Polycam

Polycam transforms your phone into a 3D scanning powerhouse, bypassing the need for expensive hardware.

For years, capturing the physical world in three dimensions required specialized, costly equipment and complex software. Polycam dismantles that barrier by leveraging your smartphone’s existing camera and LiDAR sensor (on compatible devices) to generate high-fidelity, textured 3D models in minutes. Whether you are an architect documenting a renovation, a game developer creating assets, or a designer capturing an object for a portfolio, this tool replaces manual measurement and photogrammetry guesswork with a single, streamlined workflow.

Core Scanning Mechanics and Output

The application operates on two primary capture modes: LiDAR Scanning and Photo Mode. LiDAR mode, available on devices with the sensor, allows for real-time, room-scale capture. You walk around a space, and the app constructs a mesh and applies photographic texture simultaneously. This is ideal for interior spaces, furniture, and objects up to a few meters in size. The processing is on-device and near-instant, providing a raw model within seconds of completing a scan.

Photo Mode functions as a traditional photogrammetry tool. You take a series of overlapping photos (typically 20-100) around an object. The app then uploads these images to cloud servers for processing. The result is a significantly higher detail model, with superior texture resolution and geometric accuracy. This mode is suited for smaller, complex objects like sculptures, car parts, or archaeological artifacts. The processing time varies based on image count and server load, often completing within a few minutes.

Key Toolset and Output Formats

• LiDAR Scan: Real-time mesh generation with automatic texture mapping. Best for room-scale environments and large objects.
• Photo Mode: Cloud-based photogrammetry for high-detail, high-resolution model creation from standard photographs.
• Export and Integration: Direct export to industry-standard formats (OBJ, FBX, GLTF, USDZ) for use in CAD, game engines (Unity, Unreal), and AR/VR platforms.

Advantages Over Traditional Methods

The primary advantage is the significant reduction in time and cost. A room that would require a professional scanning service and days of processing can be captured in under ten minutes. The user interface is deliberately minimal, avoiding the steep learning curve associated with professional photogrammetry suites. Furthermore, the ability to share models via a web link or direct export to platforms like Sketchfab facilitates immediate collaboration with clients or team members.

Download Polycam now. Limited offer: first 10,000 users get free access to the full export suite for 30 days. Today only, exclusive access to the high-resolution cloud processing tier for early adopters.

Heads up: you will need a stable internet connection for Photo Mode processing and model downloads. The LiDAR scanning feature requires a device with a LiDAR sensor (iPhone 12 Pro/Pro Max, iPad Pro 2020 or newer). Some advanced export options and cloud storage are behind a subscription paywall.