Comparison · Desktop photogrammetry software
SkyeBrowse vs RealityScan (formerly RealityCapture)
The short answer
SkyeBrowse is the better fit for public safety agencies that want measurable, court-ready scenes from video in minutes, with CJIS-compliant hosting and no workstation. RealityScan fits VFX, game, and survey teams that combine large image sets with LiDAR on capable desktop hardware.
Last checked October 13, 2026.
SkyeBrowse vs RealityScan (formerly RealityCapture) at a glance
| Category | SkyeBrowse | RealityScan (formerly RealityCapture) |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Combines aerial imagery, aerial LiDAR, and terrestrial data. Source: RealityScan 2.0 release notes |
| Where it runs | 100% cloud, in the browser at app.skyebrowse.com. The SkyeBrowse Flight App automates Orbit and WideBrowse grid flights on supported DJI and Autel drones. | RealityScan 2.0, the rebranded RealityCapture, is available for desktop. Source: RealityScan 2.0 release notes |
| Published pricing | Freemium is free. Commercial model $24.99, Pro model $49.99, Public Safety & Enterprise $199 per model per year. No seat fees. | Free for students, educators, and individuals and companies with annual gross revenue below $1 million USD. Source: RealityScan 2.0 release notes |
Vendor pricing and features change often. Confirm current terms with Epic Games before you buy.
Who should pick which
Pick SkyeBrowse if
- You want a scene measured in minutes from one video, by any trained officer.
- You need CJIS compliance, chain of custody, and unlimited users on an agency plan.
- You want public safety tools such as factual diagrams, NAPSG icons, and Line of Sight.
Pick RealityScan (formerly RealityCapture) if
- You build visual assets for film, games, or VR from large photo sets.
- You need to merge aerial LiDAR and terrestrial data in one desktop project.
Switching from RealityScan (formerly RealityCapture)
RealityScan projects are image and LiDAR based and stay in RealityScan. SkyeBrowse starts from video, and meshes exported as GLB or STL can be imported as layers in a SkyeBrowse model.
- 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 RealityScan (formerly RealityCapture) FAQ
Is RealityCapture the same as RealityScan?
Yes. Epic Games rebranded RealityCapture as RealityScan with the RealityScan 2.0 desktop release.
Why would an agency choose SkyeBrowse over RealityScan?
SkyeBrowse is built for public safety: one video in, a measurable model out in minutes, survey-grade accuracy without ground control points, and AWS GovCloud hosting with full CJIS compliance on Public Safety & Enterprise.
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.
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.
