Comparison

Sakura3D SCAN vs RTAB

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

Head to head
About

Sakura3D SCAN

Capture 3D point cloud and mesh data for various professional applications like industrial inspection, topographical surveys, and construction progress. Export data in multiple formats for use in CAD systems.

Highlights
  • 3D point cloud scanning
  • Mesh scanning
  • Multiple export formats (ASC, TXT, PTS, OBJ, STL)
  • Integration with ClassNK-PEERLESS software
  • LiDAR sensor utilization
  • File export with size limitations on free plan
Features
Read full description

Scanning and exporting data utilizing Sakura3D SCAN can come in handy for various fields. For example, plants can acquire the current status of pipes and other factory equipment, while construction and civil engineering firms can utilize Sakura3D SCAN in topographical surveys and construction progress management. Import your scanned data into our point cloud modeling software "ClassNK-PEERLESS" and create 3D models that can be imported into various CAD systems. ■ Export format Point cloud: ASC, TXT, PTS Mesh: OBJ, STL ■ Sakura3D SCAN requires the LiDAR sensor for scanning, as a result we only support the following devices iPhone 16 Pro Max iPhone 16 Pro iPhone 15 Pro Max iPhone 15 Pro iPhone 14 Pro Max iPhone 14 Pro iPhone 13 Pro Max iPhone 13 Pro iPhone 12 Pro Max iPhone 12 Pro iPad Pro 13 inch (M4) iPad Pro 11 inch (M4) iPad Pro 12.9 inch (6th generation) iPad Pro 11 inch (4th generation) iPad Pro 12.9 inch (5th generation) iPad Pro 11 inch (3rd generation) iPad Pro 12.9 inch (4th generation) iPad Pro 11 inch (2nd generation) ■ Difference between a free plan and subscriptions All features are available for free, except for file output and certain premium features (e.g., Center of Gravity Visualization). By subscribing, you can enjoy unlimited file exports and gain full access to all premium features. File export is also free under following conditions. ・Point cloud: less than 500K points ・Mesh: less than 50K vertices ・Unlimited export: Once every 24h With a subscription, there is no limit to the number of scans you can export. ■ FAQ ・ How can I increase the quality of my scans? When measuring please try to move slowly and avoid shaking the device. Please try to avoid measuring the same location twice. The trick is not to scan the same point over and over again. The following are some of the factors that can hinder a good scan: - When the object is a transparent object made of glass, a shiny metal object, a mirror, etc. - When the distance to the object to be scanned is too short (within 10 to 20 cm) ・I don't know which scan accuracy to use. Scan accuracy depends on the scan target, scan environment, and setting method. For a personalized inquiry please send an email to sakura3d@armonicos.co.jp with your target, environment and setting method. ・What distance allows for an accurate measurement? The recommended distance is within 5m. ・How many points can be obtained in each scan? You can get up to 25 million points. ・Is it possible to check the number of points during a scan? The number of acquired points is displayed on the screen, during a scan, with the following color encoding as a guideline for memory usage: "green (low)-> yellow (medium)-> red (high)" . ・I don't know how to export data. There are two methods, one is via the Internet using Dropbox, AirDrop, email, various SNS, or Google Drive, and the other is to connect the device (iPhone, iPad) directly to the PC with a cable and copy the data using iTunes. ・Can the output data be imported into other software? Data created with Sakura3D SCAN can be imported into any software that supports point cloud formats (ASC, TXT,PTS) or mesh formats (STL, OBJ). It can also be imported into our software packages: spGate, spGauge, spScan, and ClassNK-PEERLESS. Sakura3D SCAN Terms of Service (ToS) https://www.armonicos.co.jp/shop/sakura-tos/

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

Sakura3D SCAN4 screens
RTAB3 screens

Verdict

The call

Sakura3D SCAN and RTAB both sit at 5.0 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of RTAB's written reviews are positive against 40% of Sakura3D SCAN's. RTAB also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ratings volume (41 vs 1). Sakura3D SCAN's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 5 months). 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. Sakura3D SCAN sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. RTAB asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Sakura3D SCAN holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: RTAB has 41 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 40% of Sakura3D SCAN's written reviews are positive against 100% of RTAB's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sakura3D SCAN ships an update every 2 weeks, RTAB every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Sakura3D SCAN versus RTAB: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSakura3D SCANRTAB
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better4.8 (41 ratings)
Positive reviews40.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings141 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 5 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS14.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size54 MB20 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperArmonicos Co., Ltd.Mathieu Labbe

Customer experience

Sakura3D SCAN

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive40.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative40.0%

RTAB

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

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Sakura3D SCAN

Subscriptions3
  • Weekly Subscription$1.997 Days
  • Monthly Subscription$5.491 Month
  • Yearly Subscription$46.991 Year
None

RTAB

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Sakura3D SCAN free?
Sakura3D SCAN 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, Sakura3D SCAN or RTAB?
Sakura3D SCAN is rated higher. Sakura3D SCAN averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while RTAB averages 4.8 from 41 ratings.
Do Sakura3D SCAN or RTAB have ads?
Neither Sakura3D SCAN nor RTAB shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Sakura3D SCAN or RTAB?
Sakura3D SCAN ships an update every 2 weeks, and RTAB every 5 months. Most recently, Sakura3D SCAN was updated on October 15, 2026 and RTAB on October 27, 2026.

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