Carlson Scan vs Trendspek: Complete Comparison (2026)
An in-depth comparison of Carlson Scan and Trendspek to help you choose the right tool for your business.
Last updated: November 2026
Carlson Scan
4.8/10
Windows software that runs Carlson's laser scanners and borehole tools to capture, mesh and measure underground voids, stopes and boreholes for mining and civil surveyors.
Trendspek
6.8/10
Trendspek is a 3D structural lifecycle management platform that lets infrastructure owners and engineers inspect, report on, plan remediation for, and monitor assets in engineering-grade digital twins.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | C Carlson Scan | |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| Overall Rating | 4.8/10 | 6.8/10 |
| Integration | 4/10 | 7/10 |
| Security | 4/10 | 9/10 |
| Support | 5/10 | 7/10 |
| Cost | 6/10 | 5/10 |
| Analytics | 5/10 | 7/10 |
| Ease of Use | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Customization | 4/10 | 7/10 |
| Scalability | 4/10 | 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 | ||
| Inspection Automation | ||
| LiDAR Processing | ||
| Asset Registry | Not listed | |
| Digital Twin | Not listed | |
| Document Control | Not listed | |
| Drone Inspection | Not listed | |
| Inspection Checklists | Not listed | |
| Offline Field App | Not listed | |
Which One Should You Choose?
CWhy choose Carlson Scan
- Higher Cost score (6/10 vs 5/10)
Why choose Trendspek
- Higher Security score (9/10 vs 4/10)
- Higher Integration score (7/10 vs 4/10)
- Better fit for engineering firms (8/10 vs 6/10)
Pros & Cons
CCarlson Scan
Pros
- Shows the point cloud and mesh live during a scan, so crews can check coverage before they leave the site.
- Calculates closed surfaces and volumes on the spot, which suits stope and void reconciliation.
- Processes data on the device, so it works underground with no internet connection.
- The license allows installation on any number of tablets, and version updates have been free for hardware owners.
- Exports to E57, LAS, PTS and DXF for use in CAD and blast design tools.
Cons
- Works only with Carlson's own scanners and probes, so it cannot be bought or used on its own.
- Older C-ALS Mk3 and original Void Scanner units cannot move past legacy version 1.3.6.
- There is no public pricing, and the hardware must be quoted through sales or dealers.
- Almost no independent user reviews were found, which makes it hard to compare against rivals.
- Runs on Windows only.
Trendspek
Pros
- Unlimited users on every plan, so contractors and stakeholders can be added without per-seat fees
- Overlays and compares photogrammetry, lidar, thermal and BIM data on one 3D asset record
- Strong security credentials, with ISO 27001, ISO 27701 and SOC 2 Type II, plus SSO, MFA and private cloud options
- Large named customers report results, such as NSW Ports cutting the cost of a jetty inspection by two-thirds
- The asset owner keeps the inspection history, whichever contractor did the capture
Cons
- No public prices, so a quote requires a consultation and pilot
- Processing of new captures is billed separately from the plan
- Not a full CMMS: work orders and spare parts depend on external integrations
- Few independent user reviews are available on the major review sites
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
Trendspek scores higher on our Industrial & Infrastructure Software criteria: 6.8/10 against 4.8/10 for Carlson Scan. The largest gap is in Security: 4/10 for Carlson Scan and 9/10 for Trendspek.
No, neither Carlson Scan nor Trendspek lists a free plan.
Trendspek is the better fit for engineering firms: we rate it 8/10 for them, against 6/10 for Carlson Scan.
