3DF Zephyr vs MetaScan

3DF Zephyr is Windows desktop software that reconstructs 3D models from photos, with workflows involving camera sensors, drones, and laser scanners. It estimates camera parameters automatically and offers global or incremental reconstruction pipelines. Outputs include orthophotos, orthomosaics, DEMs, contour lines, sections, CAD drawings, measurements, and project reports. Users can upload models to Sketchfab and videos to YouTube; Unity ArtEngine integration is described for people with an ArtEngine license. Plugins include native support for several laser scanner formats, a beta Canon DSLR remote-shooting plugin, and an experimental GEOBIM Revit plugin. Python scripts and XML files can automate workflows and batch processing. The free plan is for personal use and allows 50 photos or video frames, with limited exports and editing. Zephyr requires Windows 10 or 11, at least 16 GB of RAM, and 20 GB of free disk space. The listed Lite plan costs €199 a month, while the full Zephyr plan is listed at €4,200 a month.

MetaScan creates 3D models of people and objects through a mobile app or an event scanning service. Its app offers object, full-body and head-and-shoulders capture using photogrammetry on modern iPhone or Android cameras, without requiring LiDAR. Scans can be viewed in augmented reality and exported as GLB, USDZ or OBJ; MetaScan also says they can be auto-rigged and animated for use in its multiplayer game In The Real World. Browser-based converters support GLB, OBJ, STL, glTF, PLY, FBX and USDZ, processing files on the user's device without uploading them. Event services include a scanning station, portrait studio and 360 spin video booth for occasions such as weddings, team days and corporate events. The free plan allows up to five scans in a library and one HD reconstruction per month. Pro costs $9.99 a month, Studio costs $29.99 a month, and an HD credit costs 4.99 USD once. MetaScan says person scans require consent and source images for standard scans are deleted automatically about two hours after model generation. It offers support by phone, text, email or website message.