Polycam vs Structure

Polycam is AI reality capture software for professionals who document, measure and design. It uses AI-assisted photogrammetry and LiDAR to capture spaces, construction sites, facilities, products and materials in 3D, and it can create shareable 3D object models. Users can generate customizable 2D floor plans; paid plans also list instant 3D and editable 2D floor plans. Drone footage can be processed into expansive 3D models. Polycam is available on Android, iOS and web browsers, though Space Mode scanning is limited to compatible iOS devices. Listed exports include GLTF, OBJ, FBX, DAE, STL, USDZ, point cloud formats and DXF; named workflows include Blender, Unity, SketchUp and Xactimate. Free access has limited space, object and AI captures, with GLTF exports and public link sharing. Basic costs $150 a year, equivalent to $12.50 per month when billed yearly. Seven-day trials are offered with annual Basic and Business plans, but not monthly plans or Enterprise. Business is listed at $400 a year and Enterprise at $1,200 a year.

Structure builds 3D scanning hardware and software for medical, clinical, and industrial applications. Its technology supports orthotic and prosthetic fitting, wound measurement, surgical planning, and patient monitoring. The Structure Sensor 3 attaches to compatible iPads and provides millimeter depth accuracy for body measurements. Developers can use the Structure SDK for raw depth frames, mesh extraction, foot measurement, and offline licensing; the SDK also supports apps in healthcare, industrial inspection, retail fit-tech, and augmented reality. Structure Capture exports STL, OBJ, and PLY CAD files directly from compatible iPhones and iPads, and includes a Scan Quality Indicator. The SDK detects foot landmarks such as metatarsals, heel point, and arch height. Capture works with specified TrueDepth-enabled iPhones and iPads running iOS 16 or iPadOS 16 or later, and Structure Sensor ST01, ST02, and ST03. A seven-day SDK trial costs nothing. Capture costs $19.99 a month or $199 a year; the Structure Sensor 3 costs $995, paid once. Commercial SDK distribution requires a contract and a quote.