Appofficial publisher

Polycam

App : A product you use directly

Mobile 3D scanning (LiDAR, photogrammetry, splats).

The most complete mobile scanning app.

Official site

Overall score

7.7 /10

Security: one caveat, see the card

Utility

8.0

Reliability

6.0

Security

One caveat

Ease

1 click · Beginner

Security reflects where data goes, requested permissions and incidents on record at the verification date. It is not a guarantee of zero risk: check the deployment mode and the connections you enable.

What it does, concretely

Documenting a space, an object or a construction site in three dimensions usually requires expensive equipment and complex software. Polycam makes it possible to perform these captures from a simple smartphone, in just a few minutes, without any specific technical training.

The application uses the LiDAR sensor of compatible devices or AI-assisted photogrammetry to reconstruct 3D models from photos or videos. It also generates 2D floor plans, surface measurements and digital twins directly on site. Drone footage can also be processed to produce large-scale aerial models.

Polycam is aimed at professionals in architecture, engineering, construction, forensics, product design and media. Half of Fortune 500 companies are listed among its declared users, indicating a focus on teams and large-scale projects.

For an individual who simply wants to scan an object occasionally, the free version is sufficient, but collaborative features, advanced exports and floor plans remain reserved for paid subscriptions.

What it offers

·3D scanning of interior spaces and objects via LiDAR or AI-assisted photogrammetry.
·Generation of customizable 2D floor plans directly from the capture, on site. (paid)
·Processing of drone footage to create large-scale aerial 3D models. (paid)
·Automatic calculation of measurements, surface areas and site metrics.
·Team sharing and collaboration on captures and models. (paid)
·Creation of Gaussian Splats for immersive visual rendering.
·Compatibility with AutoCAD, Maya, FBX, GLTF, Unity, Blender and Unreal Engine formats. (paid)
·Model visualization on Apple Vision Pro.

Our tips

Use an iPhone with a LiDAR sensor (iPhone 12 Pro and later) to get more accurate and faster interior scans than with photogrammetry alone.
When scanning an object, move slowly around it while maintaining a consistent distance so the AI has enough angles to reconstruct the geometry.
Generate the 2D floor plan directly on site before leaving: this avoids an unnecessary return visit if areas were missed during capture.
Use the community model library to test export formats (GLTF, FBX, etc.) before starting your own professional captures.
For aerial projects, process drone footage inside Polycam rather than in third-party software to keep a unified workflow and preserve measurement metadata.

Watch out

Photos and scans are processed on Polycam's servers, which may raise confidentiality concerns for sensitive sites or construction projects.
The most useful features in a professional context (2D floor plans, collaboration, advanced exports) require a paid subscription starting at 30 dollars per month.

In practice

Price: Freemium · from 30 €
Commercial use: Commercial use: yes
Available on: ios, android, web
FR interface: Yes

Security and data

Rating: Security: one caveat, see the card
Your data: Data with the vendor
Maintenance: Active

Links and repository checked on 25 October 2026 · added on 1 January 2020

How to install Polycam

1. Download Polycam from the App Store (iOS) or the Google Play Store (Android). 2. Create a free account with your email address. 3. Grant the requested permissions: camera, microphone and, if available, LiDAR sensor. 4. Choose a capture mode: Space, Object, Floor Plan or Drone depending on your needs. 5. Start the capture by following the on-screen instructions, then let the processing happen on the server side. 6. Caution: avoid scanning locations containing confidential information, as data is sent to Polycam's servers.

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