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Maps · head to head

Agisoft Metashape vs Geoapify

Agisoft Metashape logo

Agisoft Metashape

Maps

Desktop photogrammetry that turns photographs into point clouds, meshes, orthomosaics and DEMs

From
$179/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Geoapify logo

Geoapify

Maps

Geocoding, routing, map tiles, and place search APIs for developers building location-aware applications

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Geoapify has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Agisoft Metashape processing is entirely local, so throughput is a function of your workstation, and a large project on modest hardware can take days where a cloud service would return results overnight.; Geoapify does not include detailed location information like photos, reviews, and operating hours from Google Maps
  • They diverge on capability: Agisoft Metashape covers Structure-from-motion alignment, Geoapify covers Core Functionality.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Agisoft Metashape and Geoapify actually diverge.

Attributes where Agisoft Metashape and Geoapify differ
AttributeAgisoft MetashapeGeoapify
Starting price$179/one-timeFree
Pricing modelOne-time purchaseUnknown
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, macOS, LinuxWeb, API

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Maps).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Agisoft Metashape

  • Structure-from-motion alignment
  • Dense point cloud generation
  • Mesh and texture
  • Orthomosaic and DEM
  • Ground control points
  • Point cloud classification
  • Multispectral processing
  • Python and Java scripting

Only in Geoapify

  • Core Functionality
  • User Interface

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Agisoft Metashape

  • A survey or engineering firm processing high volumes of drone imagery that wants unlimited local processing instead of per-hectare cloud creditsnot Geoapify
  • A quarry or mine measuring stockpile volumes monthly, where the same flight is reprocessed repeatedly and cloud pricing by area is punitivenot Geoapify
  • An archaeology or heritage team documenting sites on a capital grant with no recurring software budget to renew a subscriptionnot Geoapify
  • A VFX or games studio scanning props and environments, where Standard at $179 covers the whole requirement because georeferencing is irrelevantnot Geoapify

Geoapify

  • Custom mapping with Leaflet, MapLibre or OpenLayersnot Agisoft Metashape
  • Address validation, geocoding and autocompletenot Agisoft Metashape
  • Multi-stop route planning and logistics optimisationnot Agisoft Metashape
  • Points of interest search filtered by category and areanot Agisoft Metashape
  • Isochrone generation for service coverage analysisnot Agisoft Metashape

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Agisoft Metashape

  • Processing is entirely local, so throughput is a function of your workstation, and a large project on modest hardware can take days where a cloud service would return results overnight.
  • The vendor is a Russian company, and since 2022 payment is restricted to wire transfer, ACH and SEPA direct debit with no card payment, which some corporate and government procurement departments simply cannot process.
  • There is no collaboration layer: no shared projects, no web viewer, no permissions. Sharing results means sending files, which is a real limitation on multi-office teams.
  • Support is thin compared with commercial drone platforms, and the software assumes photogrammetric competence; users who do not understand overlap, ground control and residuals produce confidently wrong models.
  • A node-locked licence is tied to a machine, and moving it or covering a second workstation means either a reseller-quoted floating licence or buying twice, which erodes the cost advantage for teams rather than individuals.

Geoapify

  • Does not include detailed location information like photos, reviews, and operating hours from Google Maps
  • Limited daily rate limits enforced per day rather than monthly limits
  • Requires internet connection to access the API, limiting offline functionality
  • OpenStreetMap-based data may have inconsistent coverage in certain regions

Pricing, plan by plan

Agisoft Metashape

$179/one-time
  • Standard$179/one-time
    • Photogrammetric alignment, dense cloud, mesh and texture
    • No georeferencing or coordinate systems
    • No ground control points
  • Professional$3499/one-time
    • Everything in Standard
    • Georeferencing, coordinate systems and ground control points
    • Orthomosaic, DEM and point cloud classification
  • Floating licence$undefined/one-time
    • Shared across machines rather than node-locked
    • Sold through authorised resellers only
    • Quoted rather than listed

Geoapify

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Geoapify review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Agisoft Metashape if

  • You need structure-from-motion alignment.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want dense point cloud generation.
Agisoft Metashape review

Choose Geoapify if

  • You need core functionality.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, API.
  • You also want user interface.
Geoapify review

Questions people ask

Is Agisoft Metashape or Geoapify better?
Neither clearly leads. Agisoft Metashape starts at $179/one-time and Geoapify at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Agisoft Metashape or Geoapify?
Geoapify has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $179/one-time for Agisoft Metashape and Free for Geoapify.
Does Agisoft Metashape or Geoapify run on more platforms?
Agisoft Metashape runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. Geoapify runs on Web, API.
Can I use Geoapify for free?
Yes. Geoapify has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Agisoft Metashape starts at $179/one-time.
What is Agisoft Metashape best used for?
Agisoft Metashape is most often used for a survey or engineering firm processing high volumes of drone imagery that wants unlimited local processing instead of per-hectare cloud credits, a quarry or mine measuring stockpile volumes monthly, where the same flight is reprocessed repeatedly and cloud pricing by area is punitive, an archaeology or heritage team documenting sites on a capital grant with no recurring software budget to renew a subscription, a vfx or games studio scanning props and environments, where standard at $179 covers the whole requirement because georeferencing is irrelevant. Of those, a survey or engineering firm processing high volumes of drone imagery that wants unlimited local processing instead of per-hectare cloud credits and a quarry or mine measuring stockpile volumes monthly, where the same flight is reprocessed repeatedly and cloud pricing by area is punitive are not what Geoapify is typically brought in for.
What can Agisoft Metashape do that Geoapify cannot?
Agisoft Metashape covers Structure-from-motion alignment, Dense point cloud generation, Mesh and texture, Orthomosaic and DEM. Geoapify covers Core Functionality, User Interface.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Agisoft Metashape: How much does Metashape cost?

Professional is $3,499 and Standard is $179, both node-locked. Floating licences are quoted through resellers.

Geoapify: What APIs does Geoapify provide?

Geoapify provides six API categories: Maps (vector and raster tiles), Address Search (geocoding and reverse geocoding), Routes (route calculation and optimization), Places (POI search), Reachability and Analysis (isochrone generation), and IP Geolocation.

Source
Agisoft Metashape: Is it a subscription?

No. These are perpetual node-locked licences. Major version upgrades are charged separately.

Geoapify: What is Geoapify's pricing model?

Geoapify offers a free plan with 3,000 credits per day for low-volume usage and paid plans that scale with needs. The platform uses a credits-based system to measure API request complexity.

Source
Agisoft Metashape: What is the difference between Standard and Professional?

Standard has no georeferencing, coordinate systems, ground control points, orthomosaic export or scripting. Anything survey or mapping related requires Professional.

Geoapify: Can I cache and redistribute Geoapify results?

Yes, Geoapify emphasizes open-data-based APIs with permissive licensing that allows caching, storing, and redistributing results without vendor lock-in restrictions.

Source
Agisoft Metashape: Does it process in the cloud?

No. All processing is local on your own hardware, which is the main reason it is cheap at volume and slow on weak machines.

Agisoft Metashape: Are there educational licences?

Yes, Agisoft offers reduced academic pricing on a separate page.

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