Agisoft Metashape vs ArcGIS Comparison
Compare Agisoft Metashape vs ArcGIS features, pricing, and more.
Last updated: November 2026
Agisoft Metashape
6.3/10
Desktop photogrammetry software that turns drone, aerial and close-range photos into point clouds, meshes, DEMs and orthomosaics for surveying and mapping.
ArcGIS
7.2/10
Esri's GIS platform for mapping, spatial analysis and field data collection, used by utilities, governments and infrastructure owners to manage networks and assets.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | | |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| Overall Rating | 6.3/10 | 7.2/10 |
| Analytics | 6/10 | 9/10 |
| Cost | 8/10 | 3/10 |
| Customization | 8/10 | 8/10 |
| Ease of Use | 6/10 | 5/10 |
| Integration | 6/10 | 8/10 |
| Scalability | 7/10 | 9/10 |
| Security | 5/10 | 7/10 |
| Support | 5/10 | 7/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | No | No |
| Cheapest paid plan | Contact for pricing | Contact for pricing |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | Contact for pricing | Contact for pricing |
| Features | ||
| Asset Registry | Not listed | |
| Drone Inspection | Not listed | |
| GIS and Mapping | Not listed | |
| Inspection Checklists | Not listed | |
| LiDAR Processing | Not listed | |
| Offline Field App | Not listed | |
| Work Orders | Not listed | |
Which One Should You Choose?
Why choose Agisoft Metashape
- Higher Cost score (8/10 vs 3/10)
- Higher Ease of Use score (6/10 vs 5/10)
Why choose ArcGIS
- Higher Analytics score (9/10 vs 6/10)
- Higher Integration score (8/10 vs 6/10)
Pros & Cons
Agisoft Metashape
Pros
- Perpetual licenses avoid subscriptions: Standard is $179 and Professional is $3,499 as a one-time cost.
- Reviewers praise the quality of its DEMs and orthomosaics.
- The Python and Java API allows automated, customized processing pipelines.
- Network processing spreads large projects across multiple local nodes.
- Runs on Windows, macOS and Linux.
- Moving from PhotoScan to Metashape was free, and Standard licenses can be upgraded.
Cons
- Users report long processing times and difficult troubleshooting.
- Automatic GCP target detection sometimes fails.
- Some users find textures messier than in competing tools.
- There are no asset management, work order or inspection reporting workflows.
- The online store currently accepts only wire transfer, ACH or SEPA.
- Support is mainly email and forum based.
ArcGIS
Pros
- One platform covers desktop, cloud, self-hosted and mobile GIS, so office and field teams work from the same data.
- Field Maps works fully offline for maps, forms, tasks and utility network tracing.
- Integrates with Cityworks, Salesforce, Power Automate and offers APIs for custom systems.
- G2 reviewers praise how it handles layers and datasets and how easy cloud access makes remote work.
Cons
- No public pricing, and reviewers cite subscription and credit costs as the main complaint.
- Credits are consumed by premium services, which can limit heavy use.
- ArcGIS Online lacks some geoprocessing tools found in ArcGIS Pro and Desktop.
- Reviewers report a steep learning curve without training.
Not sold on either?
Air Inspection Automation (AiA)Our product
Plans DJI drone inspection missions for power line towers from LiDAR scans: it finds the towers, places photo stops, checks clearance, and splits the route into battery flights.
Made by the team behind b stack radar. Shown here because it fits this topic. It is not part of our rankings. How we rank tools
Frequently Asked Questions
ArcGIS scores higher on our Industrial & Infrastructure Software criteria: 7.2/10 against 6.3/10 for Agisoft Metashape. The largest gap is in Cost: 8/10 for Agisoft Metashape and 3/10 for ArcGIS.
No, neither Agisoft Metashape nor ArcGIS lists a free plan.
