Agisoft Metashape is desktop photogrammetry software from Russia that processes overlapping photographs into 3D models. SkyeBrowse is a cloud platform that turns standard video into 3D models using patented videogrammetry. Here is how they compare across every dimension that matters to operational teams.
Contents
- Capture Input
- Processing Speed
- Hardware Requirements
- Accuracy and Measurement
- Operator Training
- Pricing
- Compliance and Data Security
- Feature-by-Feature Comparison
- The Bottom Line
- Related Comparisons
- Get a SkyeBrowse Recommendation
Capture Input
Metashape requires carefully planned overlapping photographs. Operators must ensure 60-80% overlap between adjacent images, and survey-grade results demand ground control points (GCPs) placed and surveyed before capture begins. Photo quality, lighting consistency, and coverage gaps all affect whether alignment succeeds or fails. A missed angle or underexposed frame can produce holes in the model that no processing parameter can fix.
SkyeBrowse accepts any .MP4 or .MOV video file from any device. Drones, smartphones, body-worn cameras, 360-degree cameras. There is no overlap calculation, no GCP placement, no photo extraction step. An operator records a video orbit or walkthrough, uploads the file, and the platform handles everything else. Universal Upload means the capture device your team already owns is the only hardware you need.
Processing Speed
Metashape processes locally on the operator's machine. A typical accident scene dataset takes 30 minutes to several hours depending on photo count, quality settings, and GPU capability. Large projects with thousands of high-resolution images can run overnight. Every processing step (alignment, dense cloud, mesh, texture) must complete sequentially, and the operator must monitor and sometimes intervene between stages.
SkyeBrowse processes in the cloud at approximately a 1:1 ratio: ten minutes of video returns a finished model in roughly ten minutes. No babysitting. No sequential stage management. The operator uploads and moves on. For public safety teams where every minute of road closure costs money and officer availability, the difference between hours and minutes changes shift scheduling.
Hardware Requirements
Metashape demands a powerful desktop workstation. Agisoft recommends a modern NVIDIA GPU with high VRAM, fast NVMe storage, and substantial RAM. A capable processing machine costs $2,000 to $5,000+, and it must be maintained, updated, and physically accessible to the operator. The software runs on Windows, macOS, or Linux, but performance on anything less than a dedicated GPU workstation is impractical for real project sizes.
SkyeBrowse requires a web browser and an internet connection. Processing runs entirely in the cloud. There is no local hardware investment, no GPU to upgrade, no IT maintenance overhead. A patrol officer can upload video from a department laptop, a tablet in the field, or a phone. The infrastructure cost is zero.
Need help deciding whether Agisoft Metashape or SkyeBrowse is the better fit for your team? Reach out and we can map the right workflow to your mission, staffing model, and timeline.
Accuracy and Measurement
Metashape Professional can achieve sub-centimeter accuracy, but only when an experienced operator uses RTK-tagged photos with properly surveyed GCPs and correctly configures depth filtering, alignment parameters, and reprojection error thresholds. The same software in the hands of a less experienced operator, with poor overlap or misconfigured settings, produces results that degrade unpredictably. Accuracy is not guaranteed; it is earned through expertise.
SkyeBrowse delivers consistent, tier-based accuracy regardless of operator skill. Premium Advanced produces 16K resolution models at 0.1-inch accuracy with AI moving object removal. Premium delivers 8K resolution at 0.25-inch accuracy. Lite provides 2-6 inch accuracy for reference documentation. These numbers are repeatable across operators because the cloud pipeline standardizes every reconstruction parameter. Court-admissible accuracy without court-level photogrammetry expertise.
Operator Training
Metashape exposes the full photogrammetry pipeline: chunk alignment, tie points, reprojection error, depth maps, dense cloud filtering, mesh decimation, texture atlases, and coordinate reference systems. Competent operation takes weeks of practice. Effective forensic use that survives cross-examination takes months. Agencies that rotate personnel or staff positions with non-technical responders cannot sustain this training investment.
SkyeBrowse trains operators in a single session. Record stable video with complete scene coverage. Upload. Review the model. That is the entire workflow. Police officers, firefighters, insurance adjusters, and construction superintendents produce usable 3D models on their first day. When your agency needs forty people documenting scenes, not two photogrammetry specialists, SkyeBrowse is the only viable path.
Pricing
Metashape Standard costs approximately $179 and Professional approximately $3,499 as perpetual licenses. That looks affordable until you add the $2,000-$5,000 GPU workstation, annual maintenance fees, and the salary overhead of keeping a trained specialist on staff. The total cost of ownership for a functioning Metashape deployment runs well above the license price.
SkyeBrowse uses a subscription model tiered by output quality. Every tier includes cloud processing, storage, browser-based sharing, and 5-year guaranteed data retention. There is no hardware to purchase, no maintenance to schedule, no specialist to hire. The operational math is clear: scene documentation drops from $360 (3 hours, 4 officers) to $25 (10 minutes, 1 operator).
Compliance and Data Security
Metashape has no compliance infrastructure. Data lives on the operator's local machine or network share. CJIS compliance, FedRAMP alignment, and chain-of-custody audit trails are the agency's responsibility to build and maintain around the software. For public safety agencies handling evidentiary data, this gap creates procurement and legal risk.
SkyeBrowse is built for regulated environments. AWS GovCloud (US) hosting with FedRAMP Moderate alignment. CJIS-compliant workflows with audit trails and controlled sharing. 5-year guaranteed data retention on Premium and Premium Advanced tiers. Exports in LAZ (forensic reconstruction), GLB (courtroom presentations), and GeoTIFF (GIS integration) formats. The compliance infrastructure is included, not bolted on.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | Agisoft Metashape | SkyeBrowse |
|---|---|---|
| Capture Input | Planned overlapping photos + GCPs | Any video (.MP4/.MOV) from any device |
| Processing | Desktop, GPU-accelerated, hours | Cloud, ~1:1 ratio, minutes |
| Hardware Required | $2,000-$5,000+ GPU workstation | Browser and internet connection |
| Accuracy | Sub-cm (expert operator + GCPs required) | 0.1 in (Advanced), 0.25 in (Premium), consistent |
| Training Time | Weeks to months | Single session |
| Pricing | $179-$3,499 + hardware + maintenance | Subscription (all-inclusive) |
| Compliance | None | CJIS, FedRAMP Moderate, AWS GovCloud |
| Data Retention | Operator-managed local storage | 5-year guaranteed |
| Export Formats | OBJ, PLY, LAS, TIFF, KMZ | LAZ, GLB, GeoTIFF |
| AI Cleanup | None | Moving object removal (Advanced) |
The Bottom Line
Agisoft Metashape is a capable tool for researchers and surveyors who have the hardware, the expertise, and the time. SkyeBrowse is built for operational teams that need 3D documentation now, from any device, with consistent accuracy and built-in compliance. For public safety, construction, and insurance teams, SkyeBrowse eliminates every barrier that makes Metashape impractical in the field.
Related Comparisons
Get a SkyeBrowse Recommendation
SkyeBrowse turns standard video into measurable 3D models without photogrammetry expertise, desktop software, or GPU hardware. If your team needs fast, compliant scene documentation, start with a demo.
