Comparison · Autonomous drone capture
SkyeBrowse vs Skydio 3D Scan
The short answer
Skydio 3D Scan and SkyeBrowse solve different halves of the job. Skydio 3D Scan automates image capture on the X10 and hands the imagery to photogrammetry software. SkyeBrowse turns video from any drone, including Skydio aircraft flown manually, into a measurable 3D scene in minutes with CJIS-compliant storage.
Last checked October 13, 2026.
SkyeBrowse vs Skydio 3D Scan at a glance
| Category | SkyeBrowse | Skydio 3D Scan |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Runs on the Skydio X10, which flies closely, reads geometry, and creates an optimal mission grid. RTK is supported. Source: Skydio 3D Scan page |
| 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. | High-resolution imagery flows into your photogrammetry software. The X10 can also build 2D maps and 3D models onboard in real time. Source: Skydio X10 page |
| Public safety tools | Factual diagrams, Line of Sight, NAPSG public safety icons, Crush & Claims Analysis, and unlimited users on Public Safety & Enterprise. | Marketed to document incident scenes. Source: Skydio 3D Scan page |
Vendor pricing and features change often. Confirm current terms with Skydio before you buy.
Who should pick which
Pick SkyeBrowse if
- You want one tool that processes video from every drone and camera in the fleet.
- You need the processed scene in a CJIS-compliant cloud with chain of custody.
- You want factual diagrams, Line of Sight, and Crush & Claims Analysis on the model.
Pick Skydio 3D Scan if
- You fly the Skydio X10 and want autonomous close-proximity image capture.
- You already process still images in a photogrammetry package.
Switching from Skydio 3D Scan
Skydio aircraft work with SkyeBrowse through Universal Upload. Fly the scene manually as one continuous video and upload the MP4 or MOV. The SkyeBrowse Flight App does not automate Skydio flights.
- 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 Skydio 3D Scan FAQ
Does SkyeBrowse work with Skydio drones?
Yes, through Universal Upload. Video from Skydio S1, S2, X2, and X10 aircraft flown manually can be uploaded as MP4 or MOV. The SkyeBrowse Flight App automates flights on supported DJI and Autel drones only.
Do I still need photogrammetry software with Skydio 3D Scan?
Skydio says 3D Scan imagery flows into your photogrammetry software. SkyeBrowse replaces that step for video: upload the flight and the cloud returns a measurable model in minutes.
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.
