In short, for the simplest scan → puzzle experience, we recommend using a mobile scanning app. For more complex and detailed scans, we recommend using a PC photogrammetry software like Realitycapture.
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Beginner? Follow our Getting Started guide for a step-by-step introduction to scanning with Scaniverse.
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<aside> 💡 For iOS, we highly recommend using Scaniverse. It’s free, supports both LiDAR and photogrammetry, has a native cropping tool, and exporting to Sketchfab integration.
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<aside> 💡 For Android, we also recommend Scaniverse, an alternative could be Polycam. Although on iOS it supports LiDAR scanning for free, on Android, you can only use photogrammetry which is a premium feature. Alternatively, you can use RealityScan which is entirely free but lacks cropping functionality, so you’ll have to edit the model on a PC to make the puzzle look just as you want it.
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This chart is an overview of a few viable 3D scanning tools, their functionalities, pricing, and overall ranking in our recommendation listing.
| App | Platform | Lidar/PG | Free Tier | Premium Pricing | Exports | Box mesh / Cropping | Notes | Conclusion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scaniverse | iOS/ Andriod | Lidar/PG | Free! | N/A | • Sketchfab | |||
| • OBJ | ||||||||
| • FBX | ||||||||
| • GLB | ||||||||
| • more | • no box mesh for LIDAR or photogrammetry! | |||||||
| • crop and rotate features | • Native Sketchfab upload | • Best choice for iOs as it’s entirely free, has Lidar+PG, no box mesh, cropping, native OBJ/FBX exporter + sketchfab export | ||||||
| Polycam | iOS/Android | Lidar (iOS)/PG | • Free Lidar scanning | |||||
| • 125 images free for PG | 3 day trial | |||||||
| • 20$/month | ||||||||
| • 80$/year | • Sketchfab (free) |
◦ native: GLB
◦ USDZ
◦ GLTF
• OBJ/FBX (paid) | • no box mesh for LIDAR or photogrammetry! • includes cropping functionality | • Lidar/PG can be exported to sketchfab for free! | • Solid choice • Free sketchfab uploads • no box mesh to worry about, cropping functionality is great. • Currently best choice of Android | | RealityScan | iOS/Android | PG | • free • 1 year free Sketchfab Pro! | N/A | • Sketchfab ◦ native: FBX ◦ USDZ ◦ GLTF ◦ GLB | • reconstructs using box mesh • cropping functionality crops but creates new box triangles! BAD! | • capture UX is great but processing UX is a bit confusing/slow • creates 8k texture (color and normals) | • Free is a big plus, • sketchfab integration is great • lack of native box mesh cropping is a big negative. • Currently the best “free” choice for Android | | MetaScan | iOS | Lidar/PG | • USDZ exports • 5 free PG scans | 1 week trial • 7$/month • 50$/year | • USDZ (free) • OBJ • FBX • GLTF | • no box mesh for LIDAR or photogrammetry! • includes cropping functionality | • USDZ is a hard format to work with on Windows. Not clear if it includes textures • lets you export pg photos for free • creates 4k texture | • Solid choice. • PG scan looks good, great that there’s no box reconstruction and good cropping tool. | | Luma AI | iOS (testflight) | AI | • currently all free | N/A | • OBJ • GLB ◦ USDZ | • no box mesh for 3d model • no user-defined cropping ability | • exported 3d model is cropped (using background segmentation) without any control from user • texture quality is quite good but that’s due to the amount of textures it uses • unclear how the pricing will change over time. | • mesh exports are cropped without user control • it’s in Beta (through Testflight) so unavailable to the general public currently. |