Best Free 3D Scanner Apps (2026) With No Export Paywall

In 2026, “free 3D Scanner app” rarely means “free to finish a project.” Many free tiers let you capture a scan, then block real workflows with photo caps, processing quotas, or export restrictions—right when you need files for Blender, Unity/Unreal, or 3D printing.

This guide filters for free tiers you can actually use end-to-end: you can keep scanning and export free-tier outputs without export credits or subscription-gated exports. For each app, we label the output type (mesh vs 3DGS/splats) and call out the practical limits—input caps, processing style, and workflow fit.

A workflow-first snapshot: this guide compares free tiers by what you can actually export—editable meshes for production pipelines vs 3DGS/splats for visualization—plus the real limits like input caps and processing style.

TL;DR (Quick Picks)

• Best free mesh workflow: KIRI Engine — mesh-first free tier with no export credits for free-tier outputs; PhotoScan up to 150 photos/scan; separate PhotoScan and LiDAR Scan modes (device-dependent).

• Best on-device speed + privacy: Scaniverse — local PhotoScan + 3DGS; fast on-device turnaround; results can be less consistent than heavier pipelines.

• Most photogrammetry-first (PhotoScan-only): RealityScan — up to 300 photos/scan; heavier and slower; strong on textured subjects; classic PhotoScan weaknesses remain on smooth/low-feature objects.

• Best for 3DGS showcases (not mesh pipelines): Luma AI — 3DGS-only; no mesh export for Blender/game/print pipelines; officially no longer actively updated, but currently usable.

Note: Policies and capabilities can change. Always confirm export options and limits inside the app and the official plan page.

At-a-Glance Comparison

1) KIRI Engine — Best Free Choice for Practical Mesh Workflows (with Clear Upgrade Paths)

If your goal is an editable mesh you can actually use—for Blender cleanup, Unity/Unreal assets, or 3D printing—KIRI Engine is the most practical free-tier pick in this list, mainly because it supports real iteration: you can keep scanning and exporting without getting blocked at the export step.

Section header image for KIRI Engine, introducing its free-tier mesh workflow focus for Blender, game engines, and 3D printing.

Best for

• Blender workflows: export meshes you can clean, retopo, UV, and texture

• Game development: mesh-based assets for standard Unity/Unreal pipelines

• 3D printing: meshes you can repair and prep for slicing

Two separate capture modes (important)

• PhotoScan mode: photo-based reconstruction that generates meshes (free tier supports up to 150 photos per scan)

• LiDAR Scan mode: a separate capture mode on compatible devices, useful for faster capture in certain scenarios

Why it stands out (even on the free tier)

KIRI Engine’s PhotoScan mode is usable as a free-tier option because it supports unlimited scanning and exporting of free-tier outputs (no export credits or subscription-gated exports), which matters when you need multiple attempts to reach a usable mesh. Recent reconstruction updates have improved fine-detail capture and surface consistency, including on smoother or low-texture subjects where traditional PhotoScan workflows often produce holes or warped geometry. Turnaround time has also improved; in typical cases, a PhotoScan can finish in around ~2 minutes, though both quality and speed still depend on capture quality, scene complexity, and network conditions.

Side-by-side PhotoScan mesh comparison on a low-texture object: the updated pipeline shows cleaner geometry and more consistent surfaces than the previous version (results still depend on capture quality and lighting).

It also includes a separate LiDAR Scan mode on compatible devices, which can be useful for faster capture in certain scenarios—though results and availability depend on your hardware.

Limitations / watch-outs

The free tier is strongest for PhotoScan-based mesh workflows and has a per-scan input cap (up to 150 photos per scan). Advanced outputs and hard-subject tooling—such as 3DGS, 3DGS Mesh, Featureless Object Scan, and AI-enhanced LiDAR—are not part of the free tier.

Example of an advanced output (3DGS to Mesh) referenced in the limitations section: this type of conversion and other hard-subject tools are not part of KIRI Engine’s free tier.

Upgrade notes (optional)

If you later need splat outputs (3DGS), a mesh-inclusive splat pipeline (3DGS Mesh), or better handling for low-feature subjects (Featureless Object Scan), those capabilities are available on paid plans. Paid tiers may also raise PhotoScan capacity (e.g., up to 500 photos per scan, plan-dependent).

Tip: Even with improved pipelines, smooth or reflective items still benefit from controlled lighting, sharp shots, and high overlap. Processing improvements help, but capture technique remains a major factor.

2) Scaniverse — Fast On-Device Scanning (PhotoScan + 3DGS)

Scaniverse is the “scan right now” option—especially if you care about speed, privacy, and local processing.

Best for

• Quick iteration and fast environment capture

• On-device workflows where you don’t want to rely on cloud processing

• 3DGS-style visualization when you want results immediately

  Scaniverse processes scans on-device, which supports fast turnaround and offline-friendly workflows when you don’t want to rely on cloud processing.

What you get on the free tier

Scaniverse supports unlimited scanning and exporting of free-tier outputs (no export credits or subscription-gated exports), with reconstruction running locally on-device.

Capture note: Scaniverse’s official guidance recommends keeping captures to roughly 1–3 minutes; longer capture sessions can sometimes reduce output quality. In practice, shorter, well-lit passes with steady overlap tend to produce more consistent results than simply recording for longer.

Limitations / watch-outs

Because Scaniverse is optimized for speed and convenience, results can be less consistent than heavier pipelines—particularly in difficult lighting, reflective materials, or low-feature scenes. Mesh outputs may require more cleanup depending on the subject.

Example mesh comparison illustrating a common tradeoff: Scaniverse favors speed and on-device processing, while mesh consistency and cleanup needs can vary depending on the subject, lighting, and capture quality.

Fits common pipelines like this

• Blender / games: great for references and quick capture; meshes may require cleanup

• Showcase / splat viewers: often a strong fit because speed and immediacy matter

3) RealityScan — Professional-Leaning, Photogrammetry-First (PhotoScan Only)

RealityScan is better described as photogrammetry-first than “beginner-friendly.” It’s heavier, slower, and rewards careful capture, but can deliver impressive meshes when conditions are right.

RealityScan section header image, introducing a photogrammetry-first (PhotoScan-only) workflow that rewards careful capture but typically takes longer to process.

Best for

• Users comfortable with methodical capture (good lighting, sharp photos, high overlap)

• Projects where you prioritize PhotoScan mesh quality over speed

What you get on the free tier

• PhotoScan mesh only (no 3DGS)

• Up to 300 photos per scan

• A more platform-style export workflow (commonly routed through Sketchfab)

• Unlimited scanning and exporting of free-tier outputs (no export credits or subscription-gated exports)

The key limitation (PhotoScan reality check)

RealityScan inherits classic PhotoScan weaknesses: smooth, shiny, or low-feature objects can scan very poorly, producing holes, warped geometry, or softened surfaces. That limitation is inherent to photo-based reconstruction in general, not just this app.

Note: The image below is illustrative and not generated by RealityScan：

Illustrative PhotoScan example (not a RealityScan output): smooth/low-feature subjects are harder for photogrammetry than feature-rich objects.

It’s also a heavier workflow—processing often takes longer than lighter options, especially on larger captures or high-photo-count projects. If low-feature subjects are common for you, it may be worth comparing with tools that explicitly target smoother surfaces in their PhotoScan pipelines (for example, KIRI Engine’s PhotoScan pipeline has been updated to better handle low-texture objects), though results will still vary with capture conditions.

Fits common pipelines like this

• Blender / games: strong meshes when conditions are right, but expect longer processing and stricter capture requirements

• 3D printing: excellent on textured subjects; featureless surfaces may require more repair work before printing

4) Luma AI — Great for 3DGS Showcases (Not a Mesh Pipeline)

Luma AI is best understood as a 3DGS/splat visualization tool, not a traditional mesh production pipeline.

Section header for Luma AI: a 3DGS/splat-focused tool suited to interactive showcases and visualization, rather than editable mesh workflows for Blender or game engines.

Best for

• Showcase content, interactive viewing, and “visual wow factor” splats

• Quick scene capture where presentation matters more than editability

What you can export (and what you can’t)

Luma is 3DGS-only. There’s no mesh export for traditional workflows like Blender mesh editing, CAD cleanup, production game assets, or 3D printing. It can still support unlimited scanning and exporting for free-tier 3DGS outputs without export credits or subscription-gated exports (based on current behavior), but it’s not a mesh-first tool.

Status note

Luma has been officially announced as no longer actively updated, but at the time of writing, the core experience remains usable.

Why Polycam (and Other Popular Apps) Aren’t Included

Some popular scanning apps, such as Polycam, do offer a free tier. However, it often works more like a trial than a reliable end-to-end workflow. In practice, free plans may limit scan volume (projects, scans, or photo counts), restrict exports or key formats, or place higher-quality processing behind paid tiers.

These apps can be excellent on paid plans. This guide focuses on free tiers that remain meaningfully usable from scan to export.

FAQ

Which free app should I choose for Blender/Unity/Unreal/3D printing?

If you need editable meshes, start with KIRI Engine or RealityScan

What file format should I export for Blender, Unity, and Unreal?

For mesh workflows, OBJ and GLB/GLTF are widely compatible choices. FBX is also common in many game pipelines. For 3D printing, you’ll typically want STL (or export a mesh and convert/repair it into STL). For 3DGS/splats, exports are usually PLY or splat-style formats, which are best for viewers and visualization rather than traditional mesh-based asset pipelines.

Why do smooth or shiny objects fail in PhotoScan/photogrammetry?

Photogrammetry relies on stable, trackable visual features across images. Smooth or reflective surfaces lack consistent features (and reflections change by angle), which often causes holes, warping, or softened surfaces.

How many photos do I need for a good PhotoScan mesh?

Enough to maintain high overlap and sharp coverage from multiple angles. More photos can help up to a point, but lighting, sharpness, and overlap usually matter more than raw count.

Can I use 3DGS/splats in Blender or game engines like a normal asset?

3DGS is great for visualization and interactive viewing, but most production pipelines still rely on meshes (UVs, topology, LODs). Unless your pipeline explicitly supports splats, you’ll usually want a mesh for Blender/Unity/Unreal. In Blender specifically, splats are often handled via dedicated viewers or add-ons (for example, KIRI Engine offers a 3DGS Render add-on), but that’s primarily for viewing/rendering splats—not a substitute for a mesh-based asset workflow.

Is LiDAR “better” than PhotoScan?

They excel at different things: LiDAR can be convenient for larger spaces on compatible devices, while PhotoScan can capture higher-detail surfaces when capture conditions are good. For hard materials (smooth/low-feature), results vary heavily by tool and technique.

If I mainly want 3DGS/splats, which free option should I choose?

If you want on-device speed, go with Scaniverse. If you want showcase-style splats and don’t need meshes, Luma AI can work well—just remember it’s splat-only and no longer actively updated. If you want splat outputs in KIRI Engine, 3DGS is available via paid plans.

Bottom Line

To stay productive on a free tier, pick the workflow you actually need:

• Mesh workflows (Blender / games / 3D printing): start with KIRI Engine or RealityScan

• 3DGS / splat visualization: Scaniverse for fast on-device results; Luma AI for showcase splats (no mesh pipeline)