Polycam

Overview

Polycam is a cross-platform reality-capture product for professionals documenting spaces, objects and sites. It is a strong fit when capture needs to feed measurement, floor plans or downstream design work. Its breadth is useful, but the free tier is limited and Space Mode scanning requires a compatible iOS device.

Key features

AI-assisted photogrammetry and LiDAR cover site surveys, construction sites, facilities, products and materials, while object capture produces shareable 3D models. Drone footage can also be processed into expansive 3D models, giving Polycam a wider remit than object or room scanning alone. Customizable 2D floor plans support building documentation; paid plans add instant 3D and editable 2D floor plans.

Exports span GLTF, OBJ, FBX, DAE, STL, USDZ, point-cloud formats and DXF, with Blender, Unity, SketchUp and Xactimate among the supported destinations or workflows. That range is valuable for teams that need to carry captured material into design or production tools. The free plan's GLTF-only export is a substantial restriction for anyone with a more specific handoff workflow.

Captures are stored with industry-standard encryption and are not shared unless users publish or share them. Polycam's Trust Center lists GDPR and SOC 2 Type 1 and Type 2, and offers a way to request security documents. Enterprise adds enhanced data privacy and a Content Management API.

Pricing

Free costs nothing and provides limited space, object and AI captures, GLTF exports and public link sharing. The free image limit is 150 images. It is a reasonable starting point for occasional capture, but limited capture allowances, public-only sharing and a single export format make it a poor fit for regular professional handoffs.

Basic costs $150 a year, billed yearly at $12.50 / month, or $30/month when billed monthly. It includes unlimited object, Gaussian splat, space and AI-generated captures, up to 300 images per capture, and private link sharing. It suits individuals who need higher capture volume and private sharing; the 300-image cap still matters for larger captures. Annual Basic includes a seven-day trial, while monthly Basic does not.

Business costs $400 a year, billed yearly at $33 / month per user. Its 2,000-image-per-capture allowance, 2D and 3D floor plans, advanced measurement tools, shared team library, point-cloud exports, virtual walkthroughs and AI-generated reports make it the more appropriate tier for collaborative building or documentation work. Priority email support is included. The per-user price means team costs rise with seats. Annual Business includes a seven-day trial; monthly plans do not.

Enterprise costs $1,200 a year, billed yearly, with a three-user minimum. It adds a Content Management API, admin-controlled feature customization, enhanced data privacy, custom branding and role-based folders. SSO, regional cloud storage and custom billing are paid add-ons. It is aimed at organizations needing administrative controls and API access, rather than small teams looking for a modest step up from Business. Enterprise has no trial; support includes email and phone, onboarding, training, account management and priority technical assistance.

Platforms

Polycam runs on Android, iOS and web browsers, but Space Mode scanning is limited to compatible iOS devices. That makes it less suitable for teams that need this scanning mode across a mixed-device fleet. Deployment is cloud-based.

Who it's for

Polycam names architecture, engineering and construction; forensics and investigation; product design and manufacturing; and media and entertainment as business use cases. Its combination of capture types, measurements, plans and exports is most compelling for professionals who need more than a standalone 3D model. Readers seeking only occasional capture can start on Free, while teams relying on shared workflows or floor plans should consider Business.

Pros and cons

Pros: Spatial, object and drone capture cover varied documentation needs in one product.

Pros: Business combines floor plans, advanced measurement, a shared library and point-cloud exports for team workflows.

Pros: A broad export and integration range supports handoff to established design and production tools.

Cons: Free permits only GLTF exports and public link sharing, limiting professional handoffs and privacy.

Cons: Space Mode is restricted to compatible iOS devices, despite broader Android and web availability.

Cons: Enterprise requires at least three users, and several organization-oriented capabilities cost extra.

Alternatives

Choose RealityScan if you need a freemium option that also runs on Linux and Windows. 3Dsurvey is a paid alternative with a free plan and support for Linux and Windows as well as mobile and web platforms. Choose WebODM if running photogrammetry locally and offline matters more than Polycam's cloud deployment. 3DF Zephyr is a Windows-only freemium option; its free edition is limited to personal use, 50 photos or video frames, one GPU, and limited exports and editing. COLMAP is a free alternative. Agisoft Metashape is a paid alternative with a free trial and no free plan. Choose KIRI Engine if its free Basic tier's allowance of up to 150 photos, 2 GB per scan and free exports suits your capture needs. MicMac is a free, open-source photogrammetric suite for desktop platforms.

For broader comparisons, see Photogrammetry Software, AI 3D Scanning Software, AI 3D Model Generators and 3D Scanning Software.

Verdict

Polycam is a good choice for professionals who want mobile and web capture, building documentation and multiple export paths in one workflow. Business is the clearest fit for teams that need floor plans, measurements and shared libraries; Basic suits individuals whose main needs are expanded captures and private sharing. Look elsewhere if you need Space Mode on Android, a broad export set on the free tier, or an offline deployment.