Comparison

Freefly ALTA vs PIX4Dcatch

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

Head to head
About

Freefly ALTA

Configure, tune, and monitor your drone remotely. This app provides in-depth checklists and allows for quick adjustments to key parameters, ensuring you spend more time capturing shots and less time on setup.

Highlights
  • Aircraft configuration adjustments
  • Flight tuning parameter control
  • Real-time sensor monitoring
  • Firmware update checks
  • In-depth pre-flight checklists
  • Apple Watch companion app for checklists
Read full description

Set up, tune and monitor your ALTA remotely with the Freefly ALTA app. A seamless interface, in-depth checklists and the ability to quickly adjust key parameters means you spend less time on the ground and more time setting up the next shot. --- Key Features: CONFIGURATIONS Dial in your ALTA setup by adjusting key aircraft configurations. Adjust ALTA flight tuning parameters, perform channel mapping, change ALTA LED colors, enable on-screen display items for first-person view (FPV) camera systems, adjust safety settings and more. MONITOR View the status of your ALTA in flight, examine real-time charting of numerous ALTA sensors and flight parameters, or check for firmware updates. MONITOR helps you make sure ALTA is performing at its best. CHECKLISTS Make sure ALTA is always ready to get the shot and stored safely for the next job with a set of in-depth checklists. Use the companion Apple Watch app to view checklists. --- Refer to the ALTA user manual before using the ALTA app to change configurations and for information on safely operating an ALTA. Compatible with Freefly ALTA. Learn more about Freefly products and technology at www.freeflysystems.com

About

PIX4Dcatch

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
Read full description

Digitize Reality: Transform your mobile device into a powerful 3D scanner. Simply point and record to create professional-grade 3D models. Pair with a compatible RTK device for centimeter-level accuracy, precise measurements, and geolocated 3D reconstructions. Visualize the captured model in the app, upload and export, and view it in AR. New ArcGIS Workflow: PIX4Dcatch now streams ArcGIS data in realtime in AR to provide in-field operators full contextual information about the entire site including 3D reconstructions and attributes. Our capture feature generates complete and defensible georeferenced 3D reconstructions which can be communicated seamlessly back to ArcGIS. New Guide-To Feature: PIX4Dcatch has a guide-to feature directing users to specified geolocated assets for staking, boosting onsite efficiency and accuracy. Just select the point or reconstruction you would like to find and follow the arrows in AR. WORKFLOW 1 – Scan & Capture Walk around your site. The app automatically gathers data and provides live feedback using iOS LiDAR, ensuring you capture every detail. For enhanced accuracy, use an RTK device compatible with PIX4Dcatch, PIX4D Autotags with a fully automated workflow, or combine both. 2 – Process, Analyze & Share Process your data by uploading to PIX4Dcloud for online analysis and sharing, or export to PIX4Dmatic for desktop processing. Both platforms offer a 14-day free trial. Projects can also be exported to third-party photogrammetry software. Measure spaces, document results, and enjoy all the benefits of a detailed 2D/3D model of your surroundings. 3 – View in AR Experience an immersive augmented-reality view. Display 3D models and points directly in your phone camera in AR. ____________________ USE CASES • Digitize construction sites • Measure stockpiles and other objects • Document underground utilities • Digitize indoor and outdoor spaces with Autotags • Visualize and verify 3D models in AR in real time • Perform single-point measurements with RTK accuracy ____________________ COMPATIBILITY • Optimized for LiDAR-equipped devices (Pro series phones) • All ARKit-enabled devices • RTK devices: Emlid Reach RX and RX2, TopCon HiPer CR, Bad Elf Flex Mini, Bad Elf Flex, Trimble DA2, Leica Zeno FLX100 ____________________ TERMS OF USE https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Freefly ALTA2 screens
PIX4Dcatch4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: PIX4Dcatch at 4.7 against Freefly ALTA's 2.6. PIX4Dcatch also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (267 vs 5). Freefly ALTA's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 18.0). On price, review sentiment, 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. PIX4Dcatch sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $159.00 per month. Freefly ALTA asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

PIX4Dcatch holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PIX4Dcatch has 267 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of Freefly ALTA's written reviews are positive against 33% of PIX4Dcatch's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Freefly ALTA ships an update every 3 months, PIX4Dcatch every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Freefly ALTA versus PIX4Dcatch: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFreefly ALTAPIX4Dcatch
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.6 (5 ratings)4.7 (267 ratings) — better
Positive reviews25.0% of reviews32.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings5267 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size43 MB239 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFREEFLY SYSTEMS INC.Pix4D

Customer experience

Freefly ALTA

All ratings5 ratings
Positive40.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative60.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive25.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative75.0%

PIX4Dcatch

All ratings264 ratings
Positive92.0%
Neutral1.5%
Negative6.4%
Written reviews40 reviews
Positive32.5%
Neutral7.5%
Negative60.0%

Bugs and requests

Freefly ALTA

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

PIX4Dcatch

Reported bugs

18 issues
  • 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
Show 13 more
  • Outputs contradict (geo tags vs GCP coordinates)
  • Cannot log into Pix account inside the app (keyboard issue)
  • Does not recognize license
  • Stopped uploading
  • Photos stored in app, impossible to get if not uploading
  • Create account impossible
  • Cannot register
  • Cannot get contact without registration
  • App unbrauchbar (unusable)
  • Trial cannot be cancelled
  • Scan took 4 days to process
  • Fatal results
  • Slow and annoying

Requested features

6 requests
  • 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
Show 1 more
  • Allow testing of 3D generation with a limit of pictures or generated 3Ds for free

In-app purchases

None

Freefly ALTA

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

PIX4Dcatch

Subscriptions1
  • PIX4Dcatch Professional14 Days trial$159.001 Month

Questions

Is Freefly ALTA free?
Freefly ALTA 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, Freefly ALTA or PIX4Dcatch?
PIX4Dcatch is rated higher. Freefly ALTA averages 2.6 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while PIX4Dcatch averages 4.7 from 267 ratings.
Do Freefly ALTA or PIX4Dcatch have ads?
Neither Freefly ALTA nor PIX4Dcatch shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Freefly ALTA or PIX4Dcatch?
Freefly ALTA ships an update every 3 months, and PIX4Dcatch every 2 weeks. Most recently, Freefly ALTA was updated on October 10, 2026 and PIX4Dcatch on October 29, 2026.

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