MetaScan vs WebODM

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.

WebODM turns aerial images into georeferenced maps, point clouds, digital elevation models, textured 3D models, and Gaussian splats. It accepts photos or videos from any drone, including JPG, TIFF, video files, and multispectral imagery, and can run on a user's computer while offline. Exports include GeoTIFF, PNG, LAS/LAZ, OBJ, and OGC 3D Tiles. Mapping tools cover measurements, plant-health indexes, ground-control points, elevation contours, rolling-shutter correction, and sharing links. WebODM uses ODX, a free, open-source photogrammetry engine that developers can run from the command line or integrate into software. It can also connect to processing nodes that speak the NodeODX API. The API uses token authentication through the /api/token-auth/ endpoint, with tokens expiring after six hours by default. Model-level and row-level permissions govern whether users can view, add, edit, or delete objects. WebODM is free to install and use locally; optional cloud plans are listed at $24 a month billed yearly for Starter, $35 a month billed yearly for Pro, and $99 a month billed yearly for Business. Minimum requirements are 8 GB RAM and 20 GB disk space; larger datasets have higher recommended requirements.