Polycam
Turn iPhone photos into 3D models — photogrammetry, LiDAR, and Gaussian splats in one app.
About
Polycam is the most widely used phone-based 3D scanning app: walk around an object or space with your phone and get a detailed 3D model via photogrammetry, LiDAR capture on Pro iPhones, or photorealistic Gaussian splats. In January 2026 it shipped AI-powered Space Mode, bringing dimensionally accurate spatial capture to any iPhone 13 or newer without LiDAR — opening pro-grade scanning to an estimated 800 million people for free. The company reports 34 million+ captures and 2 billion+ square feet scanned, with users across more than half of the Fortune 500.
Captures export to common 3D formats for game engines, AR, and 3D printing, or share instantly through a built-in web viewer. The free tier exports glTF only (up to 150 images per model); Basic at $150/year or $30/month adds OBJ, FBX, DAE, STL, USDZ, and point-cloud formats. Honest caveats: phone capture suits visualization and room-scale work, not jewelry-scale precision; and printable formats require a paid plan.
What it can do
- Photogrammetry, LiDAR, and Gaussian splat capture
- AI-powered LiDAR-free Space Mode
- Exports: glTF, OBJ, FBX, STL, USDZ, point clouds
- Built-in web viewer for sharing
- Measurement tools and team workspaces
Setup
Install the iOS or Android app, or use the web viewer; scan free with a phone camera, no LiDAR required on iPhone 13+.
Prerequisites
A smartphone (iPhone 13+ for LiDAR-free space capture); a paid plan for non-glTF exports.
Use cases
Works with
Trust score — 8/10
Scored 8/10 (verified tier, metrics-v1). Evidence: Verified via vendor site/docs/GitHub and reputable coverage, wave 66; Trending score 82/100 from researcher assessment.
Sources
Every fact above was checked against these sources. Where a claim comes from the provider and couldn't be independently verified, the text says so.