# LiDAR Pointer vs Recon

The clearest difference is rating: Recon at 4.8 against LiDAR Pointer's 3.3. Recon also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 23 months) and ratings volume (275 vs 8). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. LiDAR Pointer sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month 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.

Recon holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Recon has 275 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 60% of LiDAR Pointer's written reviews are positive against 75% of Recon's.

LiDAR Pointer ships an update every 23 months, Recon every 2 months. Both last shipped on September 21, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | LiDAR Pointer | Recon |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.3 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lidar-pointer/id1555423445/reviews) | **[4.8 (275 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/recon-3d/id1594797748/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 8 | **275** |
| Positive reviews | 60.0% of reviews | **75.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 23 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 3 MB | 94 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Goldgewicht Consulting](https://appshunter.io/developer/1212140131) | [Recon-3D Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1594797750) |

## What reviewers say

### LiDAR Pointer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lidar-pointer/id1555423445)

Measure distances and angles using your device's LiDAR sensor. Get audio readouts of measurements and use the flashlight for better accuracy in low light. Requires a LiDAR-equipped device.

**Highlights:** Measure distance to surfaces, Indicate device inclination angle, Oral distance measurement via speech, Flashlight for extra light, Supports iPhone and iPad

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Premium Annual | $12.99 | per year |


### Recon

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/recon-3d/id1594797748)

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.

**Highlights:** Photogrammetry and lidar fusion, Cloud or on-device processing, Optional April Tag scaling, e57 format export, Privacy-focused local processing

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Recon3D One Month Subscription | $99.99 | per month |
| Recon3D 1 Year Subscription | $599.99 | per year |
| 5 Additional Uploads | $49.99 | one-time |
| 10 Additional Uploads | $79.99 | one-time |
| Recon3D 1 Year Subscription | $299.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ✨ Accurate 3D scanning
- 🚀 Efficient workflow revolution
- 👍 Easy to use
- 💡 Innovative use of iPhone features
- ✅ Excellent data quality

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes at save
- 🐛 Loses data and video
- 🐛 Update required in rural areas
- 🐛 Camera laggy after update
- 🐛 Slow screen update after update

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- Tool for measuring in the app


## Frequently asked questions

### Is LiDAR Pointer free?

LiDAR Pointer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Recon free?

Recon is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, LiDAR Pointer or Recon?

Recon is rated higher. LiDAR Pointer averages 3.3 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Recon averages 4.8 from 275 ratings.

### Do LiDAR Pointer or Recon have ads?

Neither LiDAR Pointer nor Recon shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, LiDAR Pointer or Recon?

LiDAR Pointer ships an update every 23 months, and Recon every 2 months. Most recently, LiDAR Pointer was updated on September 21, 2026 and Recon on September 21, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*