ArcGIS vs FARO SCENE Comparison
Compare ArcGIS vs FARO SCENE features, pricing, and more.
Last updated: November 2026
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.
FARO SCENE
5.5/10
Windows desktop software for registering, processing, colorizing and viewing 3D laser scan point clouds, mainly from FARO Focus, Orbis, Swift and Freestyle scanners.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | | F FARO SCENE |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| Overall Rating | 7.2/10 | 5.5/10 |
| Analytics | 9/10 | 4/10 |
| Cost | 3/10 | 4/10 |
| Customization | 8/10 | 6/10 |
| Ease of Use | 5/10 | 6/10 |
| Integration | 8/10 | 6/10 |
| Scalability | 9/10 | 6/10 |
| Security | 7/10 | 5/10 |
| Support | 7/10 | 6/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Cheapest paid plan | Contact for pricing | Contact for pricing |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | Contact for pricing | Free Free Trial |
| Features | ||
| Asset Registry | Not listed | |
| GIS and Mapping | Not listed | |
| Inspection Checklists | Not listed | |
| LiDAR Processing | Not listed | |
| Offline Field App | Not listed | |
| Work Orders | Not listed | |
ArcGIS vs FARO SCENE cost by team size
| Team size | ArcGIS | FARO SCENE |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | Contact for pricing | FreeFree Trial |
| 5 users | Contact for pricing | FreeFree Trial |
| 10 users | Contact for pricing | FreeFree Trial |
| 25 users | Contact for pricing | FreeFree Trial |
| 50 users | Contact for pricing | FreeFree Trial |
The plan that fits each team size, billed monthly, before add-ons and usage charges. Each cost opens that tool's pricing calculator for the team size.
Which One Should You Choose?
Why choose ArcGIS
- Higher Analytics score (9/10 vs 4/10)
- Higher Scalability score (9/10 vs 6/10)
- Better fit for government (9/10 vs 6/10)
FWhy choose FARO SCENE
- Has a free plan (ArcGIS does not)
- Higher Cost score (4/10 vs 3/10)
- Higher Ease of Use score (6/10 vs 5/10)
Pros & Cons
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.
FFARO SCENE
Pros
- Hybrid registration combines cloud-to-cloud, target-based and survey-control methods in one workflow.
- Reads data natively from FARO Focus, Swift, Orbis, Freestyle 2 and Blink scanners.
- Automatically detects spheres, checkerboards, coded markers and natural features such as planes and corners.
- The free SCENE 2go viewer lets clients open a project without installing anything.
- Updated actively, with version 2026.1 released in May 2026.
Cons
- FARO publishes no list prices, and you need ongoing maintenance or a subscription to get new versions.
- No machine learning classification, and deep GD&T or tolerance analysis needs extra tools such as PolyWorks.
- Third-party scanner data is supported, but the workflow is less smooth than with FARO devices.
- Windows only, needs a powerful workstation, and new users face a learning curve.
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 5.5/10 for FARO SCENE. The largest gap is in Analytics: 9/10 for ArcGIS and 4/10 for FARO SCENE.
FARO SCENE has a free plan; ArcGIS does not list one.
ArcGIS is the better fit for government: we rate it 9/10 for them, against 6/10 for FARO SCENE.
