KIRI Engine

KIRI Engine is an AI-powered 3D scanning and reconstruction platform developed by KIRI Innovations. It enables users to capture real-world objects, rooms, and environments and convert them into detailed digital 3D models using a smartphone, tablet, or computer. The platform is designed for 3D artists, designers, developers, educators, researchers, and other creators who need to turn physical subjects into digital assets for visualization, modelling, product development, and 3D printing.

The software is available on iOS, Android, and the web. Its scanning technology combines photogrammetry, LiDAR-based capture, Neural Surface Reconstruction, and 3D Gaussian Splatting. These methods allow users to create 3D representations from photographs, device depth sensors, and captured visual information. The available scanning options depend on the device, selected mode, and subscription level.

One of the platform’s main features is Photo Scan, which uses photogrammetry to reconstruct objects from a collection of photographs. Users take multiple pictures of a subject from different angles, upload them, and allow the processing system to generate a three-dimensional model. This method is useful for objects with visible surface details and sufficient texture. It can be applied to product references, sculptures, collectibles, furniture, decorative objects, and other physical subjects that users want to reproduce digitally.

KIRI Engine also provides LiDAR Scan for supported devices. This feature uses depth-sensing hardware to capture objects, rooms, and scenes. It is particularly useful for creating spatial references and capturing larger areas where a photograph-based workflow may be less convenient. LiDAR availability depends on the device’s hardware, so not every smartphone or tablet supports every scanning mode. Users should check device compatibility before planning a project around this feature.

For subjects that are difficult to capture through conventional photogrammetry, KIRI Engine offers Featureless Object Scan. This mode is designed for objects with smooth, reflective, transparent, or low-texture surfaces. Such materials can be challenging for ordinary photo-based reconstruction because they may not provide enough consistent visual detail for reliable image matching. The specialized scanning option is intended to improve reconstruction in these situations and is included in the Pro subscription.

Another advanced capability is 3D Gaussian Splatting, commonly abbreviated as 3DGS. It captures visual information from a scene and reconstructs it as a three-dimensional representation that can preserve a realistic sense of appearance and spatial detail. KIRI Engine also offers a mesh-inclusive 3DGS workflow, allowing users to obtain geometry alongside the Gaussian Splatting result. This makes the feature relevant to creators who need more than a visual scene representation and want additional options for working with 3D assets.

The platform includes tools for preparing and improving scanned models. Users can crop and texture scans within the application, adjust camera controls during capture, and export models for use in other creative applications. High-poly exports and dynamic decimation provide options for managing model detail and polygon complexity. These capabilities are useful when preparing assets for different purposes, since a detailed model for archiving or close-up visualization may need a different polygon count from an asset intended for a real-time application.

KIRI Engine Pro expands the platform with several production-oriented features. These include physically based rendering (PBR) material generation, quad-mesh retopology, automatic rig generation, and advanced scanning modes. PBR material generation creates maps such as albedo, roughness, normal, and displacement maps, which can help users prepare scanned assets for more realistic rendering. Quad-mesh tools provide another way to organize model geometry, while automatic rig generation helps prepare suitable models for animation workflows.

The platform also supports browser-based photogrammetry. Users can upload photographs from a computer rather than relying exclusively on a phone camera. This is useful for creators working with images taken using DSLR cameras, drones, or other photographic equipment. Web access also makes it possible to manage certain scanning tasks from a desktop environment, although access to advanced scanning modes and processing limits depends on the selected plan.

For developers, KIRI Innovations provides an API that makes selected scanning capabilities available for integration into software and digital workflows. The API currently supports Photo Scan, Featureless Object Scan, and 3D Gaussian Splatting Scan. It uses a credit-based payment structure, with each API action consuming one credit under the published testing-stage pricing. This gives developers a way to incorporate 3D reconstruction into their own applications without building the scanning technology entirely from scratch.

KIRI Engine supports several common 3D asset workflows through its export options. Models can be used in external design, animation, game development, visualization, and 3D printing software. The platform also promotes a 3D model embedder for websites and a 3D Gaussian Splatting plugin for Unreal Engine 5. These options make it possible to bring generated content into other environments, although file compatibility and direct software integrations should be understood as different things.

The platform uses a freemium pricing structure. Its Basic plan provides unlimited scans and free exports, making it possible to use standard scanning features without purchasing a subscription. The Pro plan unlocks advanced reconstruction and modelling tools, higher per-scan photo and file-size limits, and faster processing queues. Users who need automated scanning inside their own applications can also use the separately priced API service.

KIRI Engine is suitable for people who want to digitize physical objects or spaces without investing in a dedicated professional 3D scanner. It can support creative projects, educational demonstrations, product visualization, digital asset creation, research documentation, and 3D printing preparation. However, the quality of a scan depends on factors such as lighting, surface texture, camera movement, image coverage, device capabilities, and the selected reconstruction method. Transparent, reflective, or featureless materials may still require experimentation to obtain a satisfactory result.

Privacy and processing arrangements are also worth considering. KIRI Engine processes uploaded photographs and videos through its cloud-based reconstruction service. Users should review the platform’s privacy policy and understand how uploaded files are handled before scanning private, sensitive, or personally identifiable subjects.

KIRI Engine stands out by combining several 3D capture methods with model preparation tools, export options, and developer access in one platform. Its free Basic plan makes standard photogrammetry and supported LiDAR workflows accessible, while Pro provides more advanced capabilities for creators who need specialized reconstruction and production features. It is best suited to users who want a practical way to convert real-world subjects into reusable digital 3D assets.

Pricing

KIRI Engine offers a free Basic plan, paid Pro subscriptions, and a separate API credit system.

• Basic: Free. Includes Photo Scan, supported LiDAR scanning, in-app cropping and texturing tools, up to 150 photos per scan, a maximum scan size of 2 GB, unlimited scans, and unlimited free exports.
• Pro Monthly: $17.99 per month. Includes all Basic features plus Featureless Object Scan, mesh-inclusive 3D Gaussian Splatting, PBR material generation, quad-mesh tools, automatic rig generation, up to 500 photos per scan, a maximum scan size of 5 GB, and faster processing.
• Pro Yearly: $79.99 per year, equivalent to approximately $6.66 per month when billed annually. Includes the same Pro features.
• API Credits: $1 per credit, with a minimum recharge of 500 credits. Each API scanning action currently uses one credit. New users receive 10 free test credits.

Review

KIRI Engine is a capable 3D scanning platform that brings several reconstruction methods into a single mobile and web-based service. Its combination of photogrammetry, LiDAR scanning, Featureless Object Scan, and 3D Gaussian Splatting gives users different ways to capture physical subjects. This variety makes it useful for projects involving small objects, larger spaces, and scenes that require more specialized reconstruction techniques.

One of its strongest advantages is the Basic plan. Users can create unlimited scans and export their models without watermarks or recurring subscription payments. This makes the platform accessible to beginners and occasional creators who need standard photogrammetry or supported LiDAR features. The Pro plan adds meaningful capabilities for more advanced workflows, including PBR materials, quad-mesh retopology, automatic rig generation, and specialized scanning modes.

Its export options and API also make KIRI Engine relevant beyond mobile scanning. Generated models can be transferred into other 3D applications, while developers can use the API to incorporate scanning functions into their own services. The Unreal Engine 5 plugin and website model embedder provide additional ways to use captured content.

The main limitations involve hardware compatibility, scan quality, and the distinction between free and paid capabilities. LiDAR scanning requires a compatible device, while advanced reconstruction features are restricted to Pro. Photo and file-size limits also apply to individual scans, and the API has a separate minimum credit purchase. Results can vary depending on the subject’s surface, lighting, and quality of the captured photographs.

KIRI Engine is a strong option for users who want accessible 3D scanning with a useful free tier and advanced tools available through a subscription. It is particularly suitable for 3D creators, designers, educators, and developers who need to capture real-world subjects and prepare them for digital workflows. Users should compare its scanning methods with their device capabilities and project requirements before choosing a plan.