3DF Zephyr
3DF Zephyr is a professional photogrammetry software that allows you to automatically create 3D models from photos, offering powerful tools for editing, measuring, and exporting high-quality digital assets.
Polycam
Polycam is a powerful 3D scanning application that uses LiDAR and photogrammetry to help you create high-quality 3D models, floor plans, and digital twins using your mobile device or web browser.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | 3DF Zephyr | Polycam |
|---|---|---|
| Website | 3dflow.net | poly.cam |
| Pricing Model | One_time | Freemium |
| Starting Price | Free | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 14 days free trial | ✓ 7 days free trial |
| Free Plan | ✓ Has free plan | ✓ Has free plan |
| Product Demo | ✘ No product demo | ✘ No product demo |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2011 | 2020 |
| Headquarters | Verona, Italy | San Francisco, USA |
Overview
3DF Zephyr
3DF Zephyr is a comprehensive photogrammetry solution that transforms your 2D photos into detailed 3D models. You can process images from any camera or drone to generate high-density point clouds, textured meshes, and orthophotos. The software handles the entire pipeline from initial alignment to final mesh optimization, making it a versatile choice for diverse industries like archaeology, construction, and gaming.
You can perform precise measurements, extract contour lines, and generate cross-sections directly within the application. It scales to meet your project needs, offering a free version for small hobbyist projects and robust professional editions for large-scale aerial mapping or industrial inspections. Whether you are a surveyor needing accurate GIS data or a digital artist creating assets, you get a complete toolkit for reality capture.
Polycam
Polycam is a versatile 3D scanning tool that turns your smartphone or tablet into a professional-grade modeling suite. By using LiDAR and photogrammetry technology, you can capture physical objects and spaces to create accurate 3D reconstructions. Whether you are an architect measuring a room or a game developer sourcing assets, you can generate high-resolution textures and precise geometry in minutes.
You can easily share your captures via web links or export them into over a dozen professional file formats like OBJ, GLTF, and DXF. The platform also features a collaborative social feed where you can explore thousands of free 3D assets created by the community. It simplifies the transition from the physical world to digital environments, making 3D capture accessible to everyone from hobbyists to enterprise teams.
Overview
3DF Zephyr Features
- Automatic Reconstruction Convert your photos into 3D models automatically with a wizard-driven interface that guides you through the entire process.
- Point Cloud Editing Clean and filter your dense point clouds using advanced selection tools to remove noise and unwanted background objects.
- Textured Mesh Generation Create high-resolution textures for your models to achieve realistic visual results suitable for presentations or digital games.
- Measurement Tools Calculate distances, areas, and volumes directly on your 3D models with professional-grade accuracy for engineering and surveying.
- Orthophoto Creation Generate high-resolution, georeferenced orthomosaics and digital elevation models for your mapping and GIS projects.
- CAD Integration Draw points, lines, and polylines over your 3D data and export them to your favorite CAD software for further design.
Polycam Features
- LiDAR Scanning. Capture large spaces and entire rooms in real-time with incredible speed using your device's LiDAR sensor.
- Photo Mode. Transform a series of photos into high-quality 3D models with detailed textures using advanced photogrammetry processing.
- RoomPlan Mapping. Generate accurate floor plans and architectural 3D models of interior spaces automatically as you walk through them.
- Professional Exports. Download your models in formats like .obj, .fbx, .stl, and .dae to use in Blender, Revit, or Unity.
- Web Editing. Upload photos from any camera to the web version for cloud processing and manage your library from your desktop.
- Measurement Tools. Take precise linear measurements and calculate area or volume directly within your 3D captures for project planning.
- AI Texture Generation. Enhance your models with AI-driven tools that help you refine surfaces and create realistic materials for your assets.
- Team Collaboration. Share private links with clients or teammates so they can view and interact with your 3D scans in any browser.
Pricing Comparison
3DF Zephyr Pricing
- Process up to 50 photos
- Single GPU support
- Basic export formats
- Automatic reconstruction
- Non-commercial use only
- Everything in Free, plus:
- Process up to 500 photos
- Commercial use allowed
- Advanced editing tools
- 12 months of updates
- Native laser scan support
Polycam Pricing
- Unlimited LiDAR captures
- Limited Photo Mode captures
- Basic sharing links
- Access to Explore feed
- Web viewer access
- Everything in Free, plus:
- Unlimited Photo Mode processing
- All professional export formats
- Blueprint and floor plan exports
- Private captures and sharing
- Priority cloud processing
Pros & Cons
3DF Zephyr
Pros
- Intuitive wizard-based interface simplifies complex processing
- Excellent processing speed with multi-GPU support
- High accuracy for professional surveying and measurements
- Generous free version for learning and small projects
Cons
- Windows-only deployment limits Mac and Linux users
- Steep hardware requirements for large-scale processing
- Lite version has a strict 500-photo limit
Polycam
Pros
- Extremely fast processing times for LiDAR scans
- Intuitive mobile interface makes scanning very easy
- High-quality texture resolution for photogrammetry captures
- Seamless export process to major 3D software
- Active community provides endless free 3D assets
Cons
- Requires latest hardware for best LiDAR results
- Subscription is required for most export formats
- Large scans can consume significant device storage