Carlson Scan3D vs Trendspek: Complete Comparison (2026)
An in-depth comparison of Carlson Scan3D and Trendspek 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.
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 | | |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| Overall Rating | 5.3/10 | 6.8/10 |
| Analytics | 4/10 | 7/10 |
| Cost | 5/10 | 5/10 |
| Customization | 4/10 | 7/10 |
| Ease of Use | 7/10 | 6/10 |
| Integration | 6/10 | 7/10 |
| Scalability | 4/10 | 7/10 |
| Security | 6/10 | 9/10 |
| Support | 6/10 | 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 | ||
| LiDAR Processing | ||
| Asset Registry | Not listed | |
| Digital Twin | Not listed | |
| Document Control | Not listed | |
| Drone Inspection | Not listed | |
| Inspection Automation | Not listed | |
| Inspection Checklists | Not listed | |
| Offline Field App | Not listed | |
Which One Should You Choose?
Why choose Carlson Scan3D
- Higher Ease of Use score (7/10 vs 6/10)
Why choose Trendspek
- Higher Analytics score (7/10 vs 4/10)
- Higher Customization score (7/10 vs 4/10)
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.
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 5.3/10 for Carlson Scan3D. The largest gap is in Analytics: 4/10 for Carlson Scan3D and 7/10 for Trendspek.
No, neither Carlson Scan3D nor Trendspek lists a free plan.
