Polycam

Polycam is AI reality capture software for professionals who need to document, measure, and design. It uses AI-assisted photogrammetry and LiDAR to capture spaces, construction sites, facilities, products, and materials in 3D, and can create shareable 3D models of objects. Users can produce 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, but Space Mode scanning is limited to compatible iOS devices. Listed exports include GLTF, OBJ, FBX, DAE, STL, USDZ, point cloud formats, and DXF, with workflows named for Blender, Unity, SketchUp, and Xactimate. The free plan has limited space, object, and AI captures, plus GLTF exports and public link sharing. Basic is $12.50/mo when billed yearly, or $30/month when billed monthly. Seven-day trials are offered with annual Basic and Business plans, not monthly plans or Enterprise. Business and Enterprise add team and business capabilities.

Polycam combines 3D capture, object models, floor plans, and drone mapping, with many listed export formats. The free plan has capture limits, and Space Mode scanning is restricted to compatible iOS devices.

Polycam suits professionals in architecture, engineering and construction, forensics, product design and manufacturing, or media and entertainment. It may also suit users who need 3D capture, floor plans, or drone mapping, provided Space Mode scanning is not needed on unsupported devices.

Polycam turns mobile and drone capture into 3D models, floor plans, and measurements. It is best for architecture, construction, design, and other teams that need capture to feed into documentation or production workflows. Its range is a real advantage, but the free tier is limited and Space Mode scanning requires compatible iOS hardware.

Overview

Polycam combines AI-assisted photogrammetry and LiDAR with tools for capturing spaces and objects, processing drone footage, and producing floor plans. That makes it more useful to professionals who need a capture workflow across several kinds of work than to someone seeking only a single-purpose 3D scanner. It runs on iOS, Android, and the web, though not every capture mode is available on every platform.

Key features

Spatial capture covers site surveys, construction sites, facilities, products, and materials. Users can also create shareable 3D object models and turn drone footage into expansive 3D models. For building documentation, customizable 2D floor plans are available; paid plans add instant 3D and editable 2D plans. This breadth suits teams moving between field capture and design, but Space Mode scanning is reserved for compatible iOS devices.

Export options include GLTF, OBJ, FBX, DAE, STL, USDZ, point cloud formats, and DXF. Blender, Unity, SketchUp, and Xactimate are among the named destinations or workflows. The broad formats make Polycam a stronger fit when captured data must move into other tools; Free, by contrast, limits exports to GLTF. Business adds point cloud exports, while Enterprise includes a Content Management API.

Polycam says captures are encrypted using industry-standard methods and are not shared unless users publish or share them. Its Trust Center lists GDPR and SOC 2 Type 1 and Type 2 and offers access requests for security documents. That is relevant for teams handling sensitive projects, although Enterprise is the plan that adds enhanced data privacy.

Pricing

The Free plan costs nothing and includes limited space, object, and AI captures, GLTF exports, and public link sharing. It is a reasonable way to explore the workflow, but a 150-image capture limit and public-only sharing make it restrictive for private or substantial project work.

Basic costs $150 a year ($12.50 / month) when billed yearly, or $30/month when billed monthly. It adds unlimited object, Gaussian splat, space, and AI-generated captures, a 300-image limit per capture, and private link sharing. Basic suits individuals who need more capture volume and private sharing; the cheaper Free plan gives up both, as well as broader export formats.

Business costs $400 a year ($33 / month per user) when billed yearly. It raises the capture limit to 2,000 images and adds 2D and 3D floor plans, advanced measurement tools, a shared team library, point cloud exports, virtual walkthroughs, and AI-generated reports. Those team-oriented tools make it the better fit for shared project work; Basic is cheaper but lacks these listed capabilities.

Enterprise costs $1,200 a year, with a three-user minimum. It adds a Content Management API, admin-controlled feature customization, enhanced data privacy, custom branding, and role-based folders. SSO, regional cloud storage, and custom billing are paid add-ons. It is aimed at organizations that need administrative controls or API access rather than small teams looking for a low-cost upgrade.

Seven-day trials apply to annual Basic and Business plans; monthly subscriptions and Enterprise have no trial. The annual prices are billed yearly, so the monthly equivalents are not monthly billing options.

Platforms

Polycam is available on iOS, Android, and web browsers. Space Mode scanning requires a compatible iOS device, so Android and web users should not assume access to that mode. Deployment is cloud-based.

Who it's for

Polycam lists architecture, engineering and construction, forensics and investigation, product design and manufacturing, and media and entertainment as business use cases. It is most compelling for professionals who need spatial or object capture alongside exports, floor plans, or measurement tools. A solo user can start on Free or Basic; teams needing shared libraries, reporting, and advanced plans will get more from Business. Enterprise is the better match when API access, custom controls, or enhanced privacy matter.

Pros and cons

• Pros: It spans space, object, and drone capture, so one product can support varied documentation and modeling work.
• Pros: Broad export formats and named workflows such as Blender, Unity, SketchUp, and Xactimate help captured work continue into other tools.
• Pros: Business adds team sharing, floor plans, measurement, point clouds, walkthroughs, and reports in one plan.
• Cons: Free limits captures, caps images at 150, and allows only GLTF exports and public links, which can block private or complex projects.
• Cons: Space Mode scanning is limited to compatible iOS devices, narrowing the platform choice for that workflow.
• Cons: Enterprise requires at least three users, and several organization-level options cost extra.

Alternatives

Choose KIRI Engine if its free plan's allowance of up to 150 photos, 2 GB per scan, unlimited scans, and free exports is a better fit. Consider RealityScan if you need its stated platform coverage across Android, iOS, Linux, and Windows. 3Dsurvey is another option for readers considering a yearly subscription license. For other approaches, browse Photogrammetry Software, AI 3D Scanning Software, 3D Scanning Software, and AI 3D Model Generators.

Scaniverse, DroneDeploy Aerial, MetaScan, OpenMVG, and PhotoCatch are also alternatives.

Verdict

Polycam is a strong choice for professionals who need flexible capture across spaces, objects, and drone footage, then want to move the results into measurement, floor-plan, or design workflows. Its broad capture and export mix is the main reason to choose it. Look elsewhere if you need unrestricted free use, a platform-independent Space Mode, or organization controls without Enterprise pricing and add-ons.