Comparison · Gaussian splatting tools
Neurones 3D vs LichtFeld Studio
Looking for a LichtFeld Studio alternative? Neurones 3D is free, offline point cloud and Gaussian splatting software for Windows: the free viewer runs every process, from AI classification to dimensioned floor plans, and a one-time paid edition saves the results.
LichtFeld Studio is an open-source native desktop application for training, inspecting, editing and exporting 3D Gaussian splatting scenes, extensible with Python plug-ins and automatable through MCP.
By Dr. Florent Poux, maker of Neurones 3D · LichtFeld Studio's facts from LichtFeld Studio project (open source)'s own documentation, checked
The short answer
Choose Neurones 3D when a trained splat has to become survey data: a point cloud, measurements, sections, classification and a floor plan in DXF, beside laser scans, on a licence bought once. Choose LichtFeld Studio when you need to train splats yourself on an NVIDIA GPU, inspect training as it happens and script the pipeline in Python, all under an open-source licence. The two combine naturally: train and edit in LichtFeld Studio, export PLY or SPZ, and take the capture into Neurones 3D for the deliverables.
At a glance
| Neurones 3D | LichtFeld Studio | |
|---|---|---|
| Runs on | Windows 10 and 11 (64-bit) | Windows (prebuilt); Windows and Linux from source; NVIDIA GPU with CUDA 12.8 or newer |
| Where it runs | desktop | desktop |
| Licence | free viewer + one-time paid editions | open source (GPLv3); prebuilt Windows binaries through a donation-funded portal |
| Price | Free viewer; paid editions bought once, no subscription | Free to build from source under GPLv3; prebuilt Windows binaries for a donation of your choosing source |
| Free use | The free viewer opens, views and runs every process; writing results out needs a paid edition | Building from source is free for everyone under GPLv3 |
Feature by feature
"Not stated" means we could not find it in LichtFeld Studio project (open source)'s documentation, not that it is missing. Each of LichtFeld Studio's cells links to where we read it.
| Capability | Neurones 3D | LichtFeld Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Runs fully offline | YesNo account, no internet connection, no telemetry | YesNative desktop application; trains on a local NVIDIA GPU source |
| One-time licence available | YesBought once; no subscription | YesFree under GPLv3; prebuilt binaries for a donation of your choosing source |
| Opens LAS/LAZ and E57 | YesLAS, LAZ, COPC, E57, PLY, PCD and more; a 127.8 M point E57 opens in about 22 s | Not stated |
| Scan registration | PartlyCloud-to-cloud alignment (ICP and graph matching, no initial placement needed), RMS shown with the inlier share | Not stated |
| AI point cloud classification | YesFour trained models ship in every build: indoor, aerial LiDAR, powerline, streetscape; a confidence per point | Not stated |
| Segmentation | YesUnsupervised segmentation, primitive decomposition, components, rooms | Not stated |
| Automatic floor plans | YesAutomatic, dimensioned, with sections and elevations | Not stated |
| DXF / CAD drawings | YesDXF R2000, SVG and PDF; no DWG | Not stated |
| DTM / DSM | YesDTM, DSM, CHM, slope, aspect, hillshade on one grid | Not stated |
| Contour lines | YesContours that cannot cross | Not stated |
| Change detection | YesM3C2 with a 95 % level of detection; cloud-to-cloud and cloud-to-BIM deviation | Not stated |
| Meshing | YesPoisson and clean meshing; the clean mesh is closed, not edge-manifold | Not stated |
| Gaussian splats | YesOpens PLY and SPZ splats, converts them to points, meshes them; does not train splats | YesTrains from COLMAP datasets; exports PLY, SOG, SPZ and a standalone HTML viewer source |
| Reports | YesSelf-contained HTML reports with provenance | Not stated |
| Scripting / SDK | YesEngine & SDK edition: Python package and headless command line | YesPython plug-ins, embedded Python and MCP automation source |
Where Neurones 3D is stronger
- Converts a splat to a point cloud and draws a dimensioned floor plan saved as DXF R2000, SVG and PDF.
- Measures distances, areas and volumes and cuts 2D sections through the converted cloud.
- Classifies the converted cloud with trained models (indoor, aerial LiDAR, powerline, streetscape), with a confidence per point.
- Opens LAS, LAZ and E57 laser scans beside splats, and meshes splats to a three-level glTF LOD chain.
Where LichtFeld Studio is stronger
- LichtFeld Studio trains Gaussian splats and resumes from checkpoints; Neurones 3D does not train splats.
- It is free and open source under GPLv3, with Python plug-ins and MCP automation.
- It shows training live and edits Gaussian selections with history.
Who should choose which
Choose Neurones 3D to take a point cloud or a splat capture to a finished deliverable on your own machine: classified LAS, a dimensioned floor plan with sections and elevations in DXF, a DTM with contours, a change map or a report, without an account, an upload or a subscription. Every figure it publishes is measured; see the benchmarks.
Choose LichtFeld Studio: Researchers and technical artists who want to train and edit splats locally on an NVIDIA GPU, with full control over training and scripting.
Questions
Is LichtFeld Studio free?
LichtFeld Studio: Free to build from source under GPLv3; prebuilt Windows binaries for a donation of your choosing. Free use: Building from source is free for everyone under GPLv3. Neurones 3D’s free viewer opens, views and runs every process; writing results out needs a paid edition bought once.
Does LichtFeld Studio work offline?
LichtFeld Studio: yes. Native desktop application; trains on a local NVIDIA GPU. Neurones 3D: yes. No account, no internet connection, no telemetry.
Does LichtFeld Studio support Gaussian splats?
LichtFeld Studio: yes. Trains from COLMAP datasets; exports PLY, SOG, SPZ and a standalone HTML viewer. Neurones 3D: yes. Opens PLY and SPZ splats, converts them to points, meshes them; does not train splats.
What is the best alternative to LichtFeld Studio?
Choose Neurones 3D when a trained splat has to become survey data: a point cloud, measurements, sections, classification and a floor plan in DXF, beside laser scans, on a licence bought once. Choose LichtFeld Studio when you need to train splats yourself on an NVIDIA GPU, inspect training as it happens and script the pipeline in Python, all under an open-source licence. The two combine naturally: train and edit in LichtFeld Studio, export PLY or SPZ, and take the capture into Neurones 3D for the deliverables.
How this comparison was made
Written by the maker of Neurones 3D, so read it as such. LichtFeld Studio's column comes only from LichtFeld Studio project (open source)'s published documentation and listings, read on 2026-09-24; where we found nothing, the cell says "not stated". Neurones 3D's column comes from its own guides, which give the limits too. If something here is wrong or out of date, write to howto@learngeodata.eu and it will be corrected.
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