Polycam vs Meshy AI
A detailed comparison to help you choose between Polycam and Meshy AI.
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Verdict: Meshy AI wins
Meshy AI scores 4.2/5, edging out Polycam at 4.0/5. Game studios and 3D content teams generating prop and asset volumes who want generation, retopology, texturing and rigging in one credit-metered pipeline with real DCC delivery.
Polycam AI 3D scanning from your phone | Meshy AI AI 3D model generation from text and images | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.0 (1 review) | 4.2 (1 review) |
| Pricing Model | freemium | freemium |
| Starting Price | Free tier available | Free tier available |
| Best For | Architects, contractors and facility teams with LiDAR iPhones who need phone-scanned floor plans, measurements and CAD-ready exports without a scanning crew. | Game studios and 3D content teams generating prop and asset volumes who want generation, retopology, texturing and rigging in one credit-metered pipeline with real DCC delivery. |
| Free Tier | ||
| API Access | ||
| Team Features | ||
| Open Source | ||
| Tags | free tiermobile app | free tierapi access |
| Visit Polycam → | Visit Meshy AI → |
Polycam
Pros
- + LiDAR Space Mode produced an editable 2D floor plan with auto-labeled rooms within seconds of finishing a scan in my test of a two-bedroom flat
- + Export round-trips worked: layered DXF floor plans opened with scale and layers intact in a CAD viewer, and OBJ/USDZ meshes imported cleanly
- + Five capture modes (Object, Space, Floorplan, AI Capture, 360) cover objects, interiors and documentation in one app instead of three tools
- + Business tier allows up to 2,000 images and 30 minutes of video per capture — enough resolution in my mechanical-room test to reconstruct reflective pipework that smaller captures smeared
- + Free tier is usable for real experimentation: limited captures, GLTF export and public link sharing at $0
Cons
- - Floor plans and the measurement layer require a LiDAR device — the same scan on a non-LiDAR phone returned only a mesh in my testing
- - Basic's 300-image capture ceiling cut short my photogrammetry coverage of a display cabinet mid-capture
- - Measurement accuracy is undocumented against survey standards; fine for as-builts, not for contractual tolerances
- - Processing and floor-plan generation are server-side, so disconnected sites become a capture-now-process-later workflow
- - Subscription-only (the vendor pricing FAQ rules out one-time purchase), with floor plans, point clouds and shared libraries gated at Business ($400/year per user)
Meshy AI
Pros
- + Full post-processing inside one pipeline — Smart Topology, UV/texturing, rigging and animation — instead of round-tripping through other tools.
- + Credit costs are published per operation (25 for default image-to-3D on paid plans, 5-20 for retopo, 0 for remesh/rig), so per-asset cost is calculable before you subscribe.
- + Free retry allowances per task (4 on Pro up to 40 on Ultra) meaningfully reduce wasted credits on failed generations.
- + Ecosystem depth: DCC bridges for Unity, Unreal, Blender, Roblox, Godot, Maya, 3ds Max plus REST API and MCP server that bill in shared credits.
Cons
- - Free tier is a demo: 100 credits, no downloads, CC BY 4.0 attribution licensing, low queue priority.
- - The model/credit matrix is complex — Meshy 7.1 is image-to-3D only, Ultra 2K defaults to 25 credits on paid plans, 8K texturing is gated to one texture model.
- - Complex organic and multi-part mechanical models still need real artist cleanup; this accelerates pipelines, it does not replace them.
- - Team features (SSO, collaboration, 100+ API rps, forever asset retention) require Studio/Enterprise sales conversations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Polycam or Meshy AI?▼
Meshy AI scores higher at 4.2/5 vs 4.0/5 for Polycam, making it the better-rated option in our comparison.
What is the difference between Polycam and Meshy AI?▼
Polycam: Polycam captures 3D scans, floor plans and measurements using a phone camera or LiDAR, and exports them to CAD and BIM formats. Meshy AI: Meshy turns text prompts and images into textured 3D models, exporting to FBX, OBJ, GLB and STL for use in game engines and 3D printing.
Is Polycam or Meshy AI more affordable?▼
Polycam starts at €0/mo, Meshy AI starts at €0/mo. Check the comparison table above for current pricing.
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