# SkyeBrowse vs Agisoft Metashape (2026): Drone Video to 3D Compared

> Metashape is installed photogrammetry software for aerial, close-range, and satellite imagery. Pick SkyeBrowse when you want video in, a measurable model out, and no workstation.

Source: https://www.skyebrowse.com/compare/agisoft-metashape

Comparison · Desktop photogrammetry software

# SkyeBrowse vs Agisoft Metashape

The short answer

SkyeBrowse is the better fit for agencies that want survey-grade 3D scenes from video without a specialist, a workstation, or ground control points. Metashape fits photogrammetry specialists who want full manual control over still-image processing on their own hardware.

Last checked October 13, 2026.

## SkyeBrowse vs Agisoft Metashape at a glance

Checked October 13, 2026. Competitor facts come from the linked vendor pages; rows without a public vendor source are left out.

| Category | SkyeBrowse | Agisoft Metashape |
| --- | --- | --- |

| 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 aerial (nadir and oblique), close-range, and satellite imagery. [Source: Metashape Professional features](https://www.agisoft.com/features/professional-edition/)

| 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. |

Sold as a node-locked software license. [Source: Agisoft online store](https://www.agisoft.com/buy/online-store/)

| Accuracy and ground control | 0.1 inch on Public Safety & Enterprise, survey-grade and court-admissible without ground control points. 0.5 inch on Commercial and Pro models with 8K processing. |

Professional edition imports GCPs for georeferencing and control over the accuracy of results. [Source: Metashape Professional features](https://www.agisoft.com/features/professional-edition/)

| Published pricing | Freemium is free. Commercial model $24.99, Pro model $49.99, Public Safety & Enterprise $199 per model per year. No seat fees. |

Standard edition $179 and Professional edition $3,499 for a node-locked license. [Source: Agisoft online store](https://www.agisoft.com/buy/online-store/)

| 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. |

Georeferenced orthomosaic in GeoTIFF, plus KML for Google Earth. [Source: Metashape Professional features](https://www.agisoft.com/features/professional-edition/)

Vendor pricing and features change often. Confirm current terms with Agisoft before you buy.

## Who should pick which

### Pick SkyeBrowse if

- Nobody on the team is a photogrammetry specialist, and the scene still has to hold up in court.

- You want survey-grade accuracy without ground control points.

- You want results in minutes from the cloud and shared by link.

- You need CJIS compliance and chain of custody logging.

### Pick Agisoft Metashape if

- You want a one-time software license on your own hardware.

- You process close-range or satellite imagery and want manual control of each step.

## Switching from Agisoft Metashape

Metashape projects are built from still images, so they stay in Metashape. Exported meshes saved as GLB or STL can be placed inside a SkyeBrowse model, and new scenes start from video.

- 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](https://www.skyebrowse.com/supported-drones) and see plan details on the [pricing page](https://www.skyebrowse.com/pricing) .

## 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](https://www.skyebrowse.com/whitepaper) .

## SkyeBrowse vs Agisoft Metashape FAQ

### Is SkyeBrowse as accurate as Metashape?

SkyeBrowse videogrammetry 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. Without ground control points, Public Safety & Enterprise models reach survey-grade 0.1 inch accuracy and Commercial and Pro models reach 0.5 inch.

### Do I need a GPU workstation for SkyeBrowse?

No. SkyeBrowse is 100% cloud-based and runs in the browser, with Chrome recommended. Processing takes about one minute per minute of video.

### 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

- [SkyeBrowse vs RealityScan (formerly RealityCapture)](https://www.skyebrowse.com/compare/realityscan)

- [All drone mapping software comparisons](https://www.skyebrowse.com/compare)

### 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.

[Start for free](https://app.skyebrowse.com/register) [Request a quote](https://www.skyebrowse.com/quote)