# SkyeBrowse vs DroneDeploy (2026): Drone Video to 3D Compared > DroneDeploy is a reality capture platform for construction, energy, and agriculture. Pick SkyeBrowse for video-to-3D in minutes with CJIS compliance and per-model pricing. Source: https://www.skyebrowse.com/compare/dronedeploy Comparison ยท Enterprise drone mapping platform # SkyeBrowse vs DroneDeploy The short answer SkyeBrowse is the better fit for police, fire, and crash teams that need a measurable 3D scene from video in minutes, per-model pricing with no seat fees, and full CJIS compliance on Public Safety & Enterprise. DroneDeploy fits construction, energy, and agriculture organizations running recurring site capture programs. Last checked October 13, 2026. ## SkyeBrowse vs DroneDeploy 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 | DroneDeploy | | --- | --- | --- | | Published pricing | Freemium is free. Commercial model $24.99, Pro model $49.99, Public Safety & Enterprise $199 per model per year. No seat fees. | Flight & Analysis plan $4,188 billed annually for a single admin user license. Ag Lite plan $1,908 billed annually for a single pilot license. [Source: dronedeploy.com pricing](https://www.dronedeploy.com/pricing) | Security and compliance | Hosted on AWS GovCloud (US), FedRAMP Impact Level 2. Full CJIS compliance and chain of custody logging on Public Safety & Enterprise. | SOC 2 Type 2 and ISO 27001 certified, and NIST 800-53 compliant. [Source: dronedeploy.com pricing](https://www.dronedeploy.com/pricing) Vendor pricing and features change often. Confirm current terms with DroneDeploy before you buy. ## Who should pick which ### Pick SkyeBrowse if - You document incidents and need a model before the scene is cleared. - You want to pay per model with unlimited users on an agency plan. - You need full CJIS compliance and chain of custody on AWS GovCloud (Public Safety & Enterprise). - You want public safety tools: factual diagrams, NAPSG icons, Line of Sight, and Crush & Claims Analysis. ### Pick DroneDeploy if - You run recurring construction, energy, or agriculture site programs. - Your procurement already standardizes on DroneDeploy for non-public-safety capture. ## Switching from DroneDeploy DroneDeploy maps already processed stay in DroneDeploy. SkyeBrowse builds new models from video, so the first step is uploading any video your pilots already recorded. - 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 DroneDeploy FAQ ### Is SkyeBrowse a DroneDeploy alternative for public safety? Yes. SkyeBrowse is built around public safety work: one video in, a measurable 3D model and orthomosaic out in minutes, survey-grade accuracy without ground control points, and full CJIS compliance on Public Safety & Enterprise. ### How does SkyeBrowse pricing compare with DroneDeploy? SkyeBrowse prices per model with no seat fees: Commercial $24.99, Pro $49.99, and Public Safety & Enterprise $199 per model per year with unlimited users. DroneDeploy lists its Flight & Analysis plan at $4,188 billed annually for a single admin user license (checked October 13, 2026). ### 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 - [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)