Polycam Mobile 3D Scanning & Gaussian Splatting App for iOS, Android & Web
Polycam is the leading mobile 3D scanning app that captures Gaussian Splats and photogrammetry models using smartphone LiDAR and photos, with cloud processing and 15+ export formats.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Polycam Inc.
- Category
- Gaussian Splatting & Neural Rendering
- Pricing
- Subscription
- Starting Price
- $0
- Best For
- Room-scale 3D captures and walkthroughs
We use Polycam for professional projects. See our workflow →
What is Polycam?
Polycam has established itself as the most popular mobile 3D scanning application, available on iOS, Android, and web platforms. The app leverages smartphone LiDAR sensors (iPhone 12 Pro+ and iPad Pro 2020+) and photogrammetry from standard cameras to create 3D models, room scans, floor plans, and Gaussian Splat reconstructions.
For Gaussian Splatting specifically, Polycam processes captured photos or LiDAR data through its cloud pipeline to generate high-fidelity splat files. The resulting Gaussian Splats can be exported in PLY format (the standard for GS data) and viewed in compatible renderers like SuperSplat, Cesium, and game engines. Polycam also supports USDZ export for Apple AR Quick Look, making it a bridge between casual capture and professional 3D workflows.
Polycam's pricing tiers range from a free plan (limited to GLTF export) to Pro plans at $12.99-$26.99/month or $79.99-$199.99/year that unlock all 15+ export formats including PLY, OBJ, FBX, DAE, STL, LAS, and point cloud formats. The Business tier (400+/year) adds measurement tools and team features.
At THE FUTURE 3D, we recommend Polycam to clients for room-scale preliminary captures and quick visualization needs. For building-scale professional Gaussian Splatting requiring survey-grade accuracy, our drone-based DJI Terra Flagship workflow delivers the precision and scale that mobile apps cannot match.
Polycam Key Features
Comprehensive capabilities that make Polycam a professional choice for gaussian splatting & neural rendering.
LiDAR 3D Scanning
Uses iPhone/iPad LiDAR sensors for real-time 3D mesh and point cloud capture with instant preview.
Photo-to-3D (Photogrammetry)
Generates 3D models from standard photos on any smartphone — no LiDAR required. Cloud-processed photogrammetry pipeline.
Gaussian Splatting Capture
Processes captured photos into Gaussian Splat reconstructions via cloud pipeline. Exports PLY splat files for use in SuperSplat, Cesium, and game engines.
Floor Plan Generation
Automatically generates 2D floor plans from LiDAR room scans with dimensions and area calculations.
Multi-Format Export
Exports to 15+ formats: PLY, OBJ, FBX, USDZ, GLTF, DAE, STL, LAS, Geo-LAS, PTS, XYZ, DXF, and more.
Web Viewer & Sharing
Embeddable 3D viewer for sharing scans via link. Social sharing with Polycam gallery integration.
Polycam Pricing & Plans
Polycam offers flexible subscription plans to match your needs.
Free
- Basic 3D scanning
- GLTF export only
- Limited scans per month
- Watermarked exports
Pro
- Unlimited scans
- 15+ export formats (PLY, OBJ, FBX, USDZ)
- Gaussian Splatting export
- No watermarks
- Web viewer access
Business
- Team management
- Measurement tools
- Priority support
- All Pro features
- API access
Don't Want to Buy Software?
At THE FUTURE 3D, we own Polycam licenses and use it for client projects. You get professional gaussian splatting & neural rendering deliverables without purchasing software yourself. Get a free project quote →
Polycam Pros & Cons
Advantages
- Available on iOS, Android, and web — largest platform reach of any GS capture app
- LiDAR + photogrammetry + Gaussian Splatting in one app
- 15+ export formats including PLY, OBJ, FBX, USDZ
- Free tier available for basic scanning
- Floor plan generation from LiDAR scans
- Instant capture with real-time preview
Limitations
- Cloud-dependent processing — requires internet for full reconstructions
- LiDAR scanning limited to Apple devices with LiDAR sensor
- GS quality limited by smartphone camera/sensor capabilities
- Free tier restricts export to GLTF only
- Not suitable for building-scale or survey-grade accuracy requirements
Who Should Use Polycam?
Polycam is Best For
- Room-scale 3D captures and walkthroughs
- Quick preliminary site documentation
- Real estate interior scanning
- Object and small-space Gaussian Splatting
- Floor plan generation from LiDAR scans
- Casual 3D content creation and social sharing
Consider Alternatives If
- Building-scale or campus-scale projects
- Survey-grade accuracy requirements (±1mm–1cm)
- Large outdoor environments
- Professional deliverables requiring registered point clouds
Technical Specifications
System Requirements
- Operating System
- iOS 16+ (LiDAR: iPhone 12 Pro+, iPad Pro 2020+), Android 8.0+, Web (Chrome, Safari, Firefox)
- RAM
- Device-dependent (4GB+ recommended)
- Storage
- 500MB app + scan storage
- GPU
- Device-dependent (A14+ chip for LiDAR on iOS)
Supported File Formats
Integrations & Compatible Platforms
Polycam Alternatives
Depending on your specific needs, these alternatives may also be worth considering.
How We Use Polycam
Our professional workflow leveraging Polycam for client projects.
Recommend to clients for room-scale preliminary captures
Quick interior documentation when full scanning crew not needed
Export PLY for integration into project deliverables
Client self-capture for initial scope assessment
Deliverables We Produce with Polycam
Related Services Using Polycam
Compatible Equipment
Polycam works with data from these scanners and drones that we use.
Polycam Services Near You
We provide professional gaussian splatting & neural rendering services using Polycam across 195+ locations in the United States and worldwide. 1-hour response time.
South Florida (HQ)
Florida
Northeast
West Coast
Midwest
Polycam FAQ
Is Polycam free?
Polycam offers a free tier with basic scanning and GLTF export. Pro plans ($12.99-$26.99/month or $79.99-$199.99/year) unlock all 15+ export formats, Gaussian Splatting, unlimited scans, and watermark-free exports.
Does Polycam support Gaussian Splatting?
Yes. Polycam processes captured photos into Gaussian Splat reconstructions via its cloud pipeline and exports them as PLY files compatible with SuperSplat, Cesium, game engines, and renderers like OctaneRender.
Do I need LiDAR for Polycam?
No. Polycam supports photogrammetry from standard photos on any smartphone. However, LiDAR scanning (iPhone 12 Pro+ or iPad Pro 2020+) provides faster, more accurate captures for room-scale models and floor plans.
Polycam vs Luma AI for Gaussian Splatting?
Polycam offers more export formats (15+) and LiDAR scanning capability. Luma AI is free and generally produces higher visual quality Gaussian Splats for social sharing. Polycam is better for professional workflows; Luma AI is better for quick, high-quality GS visualization.
What export formats does Polycam support?
Pro plans export to PLY, OBJ, FBX, USDZ, GLTF, DAE, STL, LAS, Geo-LAS, PTS, XYZ, DXF, and more — over 15 formats total. Free tier is limited to GLTF only.
Can Polycam scan buildings?
Polycam handles room-scale captures well but is not designed for full building or campus-scale scanning. For building-scale Gaussian Splatting, professional drone-based services using DJI Terra Flagship provide the accuracy and coverage that mobile apps cannot achieve.
Does Polycam work on Android?
Yes. Polycam is available on Android for photogrammetry-based scanning. LiDAR scanning is currently limited to Apple devices with LiDAR sensors (iPhone 12 Pro and newer, iPad Pro 2020 and newer).
How accurate is Polycam?
Polycam LiDAR scans achieve approximately 1-5cm accuracy depending on conditions and device. This is suitable for visualization and preliminary documentation but not for survey-grade work requiring sub-centimeter accuracy.
Related Software
Need Professional Gaussian Splatting & Neural Rendering Services?
We use Polycam for client projects across Southeast Florida. Get a free quote for your project—no software purchase required.