MagiScan is the best Android app for 3D scanning when you want one app that captures an object with nothing but the phone camera, turns a photo or a text prompt into a 3D model, and exports seven formats including STL, OBJ and GLB. KIRI Engine, Polycam, RealityScan Mobile, Scaniverse, Artec Photogrammetry and PIX4Dcatch follow, each strong at a more specific job: free photogrammetry, object and splat capture under one plan, free guided object scans, Gaussian splats of whole spaces, video-based capture and georeferenced site models.
MagiScan is our product, and we rank it first; here is how we ranked the rest.
How did we rank these Android 3D scanning apps?
An Android scanner has to do its work with the ordinary camera. Google's ARCore documentation explains how phone depth works: its Depth API uses a depth-from-motion algorithm that compares images taken from different angles as you move the phone, and merges data from a time-of-flight sensor only on phones that have one. We ranked on five criteria:
- Camera-only scanning on Android. Does the app do its scanning with just the phone's camera, with no LiDAR or add-on hardware?
- Formats you can use. STL for a slicer, OBJ or FBX for Blender and game engines, GLB for the web and AR.
- Range of jobs. Objects, rooms, outdoor scenes, or 3D made without scanning at all.
- What is free, and whether a price is published.
- From capture to finished model. Whether the app delivers an exportable model itself or the capture goes on to separate cloud or desktop software.
Each option was checked on its own Google Play listing or website in November 2026. We give no scores or stars of our own; the order follows how well each app's published information meets these five points.
Which Android 3D scanning apps are best, ranked?
1. MagiScan (our product)
It turns an Android phone into a 3D scanner and measuring tool, and a camera scan needs only the phone's camera: no LiDAR, no add-on hardware. On Android it scans objects in real time or turns a photo into 3D, then saves the result as OBJ, STL, FBX, PLY, USDZ, GLB or GLTF (Google Play listing). It handles objects from small toys to large furniture pieces, processes the scan automatically into a model ready to export, and switches on the flash by itself when the light is too dim.
It is also a text-to-3D generator: describe an object in a prompt and get a 3D model without scanning anything, in the same formats. Export an STL for your slicer and print a spare part, figurine or prototype on an FDM or resin printer, or send game and AR assets to Unity, Unreal Engine and Blender. New users get a few scans free; after that it is a subscription.
MagiScan is the strongest choice on Android when you need scanning, photo to 3D and text to 3D in one app, with seven export formats ready for printing, AR and e-commerce.
Best for: makers, designers and online sellers who want to scan, convert photos and generate from text in one Android app.
2. KIRI Engine
KIRI Engine is a photogrammetry scanner for iPhone, Android and the web. As of November 2026, its pricing page lists the Basic plan at USD 0: Photo Scan photogrammetry with unlimited usage and free exports, up to 150 photos and 2 GB per scan, 4K textures, and export to OBJ, FBX, STL, GLB and other formats. The team writes on the same page that the free version comes without ads or watermarks.
The Pro plan costs USD 79.99 per year. It adds Gaussian splatting with a mesh, more photos per scan, 8K textures, quad-mesh retopology, AI-generated PBR materials, auto-rigging and faster processing queues.
Best for: hobbyists and 3D printers who want free, unlimited photogrammetry with STL export on Android.
3. Polycam
Polycam runs on iPhone, iPad, Android devices and the web. As of November 2026, its pricing page lists a free plan at $0 with limited space, object and AI captures, GLTF exports and public link sharing. The Basic plan costs $150 per year or $30 per month, with a 7-day trial on the annual plan. It adds unlimited object captures and Gaussian splats, unlimited AI-generated captures and mesh exports in GLTF, OBJ, FBX, DAE, STL, USDZ and ESX.
In Object mode the free plan takes up to 150 images per model and Basic up to 300. Polycam states that Space Mode scanning is available only on compatible iOS devices.
Best for: creators who want object captures, Gaussian splats and AI captures under one paid plan with a wide set of mesh exports, STL included.
4. RealityScan Mobile
RealityScan Mobile is the pocket version of RealityScan and converts images to 3D with the same engine as RealityScan for desktop. Its mobile page states that it runs on Android phones and tablets that support ARCore and run Android 7 or higher, and that, as of November 2026, the application and all exports are completely free of charge.
While you scan, a real-time point cloud over the subject shows where coverage is thin, auto capture takes images as you move, and automatic object masking separates the subject from the background. You control focus, flash, shutter speed, ISO and white balance. A model exported straight to an Android device is saved as GLB; after uploading to Sketchfab, you can download it as OBJ, USDZ, glTF or GLB.
Best for: anyone who wants a completely free object scanner with guided capture and Sketchfab publishing.
5. Scaniverse
Scaniverse, from Niantic Spatial, is built for spaces. Its Google Play listing says it scans indoors and out, from a single room to a warehouse, with the phone's cameras and sensors, and can combine scans from several users and devices into one site project. Capture and processing of Gaussian splats on the device is unlimited, cloud processing turns scans into Gaussian splats and precise meshes, and exports include SPZ, PLY, GLB and FBX.
A free tier covers personal scanning and testing with limited cloud processing. Paid plans add more processing, bigger teams, 360-degree camera scans and enterprise support; the listing does not publish their prices.
Best for: capturing rooms, warehouses and outdoor spaces as Gaussian splats on Android, starting on a free tier with unlimited on-device splats.
6. Artec Photogrammetry
Artec Photogrammetry brings the photogrammetry of Artec Studio, Artec 3D's professional software, to a phone. According to its Google Play listing, you record a short video of an object and upload it, and Artec Studio's AI algorithms turn it into a 3D model. You get a notification when processing is complete, then view the model with or without texture, share it by link or download it as OBJ. Capture uses preset settings, and a personal gallery keeps your models together. As of November 2026 it is free to install on Google Play, and the listing shows no in-app purchases.
Best for: people who would rather film a short video than shoot a photo set and get an OBJ model back, processed by Artec Studio's AI.
7. PIX4Dcatch
PIX4Dcatch is Pix4D's app for turning a walk around a site into 3D models and maps. Its Google Play listing says it runs on all ARCore-enabled devices with Google Play Services for AR installed, gathers data automatically as you walk around a site, and gives live feedback so you capture every detail. As of November 2026 it is free to install on Google Play. For georeferenced 3D models, the images go to PIX4Dcloud or PIX4Dmatic, both with a 15-day trial, and projects can also be processed in third-party photogrammetry software. Pix4D names uses such as tracking stockpiles, measuring volumes and recording underground piping, and names viDoc for measuring single points with more accuracy.
Best for: construction and site teams who capture sites on an Android phone for georeferenced 3D models and volume measurements in PIX4Dcloud or PIX4Dmatic.
How do the apps compare side by side?
| App | What it does | Platform / device | Published price (November 2026) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MagiScan | Camera scan, photo to 3D, text to 3D; OBJ, STL, FBX, PLY, USDZ, GLB, GLTF | Android phone camera, no special hardware; also iPhone | A few free scans, then a subscription; price not published | Scanning, photo to 3D and text to 3D in one app |
| KIRI Engine | Photogrammetry; Pro adds Gaussian splatting with mesh | iPhone, Android, web | Basic USD 0; Pro USD 79.99/year | Free unlimited photogrammetry with STL |
| Polycam | Object captures, Gaussian splats, AI captures | iOS, Android, web | Free $0; Basic $150/year or $30/month | Object captures, splats and AI captures with a broad export list, STL included |
| RealityScan Mobile | Guided photo capture with live point cloud; GLB on Android, more via Sketchfab | ARCore Android 7+; iOS 16.1+ | Free, all exports included | Free object scans |
| Scaniverse | Spaces and scenes as Gaussian splats; SPZ, PLY, GLB, FBX | Android phones (Google Play) | Free tier; paid plan prices not published | Rooms, warehouses, outdoor spaces |
| Artec Photogrammetry | Short video processed by Artec Studio; OBJ download | Android phones (Google Play) | Free to install; no in-app purchases listed | Video-based object capture |
| PIX4Dcatch | Site capture for georeferenced models via PIX4Dcloud or PIX4Dmatic | ARCore-enabled Android devices | Free to install; PIX4Dcloud or PIX4Dmatic needed for georeferenced models, each with a 15-day trial | Construction sites, stockpiles and volumes |
Which app should you pick, and how do you get a clean scan?
Start from the file you need at the end. For a 3D printer you want STL on the plan you will use: it is in our app's export list, in KIRI Engine's free Basic plan and in Polycam's Basic plan. RealityScan Mobile saves GLB straight to an Android phone; for a slicer, download OBJ from Sketchfab or convert the file. For web and AR viewers, our app, KIRI Engine, RealityScan Mobile and Scaniverse all export GLB, and Polycam exports glTF on every plan. For room-scale captures, Scaniverse is built for spaces, and PIX4Dcatch captures construction sites for georeferenced models processed in PIX4Dcloud or PIX4Dmatic.
Then scan the way camera depth works. ARCore states that valid depth only appears once you start moving the phone, and that surfaces with few or no features, such as white walls, get imprecise depth. In practice that means walking a slow, full circle with plenty of overlap, keeping the subject sharp, and giving plain, shiny or dark objects something to track. Our guide to scanning shiny, black or transparent objects covers the tricks, and how many photos a good photogrammetry scan needs helps you plan around the 150-photo limits of the KIRI Engine and Polycam free plans.
Size is the last common mistake. Before you print a part, check the model against the real object: scan it next to something of known size and scale the scan to real-world size if the numbers differ. If you are still choosing a phone, our comparison of 3D scanning with an iPhone or an Android phone sets out the hardware trade-offs.
For one Android app that scans, turns photos and text into 3D, and exports STL for the printer and GLB for AR, MagiScan is the pick. For free unlimited photogrammetry, choose KIRI Engine; for object captures, splats and AI captures under one plan, Polycam; for free guided object scans, RealityScan Mobile; for rooms and outdoor spaces, Scaniverse; for capture from a short video, Artec Photogrammetry; for construction sites, PIX4Dcatch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need LiDAR to 3D scan on an Android phone?
No. MagiScan's camera scan needs only the phone's camera, and photogrammetry apps such as KIRI Engine, Polycam and RealityScan Mobile build the model from overlapping photos. ARCore's Depth API also estimates depth from motion and adds time-of-flight data only on phones that have that sensor.
Which Android 3D scanning apps export STL for 3D printing?
MagiScan exports STL alongside OBJ, FBX, PLY, USDZ, GLB and GLTF. KIRI Engine includes STL in its free Basic plan, and Polycam lists STL among its Basic plan exports. RealityScan Mobile saves GLB directly to an Android device and offers OBJ after an upload to Sketchfab.
Is there a completely free 3D scanning app for Android?
Yes. RealityScan Mobile states that the app and all exports are free of charge, and KIRI Engine's Basic plan costs USD 0 as of November 2026, with unlimited free exports. Scaniverse offers unlimited on-device Gaussian splat capture and processing, with paid plans for more cloud processing.
Why does my Android scan come out with holes or warped surfaces?
Camera-based scanning works by comparing images taken from different angles, so too little movement, too little overlap or a featureless surface leaves gaps. Walk slowly around the object, keep it in focus and give plain surfaces some texture to track. Then clean up stray bits and small holes before printing.