3DF Zephyr vs PIX4Dcatch
3DF Zephyr
3dflow.netPIX4Dcatch
pix4d.comSide by side
| Figure | 3DF Zephyr | PIX4Dcatch |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | €199/mo | $132.50/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 6 | 3 |
| Spec score · Drone Mapping Software | 8.4 (#3) | 8.1 (#7) |
| Spec score · AI 3D Scanning Software | 8.4 (#5) | 8.0 (#12) |
| Founded | 2011 | 2011 |
| Headquarters | Verona, Italy | Lausanne, Switzerland |
| Processing | The feature list describes automatic camera parameter estimation and selectable global or incremental reconstruction pipelines. | 3D processing does not happen on the mobile device; processing requires a valid PIX4Dcloud or PIX4Dmatic license or trial. |
| Purpose | 3DF Zephyr automatically reconstructs 3D models from photos and supports workflows using camera sensors, drones, and laser scanners. | PIX4Dcatch is a mobile app for ground 3D scans that turns terrestrial data into 3D models. |
| Support | The maker lists forum support for Free users and email plus forum support for Lite and full-edition users. | PIX4D customers and trial holders can contact the support team, while prospective customers can contact sales or post in the PIX4D Community. |
Plans
3DF Zephyr
- 3DF Zephyr FreeFree
- 3DF Zephyr Lite€199 a month
- 3DF Zephyr (Monthly)€250 a month
- 3DF Zephyr€4,200 a month
- 3DF Zephyr Lite$199, paid once
- 3DF Zephyr$4,200, paid once
PIX4Dcatch
- DiscoveryFree
- PIX4Dcatch Pro$132.50 a month
- PIX4Dcatch Pro + PIX4Dcloud Pro$506.67 a month
In their own words
3DF Zephyr
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.
PIX4Dcatch
PIX4Dcatch is a mobile app for capturing ground scans and turning terrestrial data into 3D models. It records image frames with position and orientation information and gives real-time feedback on scan coverage. Georeferenced models are created with photogrammetry and LiDAR; LiDAR depth capture is used by the iOS version, while Android processing does not use depth data. Processing happens off the phone and requires a valid PIX4Dcloud or PIX4Dmatic license or trial. Captured data can be uploaded to PIX4Dcloud or exported to PIX4Dmapper or PIX4Dmatic, and the product page describes overlays for DXF, IFC, and SHP designs. Phone GNSS location is expected to be accurate to a few meters; a supported RTK device can provide absolute accuracy in the range of a few centimeters, with compatible equipment and an active regional NTRIP subscription. After login, capture can work offline, but cloud uploads need internet access. PIX4Dcloud can process up to 4,000 images per project. The Discovery license is free; PIX4Dcatch Pro is $132.50 a month, billed yearly, excluding taxes.