Comparison · Aerial and drone LiDAR, GIS and photogrammetry
Neurones 3D vs LP360
Looking for a LP360 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.
LP360 is LiDAR and photogrammetry point cloud software developed by GeoCue since 2006, sold as LP360 Drone, Land and Geospatial, with LP360 Cloud and AI classification add-ons.
By Dr. Florent Poux, maker of Neurones 3D · LP360's facts from GeoCue's own documentation, checked
The short answer
Choose Neurones 3D if you want trained classifiers that run entirely on your own machine, with no cloud upload, alongside terrain, contours, M3C2 change detection and DXF drawings, and a free viewer that runs every process before you buy. Choose LP360 if you run a drone or airborne LiDAR production line and need QA/QC, strip alignment, breakline-driven surfaces and feature extraction from a vendor that specialises in that workflow.
At a glance
| Neurones 3D | LP360 | |
|---|---|---|
| Runs on | Windows 10 and 11 (64-bit) | Desktop application, with LP360 Cloud |
| Where it runs | desktop | desktop |
| Licence | free viewer + one-time paid editions | machine (node-locked) or concurrent (floating) licences in Basic, Standard and Advanced plans |
| Price | Free viewer; paid editions bought once, no subscription | price on request source |
| Free use | The free viewer opens, views and runs every process; writing results out needs a paid edition | Not stated on the pages read |
Feature by feature
"Not stated" means we could not find it in GeoCue's documentation, not that it is missing. Each of LP360's cells links to where we read it.
| Capability | Neurones 3D | LP360 |
|---|---|---|
| Runs fully offline | YesNo account, no internet connection, no telemetry | PartlyDesktop application; the AI classification add-ons process jobs on LP360 Cloud source |
| One-time licence available | YesBought once; no subscription | Not stated |
| Opens LAS/LAZ and E57 | YesLAS, LAZ, COPC, E57, PLY, PCD and more; a 127.8 M point E57 opens in about 22 s | PartlyManages terabytes across thousands of LAS files; E57 is not mentioned on the pages read source |
| Scan registration | PartlyCloud-to-cloud alignment (ICP and graph matching, no initial placement needed), RMS shown with the inlier share | Add-onStrip Align geometric correction is an add-on source |
| AI point cloud classification | YesFour trained models ship in every build: indoor, aerial LiDAR, powerline, streetscape; a confidence per point | In the cloudAI Ground+, AI Forestry and AI Utilities add-ons; jobs are submitted from the desktop to LP360 Cloud source |
| Segmentation | YesUnsupervised segmentation, primitive decomposition, components, rooms | YesHeight segmentation; automatic extraction of building footprints, powerlines and rail centrelines source |
| Automatic floor plans | YesAutomatic, dimensioned, with sections and elevations | Not stated |
| DXF / CAD drawings | YesDXF R2000, SVG and PDF; no DWG | YesDXF and other CAD formats; LandXML export source |
| DTM / DSM | YesDTM, DSM, CHM, slope, aspect, hillshade on one grid | YesDEM and DTM generation with breaklines source |
| Contour lines | YesContours that cannot cross | YesContours with smoothing for cartographic use source |
| 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 | Yes3D mesh model generation source |
| Gaussian splats | YesOpens PLY and SPZ splats, converts them to points, meshes them; does not train splats | Partly3D Gaussian Splat visualisation (v2026.1) source |
| Reports | YesSelf-contained HTML reports with provenance | Not stated |
| Scripting / SDK | YesEngine & SDK edition: Python package and headless command line | Not stated |
Where Neurones 3D is stronger
- AI classification runs on your own computer, with no upload; LP360’s AI classification add-ons process on LP360 Cloud.
- Four trained classifiers ship in every build, including the free viewer; LP360 sells AI classification as add-ons and bundle packs.
- Opens PLY and SPZ Gaussian splats and converts them to points and meshes; LP360 documents splat visualisation.
Where LP360 is stronger
- Built around drone and airborne LiDAR production: QA/QC, Strip Align geometric correction and breakline workflows.
- Automatic extraction of building footprints, powerlines and rail centrelines, with LandXML for civil CAD.
- Manages terabytes across thousands of LAS files, with floating licences and plan tiers.
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 LP360: Drone and airborne LiDAR service providers who want QA/QC, strip alignment, volumetrics and feature extraction in one production tool tied to common drone LiDAR sensors.
Questions
Is LP360 free?
LP360: price on request. Free use: Not stated on the pages read. Neurones 3D’s free viewer opens, views and runs every process; writing results out needs a paid edition bought once.
Does LP360 work offline?
LP360: partly. Desktop application; the AI classification add-ons process jobs on LP360 Cloud. Neurones 3D: yes. No account, no internet connection, no telemetry.
Can LP360 classify point clouds with AI?
LP360: in the cloud. AI Ground+, AI Forestry and AI Utilities add-ons; jobs are submitted from the desktop to LP360 Cloud. Neurones 3D: yes. Four trained models ship in every build: indoor, aerial LiDAR, powerline, streetscape; a confidence per point.
Does LP360 support Gaussian splats?
LP360: partly. 3D Gaussian Splat visualisation (v2026.1). Neurones 3D: yes. Opens PLY and SPZ splats, converts them to points, meshes them; does not train splats.
What is the best alternative to LP360?
Choose Neurones 3D if you want trained classifiers that run entirely on your own machine, with no cloud upload, alongside terrain, contours, M3C2 change detection and DXF drawings, and a free viewer that runs every process before you buy. Choose LP360 if you run a drone or airborne LiDAR production line and need QA/QC, strip alignment, breakline-driven surfaces and feature extraction from a vendor that specialises in that workflow.
How this comparison was made
Written by the maker of Neurones 3D, so read it as such. LP360's column comes only from GeoCue'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.
Sources: