Polycam AI

Polycam AI, commonly known as Polycam, is an AI-powered 3D scanning and reality-capture platform that transforms physical objects, buildings, rooms, and outdoor environments into digital 3D models. Developed by Polycam Inc., the platform combines mobile scanning, photogrammetry, LiDAR, spatial AI, and cloud-based processing to help individuals and professional teams document, measure, design, and share real-world spaces.

Polycam is available through mobile applications and a web platform. It supports iPhone, iPad, compatible Android devices, Apple Vision Pro, and desktop browsers. Its cross-platform approach allows users to capture objects and environments using supported devices and then access, manage, edit, or share their projects through the web interface. Some capture capabilities, particularly LiDAR-based Space Mode, depend on compatible Apple hardware.

One of Polycam’s main capabilities is 3D object scanning. Users can photograph or record an object from different angles, allowing the platform to reconstruct its shape, surface details, and appearance as a digital model. This process is useful for capturing furniture, products, collectibles, equipment, sculptures, and other physical objects. Photogrammetry uses multiple photographs to build a 3D representation, while supported LiDAR devices can capture spatial information directly. The resulting models can be used for digital presentations, product documentation, 3D printing workflows, visual effects, and other design projects.

The platform also provides tools for capturing larger environments. Its Space Mode is designed to document rooms, interiors, buildings, and other physical spaces. Users can create spatial captures that provide a digital reference of an environment, helping them review layouts, inspect conditions, record dimensions, and communicate project details. Depending on the device and capture method, Polycam can use LiDAR or image-based processing to produce these representations.

Polycam’s aerial capture capabilities extend its use beyond indoor scanning. Users can process drone photographs and footage into expansive 3D models of buildings, properties, landscapes, and construction sites. This can support site documentation, inspection, surveying, progress tracking, and visual analysis. Aerial capture is particularly relevant to professionals who need to preserve a visual record of a location or examine an environment from different perspectives.

Another important feature is Gaussian splat generation. Gaussian splatting creates realistic 3D scene representations from photographs or video by using collections of visual data to reconstruct how a location looks from different viewing positions. This approach is useful for immersive presentations, digital environments, visual effects, and scene documentation. Polycam provides tools for creating, viewing, sharing, and exporting these captures, depending on the selected plan and capture workflow.

The platform also includes AI-assisted features that help users improve and work with their captures. These include AI-generated textures, automatic fixture and furniture detection, remeshing optimization, background editing, and AI-generated reports on eligible plans. Its image-based capture tools can help reconstruct objects and spaces, while editing features allow users to crop, rescale, extend, and refine their digital assets. The availability of individual editing and AI features depends on the subscription tier.

For architecture, engineering, and construction professionals, Polycam offers floor-plan generation, measurement tools, and virtual walkthroughs. Users can document rooms, calculate areas, review dimensions, and create 2D and 3D floor plans. Business and Enterprise plans provide additional capabilities for editable floor plans, advanced measurements, point-cloud exports, shared team libraries, and AI-generated reports. These tools can help teams document existing conditions, communicate spatial information, and coordinate work between field personnel and office-based professionals.

Polycam is also useful for product design and manufacturing. Designers can scan physical prototypes and share digital versions with colleagues for review. This can make it easier to discuss product details, compare design iterations, and maintain visual documentation of physical objects. Its capture and sharing tools can also support maintenance records, equipment documentation, and remote collaboration.

The platform provides several ways to share and export captured content. Users can create shareable links, control access to private captures on eligible plans, and embed 3D content into supported workflows. Export formats include GLTF, OBJ, FBX, DAE, STL, USDZ, and other formats depending on the subscription and capture type. Point-cloud exports are also available on eligible plans, with formats such as PLY, LAS, Geo-LAS, PTS, XYZ, and DXF. These options allow users to move their captured data into other 3D, CAD, visualization, and engineering applications.

Polycam also offers a Content Management API for organizations that need to connect captured data to their own software. Available on the Enterprise plan, the API allows developers to retrieve capture information, access metadata, and export supported files through REST-based requests. Organizations can use it to connect Polycam data with internal systems, project management platforms, content management systems, and other applications that support custom API integrations. This can reduce manual file transfers and help teams maintain a consistent record of captured assets.

Collaboration is another important part of the platform. Business and Enterprise plans provide shared team libraries, centralized billing, organization-wide access, comments, and other tools for managing projects across multiple users. Enterprise adds administrative controls, custom branding, enhanced privacy options, and role-based folder management. These capabilities make Polycam suitable for organizations that need to manage large collections of scans across teams, locations, or departments.

Polycam serves several professional sectors, including architecture, engineering and construction, real estate, manufacturing, media and entertainment, forensics, and investigation. Its ability to turn physical environments into measurable digital records makes it useful for documenting properties, recording construction progress, scanning production equipment, capturing film locations, and preserving scene information. Individual creators can also use it for 3D art, visual effects, home documentation, and 3D printing projects.

The platform operates through a combination of free access and paid subscriptions. Its Free plan provides limited captures, GLTF exports, and public link sharing. Basic is intended for individual creators and freelancers who need more capture capacity and export options. Business adds professional measurement, floor-plan, reporting, and collaboration tools, while Enterprise provides API access, advanced administration, enhanced security, and organizational support.

Polycam’s main value is its ability to connect real-world capture with practical digital workflows. It brings scanning, measurement, editing, sharing, and exporting together rather than focusing only on producing a 3D image. Users should nevertheless consider device compatibility, capture conditions, image quality, and the limitations of automated measurements when choosing it for professional work. Complex environments may require additional scanning, corrections, or specialist review before the resulting data is used for technical decisions.

Pricing

Polycam offers four main plans:

• Free: $0. Includes limited space, object, and AI captures, GLTF exports, and public link sharing.
• Basic: $30 per month, or $150 per year. Includes unlimited object captures, Gaussian splats, space captures, AI-generated captures, six mesh export formats, and private link sharing.
• Business: $400 per user per year (approximately $33 per month). Includes Basic features, 2D and 3D floor plans, advanced measurement tools, shared team libraries, point-cloud exports, virtual walkthroughs, and AI-generated reports.
• Enterprise: $1,200 per user per year, with a three-user minimum, subject to the published plan terms and sales arrangements. Includes Business features, Content Management API access, custom branding, enhanced data privacy, administrative controls, and role-based folder management.

Review

Polycam is a versatile 3D scanning and reality-capture platform that combines object scanning, spatial documentation, photogrammetry, Gaussian splatting, and AI-assisted editing. Its ability to capture both individual objects and larger environments makes it useful for a wide range of creative and professional projects.

One of its strongest advantages is its variety of capture methods. Users can work with photographs, video, LiDAR, and drone imagery, depending on their devices and the selected workflow. The platform also provides practical tools beyond scanning, including measurements, floor plans, virtual walkthroughs, sharing, and multiple export formats. This makes it particularly valuable for architecture, construction, product design, manufacturing, and 3D content creation.

Its subscription structure provides options for different users. The Free plan offers a starting point for basic scanning, while Basic provides more flexibility for individual creators. Business adds professional documentation and collaboration tools, and Enterprise provides API access and administrative capabilities for larger organizations.

However, users should consider the cost of the higher subscription tiers, particularly when multiple team members need access. Some features depend on compatible hardware, and Space Mode scanning is limited to supported iOS devices. The quality of a scan can also vary with lighting, movement, image coverage, device capabilities, and the complexity of the environment. Automated measurements and generated floor plans should be checked before being used for important technical or construction decisions.