Agisoft Metashape vs PIX4Dcatch

Agisoft Metashape processes digital images into 3D spatial data for GIS, cultural heritage documentation, visual effects, and indirect measurement. It works with aerial, close-range, and satellite imagery, including automatic camera calibration and multi-camera projects. Professional Edition can create and edit terrain and surface models, georeferenced orthomosaics, and EPSG-based outputs. Its surveying functions include aerial LiDAR point attributes, laser scan registration, ground control points, targets, and scale bars. It also handles RGB, NIR, thermal, multispectral, and satellite imagery, and can calculate user-defined indices such as NDVI. Professional Edition adds Python scripting, Java bindings, distributed calculations on a local network, and a cloud processing interface. Standard and Professional installers are available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. A 30-day full-function trial is available; demo mode blocks saving and exporting. Standard Edition costs $179, paid once, and Professional Edition costs $3,499, paid once. Regular licenses are not time-limited and include 12 months of email technical support and free updates through version 2.x.x.

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.