# Ground Station vs PIX4Dcatch

The clearest difference is rating: PIX4Dcatch at 4.7 against Ground Station's 2.5. PIX4Dcatch also leads on review sentiment (33% vs 19%) and ratings volume (266 vs 22). Ground Station's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (6.1 vs 18.0). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PIX4Dcatch sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $159.00 per month. Ground Station asks for nothing beyond the download.

PIX4Dcatch holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PIX4Dcatch has 266 ratings behind it against 22, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 19% of Ground Station's written reviews are positive against 33% of PIX4Dcatch's.

Ground Station ships an update every 3 weeks, PIX4Dcatch every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Ground Station | PIX4Dcatch |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.5 (22 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ground-station/id600806978/reviews) | **[4.7 (266 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pix4dcatch-3d-scanner/id1511483044/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 22 | **266** |
| Positive reviews | 18.9% of reviews | **32.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 46 MB | 239 MB |
| Requires iOS | **6.1** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [DJI](https://appshunter.io/developer/599957686) | [Pix4D](https://appshunter.io/developer/952725638) |

## What reviewers say

### Ground Station

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ground-station/id600806978)

Control your drone with an iPad using this ground control station software. Plan flight courses on the ground and execute them with a simple tap or joystick control. Supports various DJI flight controllers and Bluetooth 4.0 iPads for a seamless flying experience.

**Highlights:** Waypoint flight planning, Joystick control, Custom joystick support, Save and upload flight courses, Voice reminders, Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### PIX4Dcatch

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pix4dcatch-3d-scanner/id1511483044)

Transform your mobile device into a powerful 3D scanner. Capture images and LiDAR data to create accurate 3D models for professional use. Visualize, measure, and share your creations in AR.

**Highlights:** 3D model creation from images and LiDAR, RTK device compatibility for centimeter accuracy, Live feedback during capture, Augmented reality (AR) model visualization, Cloud processing and desktop export options, Measurement and geolocation capabilities

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PIX4Dcatch Professional | $159.00 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great idea for photogrammetry
- 🚀 Works well for professional use
- 👍 Consistently gets survey grade results
- 👍 Useful as an additional survey tool
- 👍 Amazing, game changer

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Very expensive subscription
- 💰 High monthly subscription cost
- 💰 Way too expensive for small objects
- 💰 Unclear cost structure
- 💰 Credits add up unexpectedly

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes or shows SDK error with Emlid RX
- Upload doesn't work for Dropbox or OneDrive
- Mesh doesn't display like past versions
- Cannot build an accurate model
- App locks out

**Requested features**

- Make it possible to work with any GNSS through NMEA Protocol
- Export GCP's in GPS coordinates as well
- Add instructions or tips
- Allow export to local device instead of cloud
- Allow export of images to PC for free


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Ground Station free?

Ground Station is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is PIX4Dcatch free?

PIX4Dcatch is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Ground Station or PIX4Dcatch?

PIX4Dcatch is rated higher. Ground Station averages 2.5 out of 5 from 22 ratings, while PIX4Dcatch averages 4.7 from 266 ratings.

### Do Ground Station or PIX4Dcatch have ads?

Neither Ground Station nor PIX4Dcatch shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Ground Station or PIX4Dcatch?

Ground Station ships an update every 3 weeks, and PIX4Dcatch every 2 weeks. Most recently, Ground Station was updated on October 24, 2026 and PIX4Dcatch on October 24, 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.*