Polycam vs Spline AI
A detailed comparison to help you choose between Polycam and Spline AI.
⚖️
How to choose
Neither tool has user reviews on ToolSpotter yet, so we don't pick a winner. Compare them on what they're built for: Polycam — Architects, contractors and facility teams with LiDAR iPhones who need phone-scanned floor plans, measurements and CAD-ready exports without a scanning crew.; Spline AI — Web designers and product teams who need interactive 3D scenes and AR-ready exports without learning a traditional 3D suite..
Polycam AI 3D scanning from your phone | Spline AI 3D design in the browser with AI | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.0 (1 review) | 4.0 (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. | Web designers and product teams who need interactive 3D scenes and AR-ready exports without learning a traditional 3D suite. |
| Free Tier | ||
| API Access | ||
| Team Features | ||
| Open Source | ||
| Tags | free tiermobile app | free tierno code |
| Visit Polycam → | Visit Spline 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)
Spline AI
Pros
- + Web export path is the shortest editor-to-published-scene distance I have measured for non-specialists.
- + Multiplayer browser editing with unlimited viewers on all plans worked without lock-step friction in my testing.
- + AI features (3D gen, textures, AI Agent) are embedded in the editor, so generated content lands as editable scene objects rather than standalone meshes.
- + Programmable surface — variables, APIs, webhooks, and MCP tool calls with limits that scale by plan.
Cons
- - Credit metering plus weekly media-generation caps mean AI-heavy workflows cost more than the headline seat price.
- - Not production-grade 3D: no deep rigging, simulation, or high-poly sculpting; heavy scenes get sluggish in the browser.
- - Free tier is a watermark-limited sandbox; code export and self-hosted export sit at Max or Enterprise.
- - Credit consumption rates per AI operation are under-documented.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Polycam or Spline AI?▼
It depends on your specific needs — neither tool has user reviews on ToolSpotter yet, so we don't rank one above the other. Polycam is 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.. Spline AI is best for: Web designers and product teams who need interactive 3D scenes and AR-ready exports without learning a traditional 3D suite..
What is the difference between Polycam and Spline AI?▼
Polycam: Polycam captures 3D scans, floor plans and measurements using a phone camera or LiDAR, and exports them to CAD and BIM formats. Spline AI: Spline is a browser-based 3D design tool with real-time collaboration, used to model, animate and publish interactive 3D scenes for the web.
Is Polycam or Spline AI more affordable?▼
Polycam starts at €0/mo, Spline AI starts at €0/mo. Check the comparison table above for current pricing.
Stay in the loop
Get weekly updates on the best new AI tools, deals, and comparisons.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.