Image & Design
Polycam
Compare Polycam capture modes, Free and Basic plans, LiDAR device requirements, export formats and practical limits before scanning a project.
Research summary
Polycam turns captured photographs or supported depth scans into digital representations of objects and spaces. It is relevant when you need a record of an existing subject. A concept generator such as Archsynth starts from a different goal: imagining a design rather than capturing what is there.
What Polycam is useful for
Polycam turns captured photographs or supported depth scans into digital representations of objects and spaces. It is relevant when you need a record of an existing subject. A concept generator such as Archsynth starts from a different goal: imagining a design rather than capturing what is there.
Our recommendation is to decide on the final deliverable first. A shareable model, a mesh for a game and a measured building record have different requirements. A good-looking preview does not prove a scan is accurate enough for a professional measurement task.
Current plans and the old Pro name
The official pricing page lists Free, Basic, Business and Enterprise. It says the old Pro plan is no longer sold, while existing subscribers may retain Legacy Pro. Free includes limited captures and GLTF export. Basic is listed at USD 150 per year or USD 30 monthly; Business includes additional floor-plan, measurement and team features. Prices and entitlements need checking for your region and billing term.
There is a useful documentation conflict: the photogrammetry tool page advertises free uploads of up to 250 photos, while the pricing table shows 150 images per free capture. Check the allowance shown in your account before preparing a large capture. We would not promise either limit applies universally.
Capture and export considerations
The pricing documentation distinguishes iOS, Android and web access and notes device restrictions for Space Mode. Do not assume an Android phone has the same depth hardware or capture modes as a compatible LiDAR-equipped iPhone or iPad.
Before subscribing, confirm both the file format and the capture mode that supports it. For a production workflow, make a small trial capture and import the output into the exact application you use. Check scale, orientation, textures and whether the mesh needs cleanup. Keep the original photographs so you can repeat processing if necessary.
What makes a useful first scan?
Choose a stationary subject with visible texture. Walk around it with overlapping views and consistent lighting. Reflective, transparent or moving subjects make a poor first comparison because they introduce several variables at once. Review holes and thin edges rather than judging only the most attractive camera angle.
For a room or building, compare a few dimensions against independently recorded measurements before relying on the result. This is a proposed acceptance check, not an accuracy result from our own scan.
Verdict
Polycam is worth considering for capture-to-model workflows, provided its device support and exports match the job. Start with a small representative capture. Upgrade for a specific blocked deliverable, rather than assuming a higher tier automatically improves the underlying scan quality.