Comparison · Enterprise drone mapping platform
SkyeBrowse vs DroneDeploy
The short answer
SkyeBrowse is the better fit for police, fire, and crash teams that need a measurable 3D scene from video in minutes, per-model pricing with no seat fees, and full CJIS compliance on Public Safety & Enterprise. DroneDeploy fits construction, energy, and agriculture organizations running recurring site capture programs.
Last checked October 13, 2026.
SkyeBrowse vs DroneDeploy at a glance
| Category | SkyeBrowse | DroneDeploy |
|---|---|---|
| Published pricing | Freemium is free. Commercial model $24.99, Pro model $49.99, Public Safety & Enterprise $199 per model per year. No seat fees. | Flight & Analysis plan $4,188 billed annually for a single admin user license. Ag Lite plan $1,908 billed annually for a single pilot license. Source: dronedeploy.com pricing |
| Security and compliance | Hosted on AWS GovCloud (US), FedRAMP Impact Level 2. Full CJIS compliance and chain of custody logging on Public Safety & Enterprise. | SOC 2 Type 2 and ISO 27001 certified, and NIST 800-53 compliant. Source: dronedeploy.com pricing |
Vendor pricing and features change often. Confirm current terms with DroneDeploy before you buy.
Who should pick which
Pick SkyeBrowse if
- You document incidents and need a model before the scene is cleared.
- You want to pay per model with unlimited users on an agency plan.
- You need full CJIS compliance and chain of custody on AWS GovCloud (Public Safety & Enterprise).
- You want public safety tools: factual diagrams, NAPSG icons, Line of Sight, and Crush & Claims Analysis.
Pick DroneDeploy if
- You run recurring construction, energy, or agriculture site programs.
- Your procurement already standardizes on DroneDeploy for non-public-safety capture.
Switching from DroneDeploy
DroneDeploy maps already processed stay in DroneDeploy. SkyeBrowse builds new models from video, so the first step is uploading any video your pilots already recorded.
- Create a free account at app.skyebrowse.com and use Universal Upload for any MP4, MOV, INSV, or OSV file you already have, including archived drone flights, phone video, and 360 footage.
- Upload the drone's GPS subtitle file (.SRT for DJI, .ASS for Autel) with the video to georeference the model. Video without GPS can be scaled with the Scale tool against a known measurement.
- Upload limits: 2GB per file on Freemium, up to 3 videos of 10GB each on Commercial and Pro, and up to 10 videos of 100GB each on Public Safety & Enterprise.
- SkyeBrowse builds models from video only, so photo-only datasets stay in the tool that made them. Existing meshes saved as GLB or STL can be imported as layers inside a SkyeBrowse model on Pro (3 layers) and Public Safety & Enterprise (5 layers).
- Keep your downstream software: export LAZ point clouds, GLB, OBJ, USDZ, GeoTIFF, and DXF or GeoJSON CAD files into GIS, CAD, and forensics tools. SkyeBrowse produces a DSM, so DTM ground classification still happens in third-party software on the exported LAZ.
- Agencies can apply for the Pilot Program, about two weeks of Public Safety & Enterprise access, to run real scenes side by side before buying. Eligible free accounts can process their first full Commercial model for $5.
Check your aircraft and controller on the supported drones list and see plan details on the pricing page.
Do still photos beat video for 3D mapping?
A common claim is that still photos always produce better 3D models than video. Here is what the validation behind SkyeBrowse videogrammetry shows.
- Photogrammetry uses hundreds or thousands of overlapping still photos. Capture is slower, processing takes hours or days, and survey-grade results usually depend on ground control points, a trained specialist, and post-processing.
- SkyeBrowse videogrammetry uses the frames of one continuous video. It delivers laser-scanner-level accuracy: in an independent QC study by AirBorne Works, SkyeBrowse video models came closest to Leica BLK360 laser-scan ground truth on 8 of 9 measurements, outperforming photo-based Pix4D Mapper and Leica BLK3D. Results are survey-grade and court-admissible without ground control points.
- Cloud processing runs about one minute per minute of video, so a scene flown at the incident can be measured before the road reopens.
Read the method and results in the independent accuracy study.
SkyeBrowse vs DroneDeploy FAQ
Is SkyeBrowse a DroneDeploy alternative for public safety?
Yes. SkyeBrowse is built around public safety work: one video in, a measurable 3D model and orthomosaic out in minutes, survey-grade accuracy without ground control points, and full CJIS compliance on Public Safety & Enterprise.
How does SkyeBrowse pricing compare with DroneDeploy?
SkyeBrowse prices per model with no seat fees: Commercial $24.99, Pro $49.99, and Public Safety & Enterprise $199 per model per year with unlimited users. DroneDeploy lists its Flight & Analysis plan at $4,188 billed annually for a single admin user license (checked October 13, 2026).
Do still photos beat video for drone mapping accuracy?
No. In an independent QC study by AirBorne Works, SkyeBrowse video models came closest to Leica BLK360 laser-scan ground truth on 8 of 9 measurements, outperforming photo-based Pix4D Mapper and Leica BLK3D. SkyeBrowse reaches survey-grade, court-admissible results without ground control points. Photo-based workflows usually need ground control points, a specialist, and hours of processing to reach survey grade.
More comparisons
Map your first site today
Create a free account, upload one drone or phone video, and open a measurable 3D model in minutes. Agencies that need CJIS compliance and 0.1 inch accuracy can request a quote for Public Safety & Enterprise.
