Comparison

RTAB vs Recon

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

Head to head
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.

About

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.

Highlights
  • Photogrammetry and lidar fusion
  • Cloud or on-device processing
  • Optional April Tag scaling
  • e57 format export
  • Privacy-focused local processing
Features
Read full description

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

RTAB3 screens
Recon4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: RTAB at none against Recon's 5. RTAB also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 75%). Recon's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 5 months) and ratings volume (277 vs 42). 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. Recon sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $99.99 per month. RTAB asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for RTAB against 4.8 for Recon. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Recon has 277 ratings behind it against 42, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 100% of RTAB's written reviews are positive against 75% of Recon's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

RTAB ships an update every 5 months, Recon every 2 months. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
RTAB versus Recon: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRTABRecon
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (42 ratings)4.8 (277 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better75.0% of reviews
Number of ratings42277 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better16.1
Further details — not scored
Size20 MB94 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMathieu LabbeRecon-3D Inc.

Customer experience

RTAB

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

Recon

All ratings275 ratings
Positive96.4%
Neutral0.7%
Negative2.9%
Written reviews24 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral4.2%
Negative20.8%

Bugs and requests

RTAB

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
Show 2 more
  • Sign up process is not working
  • Password recovery is not working

Requested features

1 request
  • Tool for measuring in the app

In-app purchases

None

RTAB

No in-app purchases

5 purchases

Recon

Subscriptions2
  • Recon3D One Month Subscription$99.991 Month
  • Recon3D 1 Year Subscription$599.991 Year
One-time3
  • 5 Additional Uploads$49.99
  • 10 Additional Uploads$79.99
  • Recon3D 1 Year Subscription$299.99

Questions

Is RTAB free?
RTAB is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Recon free?
Recon is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, RTAB or Recon?
Recon is rated higher. RTAB averages 4.8 out of 5 from 42 ratings, while Recon averages 4.8 from 277 ratings.
Do RTAB or Recon have ads?
Neither RTAB nor Recon shows ads.
Which is updated more often, RTAB or Recon?
RTAB ships an update every 5 months, and Recon every 2 months. Most recently, RTAB was updated on November 3, 2026 and Recon on November 3, 2026.

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