Comparison · Gaussian splatting tools
Neurones 3D vs Scaniverse
Looking for a Scaniverse 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.
Scaniverse is Niantic Spatial’s 3D capture app for iOS, Android and the web, producing Gaussian splats, meshes and VPS localisation maps, and the origin of the open SPZ splat format.
By Dr. Florent Poux, maker of Neurones 3D · Scaniverse's facts from Niantic Spatial, Inc.'s own documentation, checked
The short answer
Choose Neurones 3D when a capture has to be turned into measured drawings and analysed data on your own PC: it opens SPZ and PLY splats, converts them to point clouds and draws floor plans in DXF, with classification and laser scan formats alongside, bought once. Choose Scaniverse when you need to capture: it makes splats and meshes from phones and other cameras, supports metric scale and feeds Niantic Spatial’s localisation services. They work well together: capture in Scaniverse, export SPZ, and produce the deliverables in Neurones 3D.
At a glance
| Neurones 3D | Scaniverse | |
|---|---|---|
| Runs on | Windows 10 and 11 (64-bit) | iOS, Android, web |
| Where it runs | desktop | mobile |
| Licence | free viewer + one-time paid editions | free plan, or monthly or yearly subscription with cloud credits |
| Price | Free viewer; paid editions bought once, no subscription | Free; Plus $20 a month or $200 a year; Pro $50 a month or $500 a year; Enterprise custom source |
| Free use | The free viewer opens, views and runs every process; writing results out needs a paid edition | Free plan: 20,000 monthly credits (about 10 minutes of mobile capture), 5 seats, FBX, SPZ and PLY export |
Feature by feature
"Not stated" means we could not find it in Niantic Spatial, Inc.'s documentation, not that it is missing. Each of Scaniverse's cells links to where we read it.
| Capability | Neurones 3D | Scaniverse |
|---|---|---|
| Runs fully offline | YesNo account, no internet connection, no telemetry | PartlyOn-device reconstruction in the legacy version; asset generation otherwise spends cloud credits source |
| One-time licence available | YesBought once; no subscription | Not statedFree, monthly and yearly plans are listed |
| 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 | YesMeshes exported as FBX; USDZ on Plus source |
| Gaussian splats | YesOpens PLY and SPZ splats, converts them to points, meshes them; does not train splats | In the cloudSplats generated with cloud credits and exported as SPZ and PLY; 360 camera splats on Plus 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
- Runs offline on Windows with no account and no credits; Scaniverse’s asset generation spends cloud credits.
- Bought once with no subscription.
- Turns an SPZ or PLY splat into a point cloud, measured sections and a dimensioned floor plan saved as DXF R2000, SVG and PDF.
- 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 registers and merges captures.
Where Scaniverse is stronger
- Scaniverse captures and trains splats from phones, 360 cameras and drones; Neurones 3D does not train splats.
- Scaniverse supports metric scale for captures, which Neurones 3D does not set automatically for splats.
- A free plan with five seats, plus VPS localisation maps and Niantic Spatial’s reconstruction pipelines.
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 Scaniverse: Teams who capture places with phones, 360 cameras or drones and want splats, meshes and localisation maps inside Niantic Spatial’s platform.
Questions
Is Scaniverse free?
Scaniverse: Free; Plus $20 a month or $200 a year; Pro $50 a month or $500 a year; Enterprise custom. Free use: Free plan: 20,000 monthly credits (about 10 minutes of mobile capture), 5 seats, FBX, SPZ and PLY export. Neurones 3D’s free viewer opens, views and runs every process; writing results out needs a paid edition bought once.
Does Scaniverse work offline?
Scaniverse: partly. On-device reconstruction in the legacy version; asset generation otherwise spends cloud credits. Neurones 3D: yes. No account, no internet connection, no telemetry.
Does Scaniverse support Gaussian splats?
Scaniverse: in the cloud. Splats generated with cloud credits and exported as SPZ and PLY; 360 camera splats on Plus. Neurones 3D: yes. Opens PLY and SPZ splats, converts them to points, meshes them; does not train splats.
What is the best alternative to Scaniverse?
Choose Neurones 3D when a capture has to be turned into measured drawings and analysed data on your own PC: it opens SPZ and PLY splats, converts them to point clouds and draws floor plans in DXF, with classification and laser scan formats alongside, bought once. Choose Scaniverse when you need to capture: it makes splats and meshes from phones and other cameras, supports metric scale and feeds Niantic Spatial’s localisation services. They work well together: capture in Scaniverse, export SPZ, and produce the deliverables in Neurones 3D.
How this comparison was made
Written by the maker of Neurones 3D, so read it as such. Scaniverse's column comes only from Niantic Spatial, Inc.'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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