughs; AI generated reports. 7-day Business trial available (annual plans). |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing (contact sales) | All Business features + Dedicated customer support, custom branding, SSO, priority feature requests, enhanced data privacy; invoice payment options and enterprise terms. |
