# SkyeBrowse vs Propeller (2026): Drone Video to 3D Compared > Propeller is a cloud hub for construction and earthworks surveys. Pick SkyeBrowse when the job is an incident scene and the input is video. Source: https://www.skyebrowse.com/compare/propeller Comparison ยท Construction drone analytics # SkyeBrowse vs Propeller The short answer SkyeBrowse is the better fit for public safety scenes: video in, a measurable 3D model in minutes, survey-grade accuracy without ground control points, and CJIS compliance. Propeller fits construction and earthworks teams managing surveys and design surfaces across a project. Last checked October 13, 2026. ## SkyeBrowse vs Propeller 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 | Propeller | | --- | --- | --- | | 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. | Hardware agnostic: upload surface data from the capture or survey tool that matches your accuracy needs. [Source: propelleraero.com](https://www.propelleraero.com/) | 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. | Cloud-based hub to map, measure, and manage projects with your team. [Source: propelleraero.com](https://www.propelleraero.com/) | 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. | Brings geospatial data, from PDF design plans to TIN surfaces, together in a shared workspace. [Source: propelleraero.com](https://www.propelleraero.com/) Vendor pricing and features change often. Confirm current terms with Propeller Aero before you buy. ## Who should pick which ### Pick SkyeBrowse if - You document crashes, crime scenes, fires, or disasters. - You need CJIS compliance, chain of custody, and court-ready diagrams. - You want stockpile and earthwork volumes measured directly on a model from one video. ### Pick Propeller if - You manage construction earthworks against design surfaces over a project's life. - Your team works from TIN surfaces and design plans in one construction workspace. ## Switching from Propeller Propeller surveys stay in Propeller. SkyeBrowse adds video-based capture: fly a video, upload it, and measure distance, area, and volume on the model. - 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 Propeller FAQ ### Can SkyeBrowse measure stockpile volumes? Yes. Volume measurement for stockpile and earthwork quantities is available on paid plans and is calculated directly from the 3D model. ### Do I need ground control targets with SkyeBrowse? No. SkyeBrowse reaches survey-grade relative and absolute accuracy without ground control points. RTK drones and known-size objects in the scene add verification but are optional. ### 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)