Best 3D Scanner Apps (2026): 10 Phone Apps Compared

A 3D scanner app turns a phone into a way to capture objects, rooms or whole sites as 3D models. The apps don't all work the same way, though, and the method each one uses decides which phone you'll need.

The ten apps below are listed alphabetically, in no particular order, and each description comes from the app's own listing or website, read as of Nov 2026. I've kept to what each page says about how it scans and what it exports.

3D scanning apps compared by method

Tool	Type	Good for
3D Scanner App	LiDAR and TrueDepth scanning app	Lots of export formats
Abound	Scan, create and edit in 3D	Scans plus AI-made models
KIRI Engine	Photo and LiDAR scanner	Photo scans as well as LiDAR
Luma 3D Capture	AI 3D capture for iPhone	No LiDAR needed
MagiScan	AI 3D scanner using the phone camera	Exports to Omniverse and Minecraft
Modelar	LiDAR field capture with a cloud workspace	Point clouds and on-model measuring
Polycam	Scanning app for floor plans and CAD	Floor plans and as-builts from a scan
Qlone	Mat-based object scanner	No LiDAR required
Scaniverse	Capture and reconstruction app from Niantic Spatial	Combining scans into one site project
SiteScape	LiDAR scanner for construction work	Built for architecture and construction

Ten apps that capture objects, rooms and sites

3D Scanner App

Best for: Capturing rooms and objects with LiDAR or TrueDepth, then exporting to OBJ, GLTF, GLB, DAE and STL, or as raw point clouds.

Abound

Best for: Scanning objects and spaces on iPhone, iPad or the web, with an AI mode that makes models from a photo or a description.

KIRI Engine

Best for: Building models from photos on iPhone, Android or the web, with a LiDAR scan for LiDAR-equipped iOS devices and Gaussian splatting.

Luma 3D Capture

Best for: Capturing products, objects and scenes in 3D on an iPhone 11 or newer without LiDAR, then sharing them on the web or taking them into Blender or Unity.

MagiScan

Best for: Turning real objects into 3D models with just a phone camera, then exporting to OBJ, STL, USDZ and more, NVIDIA Omniverse or Minecraft blocks.

Modelar

Best for: Recording LiDAR point clouds and textured meshes on site, measuring on the model and exporting in open formats for CAD and GIS.

Polycam

Best for: Taking one phone scan through to floor plans, as-builts, measurements and CAD-ready exports, as well as 3D models and point clouds.

Qlone

Best for: Scanning small objects on a printed mat or without one, editing them in the app and exporting for 3D printing and AR.

Scaniverse

Best for: Mapping spaces indoors and out, from a single room to a warehouse, and combining scans from several people and devices into one site project.

SiteScape

Best for: Architects, engineers and builders capturing LiDAR scans on a Pro iPhone or iPad and sending them to CAD programs such as Revit and AutoCAD.

LiDAR, photos or AI: how each app captures

Read the listings side by side and the methods sort into three. LiDAR apps use a sensor that only some phones and tablets have. 3D Scanner App scans 'using LIDAR or TrueDepth technology', and SiteScape's listing says it 'REQUIRES IPHONE 12/13/14 PRO', a Pro Max or a 2020-2022 iPad Pro.

Photo apps build a model from pictures or video. Luma says 'No Lidar or fancy capture equipment necessary', only 'an iPhone 11 or newer'. Qlone says 'LiDAR not required!' and can scan objects on a mat you print yourself, and KIRI Engine offers a 'Photo Scan' it pitches at all smartphones, alongside a 'LiDAR Scan' for 'your LiDAR-equipped iOS device'.

AI apps go further still. Abound's 'AI Mode lets you create 3D models from a photo or by describing what you want'. MagiScan, which calls itself 'an AI-driven 3D scanning app', exports to 'NVIDIA Omniverse' and into 'Minecraft as block structures', and its listing notes that it's an unofficial app for Minecraft.

Scans that turn into floor plans and CAD files

Some apps are built for work on site. Polycam turns a scan into 'floor plans, as-builts, estimates, roof reports, claims files, measurements, and CAD-ready exports'. Modelar captures LiDAR point clouds and textured meshes in the field, then lets you measure on the model and export in 'open point-cloud and textured mesh formats'. Scaniverse, from Niantic Spatial, says you can 'Combine scans from multiple users and devices into one unified site project'.

That's the split a searcher wouldn't guess: several apps need a LiDAR-equipped phone, others work from photos on almost any phone, and a few go beyond scanning into floor plans, CAD or AI-made models. Check your phone's model against the listing before you get attached to an app.

File formats to check before you scan

If the model is going somewhere else, the export list matters as much as the scan. Here's what to look for on each listing.

• 3D printing. Look for STL, which several of these apps list among their exports, and one says it exports straight to 3D printers.
• Games and 3D software. OBJ, FBX and GLB come up often, and one app names Blender, Unity and Unreal as places to use its models.
• Point clouds. If you need survey-style data, look for formats such as PLY, LAS or XYZ.
• The web. Some apps share a model by link, and one lets you embed a scan on a web page with a single line of HTML.

Questions to ask before you pick a scanning app

1. Does my phone have the sensor this app needs?
2. Am I scanning small objects, rooms or whole sites?
3. Which file format does the next tool in my workflow open?
4. Does processing happen on the phone or in the cloud?
5. What does the free version let me scan and export?

Do you make a 3D scanner app? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.

My advice on choosing a 3D scanner app

Start with your phone. If it has LiDAR, the LiDAR apps are worth a look for rooms and larger spaces, and if it doesn't, a photo-based app will still get you a model of an object. Then think about where the model is going, whether that's a 3D printer, a game engine, a CAD program or a web page, and pick the app whose export list matches. Try the free version first and export one test scan before you commit.

If you'd rather make a model from scratch than scan one, my guide to turning an image into a 3D model covers that side, and my one on drawing a floor plan with AI for free helps if floor plans are all you need.

Want your tool on this list? Featured spots and reviews here are paid partnerships. Here's how to partner with me.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best 3D scanner app?

There's no single best one. LiDAR apps suit people with a LiDAR-equipped phone who want rooms and spaces, photo apps suit phones without LiDAR, and site apps suit floor plans and CAD work. Start with your phone and your output.

Do I need LiDAR to scan in 3D?

Not always. Some apps here require a LiDAR-equipped iPhone or iPad, while others say LiDAR isn't required and build models from photos or video. Check the listing for your phone model.

Can I scan in 3D on Android?

Some apps say so. One app on this list pitches its photo scan at all smartphones and the web, while several others are iPhone and iPad apps. Check your app store.

Can I 3D print a phone scan?

Some apps make that easier. One says it exports to 3D printers, and several list STL among their export formats. At least one also lets you crop and refine a scan on the device before you export it.

Can a 3D scanner app make floor plans?

Some can. One app turns a scan into floor plans, as-builts and CAD-ready exports, and another offers a RoomPlan mode for quick floor plans. This list sticks to 3D capture, so a dedicated room planner may suit you better if floor plans are all you need.

Are 3D scanner apps free?

Several are free to download, and some name a free version or free tier on their own pages, as of Nov 2026. Some free versions limit exports or scans, so check what you can export before you scan anything big.