Comparison · Photogrammetry software
SkyeBrowse vs Pix4D
The short answer
SkyeBrowse is the better fit for public safety teams that need a measurable 3D scene from drone video in minutes, in a browser, with CJIS compliance. Pix4D fits survey and mapping teams that already capture overlapping still images and want a dedicated photogrammetry and LiDAR workstation product.
Last checked October 13, 2026.
SkyeBrowse vs Pix4D at a glance
| Category | SkyeBrowse | Pix4D |
|---|---|---|
| What you capture | One continuous video (MP4, MOV, INSV, or OSV) from any drone, phone, 360 camera, or body worn camera. Photos attach to a model as annotations. | Processes images into orthomosaics, point clouds, 2D maps, and 3D models. PIX4Dmatic also combines photogrammetry with terrestrial LiDAR. Source: pix4d.com pricing |
| Published pricing | Freemium is free. Commercial model $24.99, Pro model $49.99, Public Safety & Enterprise $199 per model per year. No seat fees. | PIX4Dmatic starts from USD 125 per month. PIX4Dmapper starts from USD 333 per month. Source: pix4d.com pricing |
| Exports and integrations | LAZ, GLB, OBJ, USDZ, GeoTIFF, and CAD (DXF or GeoJSON) on Pro and Public Safety & Enterprise models. Axon Evidence.com integration on Public Safety & Enterprise. | PIX4Dmatic lists LAS and LAZ point clouds, GeoTIFF orthomosaics, OBJ and SLPK meshes, and DXF and LandXML terrain outputs. Source: PIX4Dmatic product page |
Vendor pricing and features change often. Confirm current terms with Pix4D before you buy.
Who should pick which
Pick SkyeBrowse if
- Your crews already fly video, or fly manually under pressure at an incident.
- You want results in minutes from the cloud, without a processing workstation.
- You need CJIS compliance, chain of custody, and unlimited users on one agency plan.
- You want court-ready factual diagrams, Line of Sight, and Crush & Claims Analysis on the same model.
Pick Pix4D if
- Your workflow is built on planned still-image survey missions.
- You need terrestrial LiDAR and photogrammetry processed together in one product.
- Your deliverables are survey terrain products such as LandXML.
Switching from Pix4D
Pix4D projects are built from still images, and SkyeBrowse builds models from video. Teams switching keep their exported Pix4D deliverables and start new scenes from a video pass.
- 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 Pix4D FAQ
Is SkyeBrowse a Pix4D alternative for crash and crime scenes?
Yes. SkyeBrowse turns one continuous drone or phone video into a measurable 3D model and orthomosaic in minutes, with survey-grade accuracy without ground control points and 0.1 inch accuracy on Public Safety & Enterprise. It runs in the browser, so there is no workstation to maintain.
Can I open my Pix4D project in SkyeBrowse?
No. SkyeBrowse processes video only. You can upload any MP4 or MOV flight you already have, and Pro and Public Safety & Enterprise models can import a GLB or STL mesh as a layer.
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.
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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.
