Pix4D does not sell one program. It sells a suite of specialized photogrammetry and mapping tools, each built for a different job, platform, and user. That is a strength once you know the lineup, and a source of confusion before you do. If you have ever wondered whether you need PIX4Dmapper or PIX4Dmatic, when the cloud makes more sense than a desktop, or where the agriculture and public-safety tools fit, this guide lays out every current Pix4D product, what each one is for, and how to choose. It also covers the significant change Pix4D made at the start of 2026 that reshaped its desktop lineup.
There is no single "best" Pix4D. The right choice depends on what you fly, what you need out the other end, and whether you process on a workstation, in the browser, or on your phone.
Big change for 2026: as of January 5, 2026, Pix4D unified PIX4Dmatic and PIX4Dsurvey into a single desktop application, PIX4Dmatic, sold in three plans (Standard, Analyst, and Pro). PIX4Dsurvey is no longer sold as a standalone product. If you are reading older comparisons that treat them as two separate purchases, they are out of date.
The lineup at a glance
| Product | What it does | Where it runs | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| PIX4Dmapper | General-purpose photogrammetry: orthomosaics, point clouds, meshes, DSMs | Desktop | Everyday mapping and modeling |
| PIX4Dmatic | Large-scale photogrammetry plus surveying and vectorization | Desktop | Corridor, large datasets, survey deliverables |
| PIX4Dcloud | Browser-based processing, sharing, and collaboration | Cloud | Teams and clients, no workstation needed |
| PIX4Dfields | Fast agriculture mapping and vegetation-index maps | Desktop | Precision agriculture |
| PIX4Dcatch | Turns a phone or tablet into a terrestrial 3D scanner (with RTK) | Mobile | Ground-level capture and site documentation |
| PIX4Dscan | Drone flight planning and data capture | Mobile | Inspection and structured image capture |
| PIX4Dreact | Fast 2D maps for emergency response | Desktop | Public safety and first response |
| PIX4Dinspect | Asset inspection and defect analysis | Cloud | Vertical infrastructure inspection |
| PIX4Dengine | SDK for automated and batch processing | Developer / server | Custom and high-volume pipelines |
Desktop processing
PIX4Dmapper
PIX4Dmapper is Pix4D's long-standing, general-purpose desktop photogrammetry application. It turns overlapping drone or terrestrial images into orthomosaics, 3D point clouds, textured meshes, and digital surface models, and it includes tools for measuring, annotating, and assessing accuracy. Its broad camera support and mature workflow make it a dependable choice for mapping, modeling, and inspection when you are not pushing into very large datasets.
- Best for: general mapping and 3D modeling across mixed project types
- Outputs: orthomosaic, point cloud, mesh, DSM/DTM, contour lines
- Consider PIX4Dmatic instead if your projects run into the thousands of images or long corridors
PIX4Dmatic (Standard, Analyst, Pro)
PIX4Dmatic is the modern, high-performance desktop engine built for large-scale and demanding projects: corridor mapping, infrastructure, and datasets that run into many thousands of images. As of January 2026 it is also the home for survey and CAD vectorization work that used to live in PIX4Dsurvey. It is sold in three plans:
- Standard covers the core large-scale photogrammetry processing (the former PIX4Dmatic feature set).
- Analyst adds the surveying and vectorization tools, extracting CAD-ready lines, points, and features from point clouds (the former PIX4Dsurvey feature set).
- Pro combines everything in one license and unlocks workflows that span both, such as generating a mesh and DSM from edited point clouds.
- Best for: surveyors and large-project teams who need scale and survey-grade deliverables
- Note: existing PIX4Dsurvey projects open directly in PIX4Dmatic under the Analyst or Pro plan
Rule of thumb: PIX4Dmapper is the versatile generalist; PIX4Dmatic is the scale-and-survey specialist. Many established survey shops run PIX4Dmatic; smaller or mixed operations are often well served by PIX4Dmapper.
Cloud processing
PIX4Dcloud (Starter and Pro)
PIX4Dcloud runs Pix4D's photogrammetry engine in the browser, so you can process, view, and share 2D maps and 3D models without a high-end workstation. It is built around collaboration: share a link with a client or colleague, measure and annotate online, and compare project timelines. In January 2026 the plan names were simplified, with Starter replacing "Basic" for essential processing and sharing, and Pro replacing "Advanced" for more processing options, analysis, and project management. There are also enterprise options with API and single sign-on for larger deployments.
- Best for: teams that want to offload processing, share deliverables with stakeholders, or avoid maintaining hardware
- Pairs naturally with PIX4Dcatch and drone capture for a fully cloud-based pipeline
Data capture in the field
PIX4Dcatch
PIX4Dcatch turns a phone or tablet into a handheld 3D scanner for ground-level capture, with augmented-reality guidance to help you cover a subject completely. Paired with an RTK rover such as the viDoc, it delivers survey-grade, georeferenced terrestrial scans. Captured data is then processed in PIX4Dcloud or PIX4Dmatic. It is the natural complement to drone flights: use the drone for the tops and the wide area, and PIX4Dcatch for facades, undersides, and detail a drone cannot reach.
- Best for: site documentation, small-object and facade capture, and filling gaps in aerial data
- RTK precision available with a compatible rover
PIX4Dscan
PIX4Dscan is a drone flight-planning and data-capture app focused on structured, repeatable image collection, particularly for inspection missions where you need consistent coverage of a structure. It handles the capture side of the workflow, feeding images into Pix4D's processing and inspection tools.
- Best for: planning and flying methodical inspection and mapping missions
Specialized tools
PIX4Dfields (agriculture)
PIX4Dfields is purpose-built for agriculture. It produces fast orthomosaics and vegetation-index maps (such as NDVI) even on modest hardware and offline, and it generates prescription and application maps that feed variable-rate equipment. Speed and field-readiness are the point: it is tuned for agronomists and operators who need answers the same day, not photogrammetric perfection.
- Best for: precision agriculture, crop scouting, and variable-rate application
PIX4Dreact (public safety)
PIX4Dreact makes fast 2D maps for emergency response and public safety. It is designed to produce a georeferenced map from a set of images in minutes so incident commanders can annotate and share a current picture of a scene. It trades the depth of full photogrammetry for the speed that time-critical operations demand.
- Best for: first response, incident mapping, search coordination, and situational awareness
PIX4Dinspect (asset inspection)
PIX4Dinspect is a cloud platform for inspecting vertical and complex assets such as towers and energy infrastructure, with tools to organize imagery, analyze condition, and manage defects across an asset over time. It targets industrial inspection programs rather than general mapping.
- Best for: utilities, telecom, and energy inspection programs
For developers and high-volume shops
PIX4Dengine
PIX4Dengine is the SDK version of Pix4D's processing engine, for teams that need to automate photogrammetry, batch large volumes, or embed processing into their own software and servers. If you are running enough projects that clicking through a desktop app is the bottleneck, this is the tool that removes the human from the loop.
- Best for: automated pipelines, batch processing, and custom integrations
How Pix4D licensing works
Beyond picking a product, it helps to understand how Pix4D sells them, because the model differs between desktop and cloud.
- Desktop apps (PIX4Dmapper, PIX4Dmatic, PIX4Dfields, PIX4Dreact) are licensed per seat, typically as an annual or monthly subscription, with a one-time perpetual purchase option on some products. Perpetual licenses rely on an active Support & Updates (S&U) period to keep receiving new versions.
- Cloud (PIX4Dcloud, PIX4Dinspect) is subscription-based and tied to your account rather than a specific machine.
- Mobile capture (PIX4Dcatch) is a free app; the value-add is the RTK hardware and the processing you connect it to.
- Most desktop licenses are floating to a degree: you can move a seat between machines, within the plan's rules.
Pix4D pricing changes over time and varies by plan, term, and region, so this guide does not quote figures. For current pricing and the right license mix for your workflow, reach out and we will put together a quote.
Which Pix4D should you choose?
I do general drone mapping and want one desktop app
Start with PIX4Dmapper. It handles orthomosaics, point clouds, meshes, and DSMs across most project types without the scale demands of PIX4Dmatic.
I'm a surveyor and need CAD-ready deliverables from large datasets
PIX4Dmatic, with the Analyst or Pro plan. Standard covers large-scale processing; Analyst adds the survey and vectorization tools (formerly PIX4Dsurvey); Pro combines both in one license.
I don't want to buy or maintain a powerful workstation
PIX4Dcloud. Process and share in the browser. Choose Starter for essentials or Pro for advanced processing and project management.
I work in agriculture
PIX4Dfields. Fast vegetation-index maps and prescription maps built for same-day agronomic decisions.
I'm in public safety and need a map of a scene fast
PIX4Dreact. It produces a shareable 2D map in minutes for incident command and situational awareness.
I need to capture detail from the ground, not just the air
PIX4Dcatch, ideally with an RTK rover, then process in PIX4Dcloud or PIX4Dmatic. Great for facades, undersides, and small objects.
I inspect towers or energy infrastructure
PIX4Dinspect for the analysis platform, often paired with PIX4Dscan to plan and fly consistent capture.
I need to automate or batch-process at volume
PIX4Dengine, the SDK, so you can script and scale processing into your own systems.
Getting the right license
The fastest way to end up with the wrong Pix4D is to buy on product name alone. The better path is to start from your deliverable and your workflow: what you capture, how large your projects get, whether you process locally or in the cloud, and who needs to see the results. If you tell us how you work, we can match you to the right product and plan, and handle the licensing. Contact us for current pricing and a recommendation tailored to your operation.
Product names, plans, and availability reflect Pix4D's lineup as of 2026 and can change. Confirm current details before purchasing.
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