# Recon vs RIU

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Recon at 75% against RIU's 0%. RIU's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 2 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Recon sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $99.99 per month and RIU sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Recon ships an update every 2 months, RIU every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Recon | RIU |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (277 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/recon-3d/id1594797748/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **277** | — |
| Positive reviews | **75.0% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 94 MB | 17 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.1** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Recon-3D Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1594797750) | [MANAV](https://appshunter.io/developer/1640001017) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### RIU

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/riu-3d-scanner/id6479301523)

Transform your device into a professional 3D scanning tool. Effortlessly create high-quality 3D models of objects and environments using advanced LiDAR and panoramic camera features. Designed for simplicity, it makes professional-grade 3D scanning accessible to everyone.

**Highlights:** Object scanning to digital 3D models, LiDAR camera for precise environmental scans, 360-degree panoramic view creation, User-friendly interface, Pro version for unlimited potential

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Rio Pro Weekly trial | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Riu Pro Weekly | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Riu Pro Yearly | $69.99 | per year |
| Riu Pro Yearly Trial | $79.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Recon free?

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

### Is RIU free?

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

### Do Recon or RIU have ads?

Neither Recon nor RIU shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Recon or RIU?

Recon ships an update every 2 months, and RIU every 2 days. Most recently, Recon was updated on October 24, 2026 and RIU on October 13, 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.*