Scanner3D vs DepthCapture|LiDAR Point Cloud
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Scanner3D
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Scanner3D captures 3D point clouds using your iPhone's LiDAR sensor. Capture depth, RGB, camera pose, and confidence maps, then export scans as zip files for use in robotics, 3D printing, and visualization. Features: - Real-time depth heatmap preview at 60fps - Capture depth (256x192), RGB (1920x1440), intrinsics, and camera pose - Save and manage multiple scan sessions in the Library - Export scans as zip files via the Files app - ArUco marker generation for camera-to-robot calibration Requires iPhone 12 Pro or newer with LiDAR sensor.
DepthCapture|LiDAR Point Cloud
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DepthCapture is an iPhone/iPad app for capturing and recording RGB images and depth data from multiple depth sources, including LiDAR, TrueDepth, supported stereo cameras, and AI-based depth estimation. View the RGB feed and depth map in real time while capturing, and visualize depth data immediately as a 3D point cloud. ―――――――――― ■ Multiple depth sources Choose from the sources supported by your device: ・LiDAR ・TrueDepth ・Stereo Depth ・AI Depth LiDAR-equipped devices can capture rear depth, while TrueDepth uses the front camera. Supported devices can also use stereo-camera depth. AI Depth estimates depth from a standard camera image using an AI model. ※ AI Depth provides relative estimates and is not calibrated to match the distance accuracy of hardware depth sources such as LiDAR or TrueDepth. ―――――――――― ■ Record RGB + Depth Use Snapshot Capture for still data or Stream Recording for continuous RGB-D capture. RGB: ・JPEG ・PNG Depth: ・BIN ・16-bit PNG ・TIFF ・EXR Snapshots store RGB, depth, and related capture information together. ―――――――――― ■ Real-time depth visualization View RGB and depth live while capturing. Color maps: ・Grayscale ・Blue-Red ・Viridis ・Inferno The displayed depth range can be automatic or fixed to a range you specify, so you can check data quality before saving. ―――――――――― ■ Live 3D point cloud Generate and display a 3D point cloud from the acquired depth data and camera information in real time. Point clouds can use RGB colors or depth-based coloring for direct spatial inspection. ―――――――――― ■ Export point clouds Export saved point clouds as: ・PLY ・GLB ・glTF ・PCD ・LAS ・CSV Export snapshots or individual Stream Recording frames for use with 3D software, point-cloud tools, Python, and other environments. ―――――――――― ■ Continuous RGB-D recording Stream Recording saves continuous RGB and depth data as either an RGB/depth file sequence or ROS2-compatible MCAP. MCAP can include RGB, Depth, CameraInfo, TF, and IMU / Device Motion for ROS2, robotics, and computer vision. ―――――――――― ■ Capture metadata Along with RGB and depth data, DepthCapture saves capture settings and camera information. When available, metadata includes: ・Camera Intrinsics ・Extrinsic Matrix ・Lens Distortion information ・RGB / Depth resolution ・Depth Source ・Depth Accuracy / Quality ・Depth Filtering ・Capture settings Snapshots and Recording Sessions also include manifest and metadata files describing the recorded data and capture conditions. ―――――――――― ■ Customize capture settings Adjust: ・Depth Filtering ・Depth FPS ・Depth Resolution ・RGB Resolution ・RGB / Depth Synchronization ・Depth Range ・Save Depth Preview Presets are also available for common capture settings. ―――――――――― ■ Review saved data Review Snapshots and Stream Recordings in Saved Data. Snapshots can show RGB, Depth, and 3D Point Cloud. Stream Recordings can be scrubbed and played back with RGB, Depth, and Point Cloud views. Sessions can be shared or accessed through the Files app. ―――――――――― ■ Example uses ・LiDAR and depth-sensor testing ・3D point-cloud capture and visualization ・RGB-D dataset collection ・Computer vision ・Machine-learning data collection ・Robotics and ROS2 ・AR and 3D-sensing data capture and validation ・Research, experiments, and prototyping ・Comparing depth acquisition methods Available sources, resolutions, and frame rates vary by device. Devices without LiDAR may still support TrueDepth, Stereo Depth, or AI Depth. DepthCapture records RGB-D data, lets you inspect it in 3D, and move it into your own workflow. Some advanced features require an in-app purchase or temporary access unlocked by watching a rewarded ad. ―――――――――― Terms of Use (Apple Standard EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Scanner3D at none against DepthCapture|LiDAR Point Cloud's 7. Scanner3D also leads on ads (none vs shown). DepthCapture|LiDAR Point Cloud's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 2 weeks). On price, device support and iOS requirement 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. DepthCapture|LiDAR Point Cloud sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Scanner3D asks for nothing beyond the download.
Scanner3D ships an update every 2 weeks, DepthCapture|LiDAR Point Cloud every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on September 8, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Scanner3D | DepthCapture|LiDAR Point Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 3 days — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.5 | 17.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 2 MB | 56 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Danqing Zhang | kentaro hirahara |
In-app purchases
Scanner3D
No in-app purchases
DepthCapture|LiDAR Point Cloud
- Support S$0.49
- Remove Ads$3.99
- Unlock All Features2 variants$4.99
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- Remove Ads and Unlock Features$5.99
- Support M$5.99
- Support L$59.99





