Carlson Scan3D vs Katapult Pro: Complete Comparison (2026)
An in-depth comparison of Carlson Scan3D and Katapult Pro to help you choose the right tool for your business.
Last updated: November 2026
Carlson Scan3D
5.3/10
A handheld 3D scanning app for iOS LiDAR devices and Carlson Windows tablets. It produces colour point clouds for surveyors, engineers and construction teams.
Katapult Pro
6.5/10
Katapult Pro is a cloud pole attachment platform. It covers field data collection, make-ready engineering design, and joint use management for utilities, telecom builders, and OSP engineering firms.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | | |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| Overall Rating | 5.3/10 | 6.5/10 |
| Analytics | 4/10 | 6/10 |
| Cost | 5/10 | 6/10 |
| Customization | 4/10 | 7/10 |
| Ease of Use | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Integration | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Scalability | 4/10 | 7/10 |
| Security | 6/10 | 5/10 |
| Support | 6/10 | 7/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | No | No |
| Cheapest paid plan | Contact for pricing | $116/mo Data Collection |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | Contact for pricing | $116/mo Data Collection |
| Features | ||
| Asset Registry | Not listed | |
| Engineering Design | Not listed | |
| Engineering Simulation | Not listed | |
| GIS and Mapping | Not listed | |
| Inspection Checklists | Not listed | |
| LiDAR Processing | Not listed | |
| Offline Field App | Not listed | |
| Power Line Inspection | Not listed | |
| Safety and Compliance | Not listed | |
Carlson Scan3D vs Katapult Pro cost by team size
| Team size | Carlson Scan3D | Katapult Pro |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | Contact for pricing | $116/moData Collection |
| 5 users | Contact for pricing | $116/moData Collection |
| 10 users | Contact for pricing | $116/moData Collection |
| 25 users | Contact for pricing | $116/moData Collection |
| 50 users | Contact for pricing | $116/moData Collection |
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 Carlson Scan3D
- Higher Security score (6/10 vs 5/10)
Why choose Katapult Pro
- Higher Customization score (7/10 vs 4/10)
- Higher Scalability score (7/10 vs 4/10)
- Better fit for engineering firms (9/10 vs 7/10)
Pros & Cons
Carlson Scan3D
Pros
- All processing happens on the device, so scans can be made in trenches, vaults or remote sites without a connection.
- Exports DP, E57, RCS, LAS and LAZ files, which load into most point cloud tools.
- Scans can be geo-referenced with Carlson GNSS receivers and survey control files.
- Merges with drone, terrestrial and aerial LiDAR clouds in Carlson Point Cloud to fill gaps.
Cons
- Windows prices are not published, so buyers must go through a dealer.
- Phone LiDAR and depth-camera capture suits small objects and spaces, not large sites.
- There are almost no independent user reviews or ratings to check its performance.
- LandXML model comparison and direct .DP import into Carlson Point Cloud were announced as coming soon at launch.
Katapult Pro
Pros
- Pricing is published, contracts are month to month, and there is no cancellation penalty, which is rare among pole engineering tools.
- Read-only users are free, so stakeholders can review data without paying for a license.
- Field crews can collect pole photos and heights without entering the power space, and photos are matched to poles automatically.
- Clearance violation detection and pole loading are built in, with SPIDAcalc export included.
- Joint use workflows track FCC shot clock deadlines for utilities.
Cons
- O-Calc Pro export costs an extra $231 a month.
- Joint Use Management and Site License pricing are not published.
- The one-time setup fee of $1,815, plus optional equipment the site lists at $3,200 to $3,450, raises the cost of getting started.
- Reviewers say results depend on clean, consistent input data, and clearance checks can feel worksheet-like for edge cases.
- It is focused on pole attachment work and does not offer general CMMS features such as work orders or spare parts.
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
Katapult Pro scores higher on our Industrial & Infrastructure Software criteria: 6.5/10 against 5.3/10 for Carlson Scan3D. The largest gap is in Customization: 4/10 for Carlson Scan3D and 7/10 for Katapult Pro.
No, neither Carlson Scan3D nor Katapult Pro lists a free plan.
Katapult Pro is the better fit for engineering firms: we rate it 9/10 for them, against 7/10 for Carlson Scan3D.
