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. Pro and Public Safety & Enterprise models add bare earth (DTM) in SkyeBrowse, exported as a DTM GeoTIFF and a ground-classified LAS.
- 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 is more accurate than photo-based photogrammetry, with 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. SkyeBrowse video is more accurate than photo-based photogrammetry. 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.
