ArcGIS vs RealityScan (formerly RealityCapture) Comparison
Compare ArcGIS vs RealityScan (formerly RealityCapture) 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.
RealityScan (formerly RealityCapture)
5.8/10
Epic Games' Windows desktop photogrammetry software, formerly RealityCapture, builds 3D meshes, orthophotos and georeferenced models from photos, laser scans and aerial LiDAR.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | | |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| Overall Rating | 7.2/10 | 5.8/10 |
| Analytics | 9/10 | 5/10 |
| Cost | 3/10 | 8/10 |
| Customization | 8/10 | 6/10 |
| Ease of Use | 5/10 | 6/10 |
| Integration | 8/10 | 6/10 |
| Scalability | 9/10 | 7/10 |
| Security | 7/10 | 4/10 |
| Support | 7/10 | 5/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Cheapest paid plan | Contact for pricing | $1,250/user/mo Seat subscription |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | Contact for pricing | $12,500/mo Seat subscription |
| Features | ||
| Work Orders | ||
| 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 | |
| Preventive Maintenance | Not listed | |
| Spare Parts Inventory | Not listed | |
ArcGIS vs RealityScan (formerly RealityCapture) cost by team size
| Team size | ArcGIS | RealityScan (formerly RealityCapture) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | Contact for pricing | $1,250/moSeat subscription |
| 5 users | Contact for pricing | $6,250/moSeat subscription |
| 10 users | Contact for pricing | $12,500/moSeat subscription |
| 25 users | Contact for pricing | $31,250/moSeat subscription |
| 50 users | Contact for pricing | FreeFree |
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 5/10)
- Higher Security score (7/10 vs 4/10)
- Includes Work Orders, which RealityScan (formerly RealityCapture) lacks
Why choose RealityScan (formerly RealityCapture)
- Has a free plan (ArcGIS does not)
- Higher Cost score (8/10 vs 3/10)
- Higher Ease of Use score (6/10 vs 5/10)
- Better fit for small business (9/10 vs 4/10)
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.
RealityScan (formerly RealityCapture)
Pros
- Every feature is free for companies under 1 million USD in revenue and for schools, so small drone firms can process commercial jobs at no cost.
- Version 2.0 can combine aerial LiDAR with aerial and terrestrial imagery in one project.
- Reviewers note fast processing of very large mixed image and laser scan datasets.
- AI masking and quality heatmaps reduce manual cleanup and show coverage gaps before meshing.
- COLMAP export feeds radiance field and Gaussian splatting tools.
Cons
- Runs on Windows only.
- Needs a strong GPU. Older versions required Nvidia CUDA, and AMD support is limited to Windows.
- It is a processing tool only, with no asset management, inspection workflow or maintenance features.
- Perpetual licenses are gone, and larger firms must pay a yearly subscription.
- A 2024 study found Metashape more reliable at the orthophoto texture step.
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 5.8/10 for RealityScan (formerly RealityCapture). The largest gap is in Cost: 3/10 for ArcGIS and 8/10 for RealityScan (formerly RealityCapture).
RealityScan (formerly RealityCapture) has a free plan; ArcGIS does not list one.
RealityScan (formerly RealityCapture) is the better fit for small business: we rate it 9/10 for them, against 4/10 for ArcGIS.
ArcGIS has Work Orders, which RealityScan (formerly RealityCapture) lacks.
