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Maps · head to head

Agisoft Metashape vs Pix4Dfields

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
Pix4Dfields logo

Pix4Dfields

Agriculture

Drone mapping software for agriculture

From
$330/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • 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.; Pix4Dfields satellite imagery is sold as separate credit packages on top of the subscription, with only 100 free credits included per year
  • They diverge on capability: Agisoft Metashape covers Structure-from-motion alignment, Pix4Dfields covers Orthomosaic generation.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Agisoft Metashape and Pix4Dfields actually diverge.

Attributes where Agisoft Metashape and Pix4Dfields differ
AttributeAgisoft MetashapePix4Dfields
Starting price$179/one-time$330/month
Pricing modelOne-time purchasesubscription
PlatformsWindows, macOS, LinuxWindows, Ios
CategoryMapsAgriculture
FoundedUnknown2011

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated).

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
  • Python and Java scripting
  • Network processing

Only in Pix4Dfields

  • Orthomosaic generation
  • NDVI & vegetation indices
  • Zonation mapping
  • Prescription maps
  • Stand count
  • Export to machinery
  • Offline processing
  • DJI drones

Both cover

  • Multispectral processing

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 Pix4Dfields
  • A quarry or mine measuring stockpile volumes monthly, where the same flight is reprocessed repeatedly and cloud pricing by area is punitivenot Pix4Dfields
  • An archaeology or heritage team documenting sites on a capital grant with no recurring software budget to renew a subscriptionnot Pix4Dfields
  • A VFX or games studio scanning props and environments, where Standard at $179 covers the whole requirement because georeferencing is irrelevantnot Pix4Dfields

Pix4Dfields

  • Processing drone imagery of fields into orthomosaics without acreage limitsnot Agisoft Metashape
  • Generating vegetation indices and crop health maps from aerial surveysnot Agisoft Metashape
  • Producing variable rate prescription maps for exporting to farm machinerynot Agisoft Metashape
  • Agronomists producing crop scouting reports from drone flightsnot 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.

Pix4Dfields

  • Satellite imagery is sold as separate credit packages on top of the subscription, with only 100 free credits included per year
  • Monthly billing is listed at $165.83 per month against $1,990 for a year, so paying monthly costs substantially more
  • The software runs only on Windows and macOS, with no Linux build

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

Pix4Dfields

$330/month
  • Monthly$330/month
    • RGB & multispectral processing
    • Vegetation indices
    • Zonation maps
  • Annual$2640/year
    • Everything in Monthly
    • 33% savings
    • Priority support
  • Perpetual$5500/one-time
    • Lifetime license
    • 1 year updates
    • Local processing

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 Pix4Dfields if

  • You need orthomosaic generation.
  • You work on Windows, Ios.
  • You also want ndvi & vegetation indices.
Pix4Dfields review

Questions people ask

Is Agisoft Metashape or Pix4Dfields better?
Neither clearly leads. Agisoft Metashape starts at $179/one-time and Pix4Dfields at $330/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Agisoft Metashape or Pix4Dfields?
Agisoft Metashape starts at $179/one-time and Pix4Dfields at $330/month.
Does Agisoft Metashape or Pix4Dfields run on more platforms?
Agisoft Metashape runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. Pix4Dfields runs on Windows, Ios.
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 Pix4Dfields is typically brought in for.
What can Agisoft Metashape do that Pix4Dfields cannot?
Agisoft Metashape covers Structure-from-motion alignment, Dense point cloud generation, Mesh and texture, Orthomosaic and DEM. Pix4Dfields covers Orthomosaic generation, NDVI & vegetation indices, Zonation mapping, Prescription maps. Both handle Multispectral processing.

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.

Pix4Dfields: How much does PIX4Dfields cost?

PIX4Dfields costs $111 per month for a monthly subscription plan. The software offers actionable data and insights from drone imagery for high efficiency and productivity in precision agriculture. Source: https://pix4d.com/pricing

Source
Agisoft Metashape: Is it a subscription?

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

Pix4Dfields: Does PIX4Dfields offer a free trial?

Yes, PIX4Dfields provides a free 15-day trial that requires no credit card to start. You can cancel before renewal without incurring charges, though no refunds are issued upon cancellation. Source: https://pix4d.com/pricing

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.

Pix4Dfields: Can I add cloud processing credits to PIX4Dfields?

Yes, PIX4Dfields subscriptions allow you to add cloud processing credits to your account for additional image processing beyond the standard monthly allocation. Credits can be purchased as needed. Source: https://pix4d.com/pricing

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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