Sakura3D SCAN vs Recon
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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/
Recon
Capture accurate 3D data using photogrammetry and your device's lidar sensor. Process data locally for privacy or in the cloud. Includes optional scaling with April Tags and exports in e57 format for further analysis.
- Photogrammetry and lidar fusion
- Cloud or on-device processing
- Optional April Tag scaling
- e57 format export
- Privacy-focused local processing
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Recon-3D is a scanning application that fuses photogrammetry and the lidar sensor on the iPhone/iPad Pro. The data can be processed on the cloud or in case of sensitive data, directly on the device only with no data transmitted over the internet. The app provides optional scaling via April Tags which immediately adjusts the scale of the 3D model to match real-world reference measurements. The data can be exported to other programs for inspection, analysis and visualization in e57 format. Privacy Policy: https://www.recon-3d.com/privacypolicy Terms of Use: https://www.recon-3d.com/termsandconditions
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Recon at 75% against Sakura3D SCAN's 40%. Recon also leads on ratings volume (275 vs 1). Sakura3D SCAN's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Both are free to download. Sakura3D SCAN sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days and Recon sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $99.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Sakura3D SCAN holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Recon has 275 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 75% of Recon's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Sakura3D SCAN ships an update every 2 weeks, Recon every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 10, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Sakura3D SCAN | Recon |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | 4.8 (275 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 40.0% of reviews | 75.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 275 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 — better | 16.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 54 MB | 94 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Armonicos Co., Ltd. | Recon-3D Inc. |
Customer experience
Sakura3D SCAN
Recon
Bugs and requests
Sakura3D SCAN
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Recon
Reported bugs
7 issues- Program crashes when hitting save
- App requires update in rural areas without data
- Camera is laggy and slow to update screen after update
- Permission problems block app usage
- App shows 'Oops' screen asking for permission despite all permissions granted
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- Sign up process is not working
- Password recovery is not working
Requested features
1 request- Tool for measuring in the app
In-app purchases
Sakura3D SCAN
- Weekly Subscription$1.997 Days
- Monthly Subscription$5.491 Month
- Yearly Subscription$46.991 Year
Recon
- Recon3D One Month Subscription$99.991 Month
- Recon3D 1 Year Subscription$599.991 Year
- 5 Additional Uploads$49.99
- 10 Additional Uploads$79.99
- Recon3D 1 Year Subscription$299.99









