Polycam vs MetaScan

Polycam9.3Visit MetaScan8.5Visit

Higher score Polycam #1 in AI 3D Scanning Software 9.3/10 Free plan · 7-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 1 of 4 features Visit Polycam

vs

MetaScan #5 in AI 3D Scanning Software 8.5/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 4 features Visit MetaScan

• Polycam fits best

  Broad mobile, cloud, and survey scanning

• MetaScan fits best

  Simple phone scans with quick previews

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Side by side

Feature	Polycam 9.3/10 Visit ↗	MetaScan 8.5/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.3	8.5
Ranking	#1 in AI 3D Scanning Software	#5 in AI 3D Scanning Software
Best for	Broad mobile, cloud, and survey scanning	Simple phone scans with quick previews
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Free plan + paid
Starting price	$150/yr	$9.99/mo
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	7 days	—
Deployment	Cloud, Mobile	Cloud, Mobile
Platforms	Web, iOS, Android	Web, iOS, Android
Support	Email, Docs	Email
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business
Features Polycam 1/4 · MetaScan 0/4
Textured mesh output	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Measurement tools	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Web app	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
API access	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Specs
Capture input	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Mobile platforms	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Export formats	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Photogrammetry, drone mapping, orthomosaics, and georeferenced exports Web, iOS, Android, API access, and webhook support Free plan plus mesh, point-cloud, floor-plan, and report workflows	Guided capture works across iOS and Android without LiDAR Instant previews plus cloud-based HD reconstruction Exports GLB, USDZ, and OBJ with Blender, Unreal, and Unity support
Cons	Free plan limits captures, storage, exports, and AI usage Cloud processing may not suit offline or local-only workflows Ground-control-point workflows use CloudCompare rather than an in-app editor	Free plan limits the library to 5 scans HD reconstructions and auto-rigs are capped by plan Higher-resolution exports require a paid plan
Our verdict	Polycam is a cloud-based 3D capture platform for creators, contractors, designers, and enterprise teams. Its mobile apps and web workspace process photos, videos, LiDAR captures, drone imagery, and aerial mapping inputs into 3D models and… Read the review →	MetaScan is a mobile photogrammetry application for turning photos of objects, people, faces, and products into textured 3D models. It is aimed at consumers, creators, product teams, 3D-printing users, and AR, game, and e-commerce… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Polycam — where it wins

  • Photogrammetry, drone mapping, orthomosaics, and georeferenced exports
  • Web, iOS, Android, API access, and webhook support
  • Free plan plus mesh, point-cloud, floor-plan, and report workflows

  Where it doesn't

  • Free plan limits captures, storage, exports, and AI usage
  • Cloud processing may not suit offline or local-only workflows
  • Ground-control-point workflows use CloudCompare rather than an in-app editor

• MetaScan — where it wins

  • Guided capture works across iOS and Android without LiDAR
  • Instant previews plus cloud-based HD reconstruction
  • Exports GLB, USDZ, and OBJ with Blender, Unreal, and Unity support

  Where it doesn't

  • Free plan limits the library to 5 scans
  • HD reconstructions and auto-rigs are capped by plan
  • Higher-resolution exports require a paid plan

• Polycam9.3/10 · Free plan · 7-day trial

  A broad cloud 3D scanning suite for mobile capture, mapping, exports, and team workflows.

  Visit PolycamFull verdict →
• MetaScan8.5/10 · Free plan

  A simple mobile scanner with quick previews, cloud reconstruction, and focused export limits.

  Visit MetaScanFull verdict →