QGIS vs RealityScan (formerly RealityCapture) Comparison
Compare QGIS vs RealityScan (formerly RealityCapture) features, pricing, and more.
Last updated: November 2026
QGIS
7/10
QGIS is a free, open source desktop GIS. Organisations use it to view, edit, analyse and map spatial data, including vector, raster, mesh and point cloud layers.
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 | 7/10 | 5.8/10 |
| Analytics | 8/10 | 5/10 |
| Cost | 10/10 | 8/10 |
| Customization | 9/10 | 6/10 |
| Ease of Use | 5/10 | 6/10 |
| Integration | 8/10 | 6/10 |
| Scalability | 6/10 | 7/10 |
| Security | 5/10 | 4/10 |
| Support | 5/10 | 5/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Cheapest paid plan | Contact for pricing | $1,250/user/mo Seat subscription |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | Free QGIS (open source) | $12,500/mo Seat subscription |
| Features | ||
| LiDAR Processing | ||
| Drone Inspection | Not listed | |
| GIS and Mapping | Not listed | |
| Preventive Maintenance | Not listed | |
| Spare Parts Inventory | Not listed | |
| Work Orders | ||
QGIS vs RealityScan (formerly RealityCapture) cost by team size
QGIS costs less up to 25 users; QGIS and RealityScan (formerly RealityCapture) cost the same at 50 users.
| Team size | QGIS | RealityScan (formerly RealityCapture) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | FreeQGIS (open source) | $1,250/moSeat subscription |
| 5 users | FreeQGIS (open source) | $6,250/moSeat subscription |
| 10 users | FreeQGIS (open source) | $12,500/moSeat subscription |
| 25 users | FreeQGIS (open source) | $31,250/moSeat subscription |
| 50 users | FreeQGIS (open source) | 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 QGIS
- Lower estimated cost for 10 users: Free vs $12,500/mo
- Higher Analytics score (8/10 vs 5/10)
- Higher Customization score (9/10 vs 6/10)
Why choose RealityScan (formerly RealityCapture)
- Higher Ease of Use score (6/10 vs 5/10)
- Higher Scalability score (7/10 vs 6/10)
Pros & Cons
QGIS
Pros
- No licence fees on any number of seats, under the GPLv2+ open source licence.
- Python and C++ plugins let teams add custom tools and database connectors such as PostGIS.
- It reads many data formats and standard web services, which makes it easy to connect to existing data.
- Its print layout, atlas and report tools suit organisations that produce a lot of maps.
- It loads LAS, LAZ and virtual point cloud datasets with classification-based rendering.
Cons
- Capterra reviewers report slow performance, freezes and crashes on heavy workloads.
- Newcomers describe a steep learning curve and say installation can be difficult.
- There is no vendor-backed support contract; help comes from the community or third-party providers.
- It cannot edit point clouds and has no asset maintenance features such as work orders.
- Some reviewers say it lacks tools that ArcGIS Pro offers.
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
QGIS scores higher on our Industrial & Infrastructure Software criteria: 7/10 against 5.8/10 for RealityScan (formerly RealityCapture). The largest gap is in Analytics: 8/10 for QGIS and 5/10 for RealityScan (formerly RealityCapture).
QGIS costs less for 10 users: free on its QGIS (open source) plan, against about $12,500/mo on its Seat subscription plan for RealityScan (formerly RealityCapture), billed monthly.
Yes, both QGIS and RealityScan (formerly RealityCapture) have a free plan.
