Comparison

Scanner vs RTAB

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

Head to head
About

Scanner

Capture 3D models of objects and people using a compatible sensor accessory. Easily scan subjects by walking around them with your device. Export captured models in OBJ format via email for further use.

Highlights
  • 3D model capture
  • Object and person scanning
  • Structure Sensor accessory integration
  • OBJ format export
  • Email sharing
Read full description

This app is made for the Structure Sensor accessory. If you do not have a Structure Sensor accessory, please visit http://structure.io to learn more. Capture objects in 3D with your Structure Sensor. This simple and easy to use application allows you to capture 3D models of objects and people by simply walking around them with your iPad and the Structure Sensor accessory. Captured objects can be sent via email (uses OBJ format). Download the new "Structure Sensor Calibrator" app for best color results.

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.

Screenshots

Scanner1 screens
RTAB3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: RTAB at 100% against Scanner's 37%. RTAB also leads on rating (4.8 vs 1.8) and ratings volume (39 vs 5). Scanner's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 4 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

RTAB holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 1.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: RTAB has 39 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 37% of Scanner's written reviews are positive against 100% of RTAB's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Scanner ships an update monthly, RTAB every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Scanner versus RTAB: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterScannerRTAB
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.8 (5 ratings)4.8 (39 ratings) — better
Positive reviews36.7% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings539 — better
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better14.3
Further details — not scored
Size28 MB19 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperXRPro, LLCMathieu Labbe

Customer experience

Scanner

All ratings5 ratings
Positive20.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative80.0%
Written reviews30 reviews
Positive36.7%
Neutral3.3%
Negative60.0%

RTAB

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

In-app purchases

None

Scanner

No in-app purchases

None

RTAB

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Scanner free?
Scanner is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is RTAB free?
RTAB is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Scanner or RTAB?
RTAB is rated higher. Scanner averages 1.8 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while RTAB averages 4.8 from 39 ratings.
Do Scanner or RTAB have ads?
Neither Scanner nor RTAB shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Scanner or RTAB?
Scanner ships an update monthly, and RTAB every 4 months. Most recently, Scanner was updated on September 19, 2026 and RTAB on September 23, 2026.

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