Comparison

PIX4Dcatch vs RTAB

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

PIX4Dcatch

Transform your mobile device into a powerful 3D scanner. Capture images and LiDAR data to create accurate 3D models for professional use. Visualize, measure, and share your creations in AR.

Highlights
  • 3D model creation from images and LiDAR
  • RTK device compatibility for centimeter accuracy
  • Live feedback during capture
  • Augmented reality (AR) model visualization
  • Cloud processing and desktop export options
  • Measurement and geolocation capabilities
Read full description

Digitize Reality: Transform your mobile device into a powerful 3D scanner. Simply point and record to create professional-grade 3D models. Pair with a compatible RTK device for centimeter-level accuracy, precise measurements, and geolocated 3D reconstructions. Visualize the captured model in the app, upload and export, and view it in AR. New ArcGIS Workflow: PIX4Dcatch now streams ArcGIS data in realtime in AR to provide in-field operators full contextual information about the entire site including 3D reconstructions and attributes. Our capture feature generates complete and defensible georeferenced 3D reconstructions which can be communicated seamlessly back to ArcGIS. New Guide-To Feature: PIX4Dcatch has a guide-to feature directing users to specified geolocated assets for staking, boosting onsite efficiency and accuracy. Just select the point or reconstruction you would like to find and follow the arrows in AR. WORKFLOW 1 – Scan & Capture Walk around your site. The app automatically gathers data and provides live feedback using iOS LiDAR, ensuring you capture every detail. For enhanced accuracy, use an RTK device compatible with PIX4Dcatch, PIX4D Autotags with a fully automated workflow, or combine both. 2 – Process, Analyze & Share Process your data by uploading to PIX4Dcloud for online analysis and sharing, or export to PIX4Dmatic for desktop processing. Both platforms offer a 14-day free trial. Projects can also be exported to third-party photogrammetry software. Measure spaces, document results, and enjoy all the benefits of a detailed 2D/3D model of your surroundings. 3 – View in AR Experience an immersive augmented-reality view. Display 3D models and points directly in your phone camera in AR. ____________________ USE CASES • Digitize construction sites • Measure stockpiles and other objects • Document underground utilities • Digitize indoor and outdoor spaces with Autotags • Visualize and verify 3D models in AR in real time • Perform single-point measurements with RTK accuracy ____________________ COMPATIBILITY • Optimized for LiDAR-equipped devices (Pro series phones) • All ARKit-enabled devices • RTK devices: Emlid Reach RX and RX2, TopCon HiPer CR, Bad Elf Flex Mini, Bad Elf Flex, Trimble DA2, Leica Zeno FLX100 ____________________ TERMS OF USE https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

RTAB

This utility app enables real-time 3D scanning and mapping of environments using LiDAR or RGB-D sensors. It features online loop closure detection and map optimization for immediate feedback, with export options for various 3D formats.

Highlights
  • Online 3D scanning and mapping
  • Loop closure detection and map correction
  • Save maps in DB format
  • Export in PLY, LAS, or OBJ
  • Multi-session mapping
  • AR/VR visualization mode
Read full description

RTAB-Map (Real-Time Appearance-Based Mapping) is an Open Source LiDAR / RGB-D / Stereo Graph-Based SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) approach based on an online incremental appearance-based loop closure detector. The loop closure detector uses a bag-of-words approach to determinate how likely a new image comes from a previous location or a new location. When a loop closure hypothesis is accepted, a new constraint is added to the map's graph, then a graph optimizer minimizes the errors in the map in real-time. An optional memory management approach can be used to limit the number of locations used for loop closure detection and graph optimization, so that real-time constraints on large-scale environnements are always respected. ARKit's visual inertial odometry (VIO) is used as the SLAM front-end for RTAB-Map (the SLAM back-end). * Note that unlike other scanning apps that optimize the map only after mapping, with RTAB-Map you get loop closure detection and map optimization online so you can have a live feedback to know when you have enough constraints in the map for good global optimization before stopping the scan. *** 3D reconstruction available only with LiDAR sensor. Features: * Online 3D scanning/mapping of the environment. * Online loop closure detection and map correction. * Save in DB format (RTAB-Map desktop and rtabmap_ros format). * Export in PLY, LAS or OBJ. * Multi-session mapping (save and continue later). * Use Apriltags to help finding loop closures in textureless environments. * Mixed AR/VR First-Person in visualization mode. * Raw ARKit data recording (up to 60 Hz!), useful to record long sessions without comprising battery life.

Screenshots

PIX4Dcatch4 screens
RTAB3 screens

Verdict

The call

PIX4Dcatch and RTAB both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of RTAB's written reviews are positive against 33% of PIX4Dcatch's. RTAB also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 18.0). PIX4Dcatch's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 5 months) and ratings volume (267 vs 41). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. PIX4Dcatch sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $159.00 per month. RTAB asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

RTAB holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PIX4Dcatch has 267 ratings behind it against 41, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 33% of PIX4Dcatch's written reviews are positive against 100% of RTAB's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PIX4Dcatch ships an update every 2 weeks, RTAB every 5 months. Both last shipped on October 27, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
PIX4Dcatch versus RTAB: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPIX4DcatchRTAB
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (267 ratings)4.8 (41 ratings) — better
Positive reviews32.5% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings267 — better41
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 5 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.015.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size239 MB20 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPix4DMathieu Labbe

Customer experience

PIX4Dcatch

All ratings264 ratings
Positive92.0%
Neutral1.5%
Negative6.4%
Written reviews40 reviews
Positive32.5%
Neutral7.5%
Negative60.0%

RTAB

All ratings39 ratings
Positive97.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative2.6%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

PIX4Dcatch

Reported bugs

18 issues
  • App crashes or shows SDK error with Emlid RX
  • Upload doesn't work for Dropbox or OneDrive
  • Mesh doesn't display like past versions
  • Cannot build an accurate model
  • App locks out
Show 13 more
  • Outputs contradict (geo tags vs GCP coordinates)
  • Cannot log into Pix account inside the app (keyboard issue)
  • Does not recognize license
  • Stopped uploading
  • Photos stored in app, impossible to get if not uploading
  • Create account impossible
  • Cannot register
  • Cannot get contact without registration
  • App unbrauchbar (unusable)
  • Trial cannot be cancelled
  • Scan took 4 days to process
  • Fatal results
  • Slow and annoying

Requested features

6 requests
  • Make it possible to work with any GNSS through NMEA Protocol
  • Export GCP's in GPS coordinates as well
  • Add instructions or tips
  • Allow export to local device instead of cloud
  • Allow export of images to PC for free
Show 1 more
  • Allow testing of 3D generation with a limit of pictures or generated 3Ds for free

RTAB

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

PIX4Dcatch

Subscriptions1
  • PIX4Dcatch Professional14 Days trial$159.001 Month
None

RTAB

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PIX4Dcatch free?
PIX4Dcatch is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is RTAB free?
RTAB is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, PIX4Dcatch or RTAB?
RTAB is rated higher. PIX4Dcatch averages 4.7 out of 5 from 267 ratings, while RTAB averages 4.8 from 41 ratings.
Do PIX4Dcatch or RTAB have ads?
Neither PIX4Dcatch nor RTAB shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PIX4Dcatch or RTAB?
PIX4Dcatch ships an update every 2 weeks, and RTAB every 5 months. Most recently, PIX4Dcatch was updated on October 27, 2026 and RTAB on October 27, 2026.

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