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Maps · head to head

Emlid Studio vs Leica Infinity

Emlid Studio logo

Emlid Studio

Maps

Free desktop GNSS post-processing that works with other manufacturers' receivers as well as Emlid's

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Leica Infinity logo

Leica Infinity

Maps

Office software that combines total station, GNSS, level, UAV and scanner data into one survey project

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Emlid Studio has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Emlid Studio it is free but it is not open source, so if Emlid changes direction or ends the product there is no community fork and no way to keep it maintained; Leica Infinity leica publishes no pricing at all and sells through dealers, so identical firms in different regions pay different rates for the same modules and cannot benchmark a quote.
  • They diverge on capability: Emlid Studio covers RINEX conversion, Leica Infinity covers Multi-sensor project.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Emlid Studio and Leica Infinity actually diverge.

Attributes where Emlid Studio and Leica Infinity differ
AttributeEmlid StudioLeica Infinity
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelFree of charge, no licence feequote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, macOSWindows

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 Emlid Studio

  • RINEX conversion
  • Static post-processing
  • Kinematic post-processing
  • Drone PPK geotagging
  • Third party receiver support
  • Emlid Flow point extraction
  • Solution quality reporting

Only in Leica Infinity

  • Multi-sensor project
  • Network adjustment
  • GNSS baseline processing
  • Point cloud handling
  • Surface and volume
  • Field data exchange
  • Imaging and UAV workflow
  • CAD, GIS and BIM export

What people use each for

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

Emlid Studio

  • A drone operator whose RTK link dropped to float during a flight and needs to recover centimetre accuracy from the logs afterwardsnot Leica Infinity
  • A surveyor establishing a base station coordinate from a two hour static occupation against a national CORS stationnot Leica Infinity
  • A research team with mixed brand receivers that cannot justify a manufacturer office suite licencenot Leica Infinity
  • An archaeologist geotagging survey photography to a local grid without buying a commercial photogrammetry pipelinenot Leica Infinity

Leica Infinity

  • A survey practice running Leica instruments that wants control adjustment, GNSS post-processing and scan registration in one project rather than three packagesnot Emlid Studio
  • A contractor computing monthly earthworks volumes from drone and GNSS data measured against a design surface for payment applicationsnot Emlid Studio
  • A monitoring job comparing repeated survey epochs of a structure or slope where the adjustment history and residuals must be defensiblenot Emlid Studio
  • An office preparing stakeout data and control for field crews on Leica Captivate and receiving as-built observations back into the same projectnot Emlid Studio

Where each one falls short

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

Emlid Studio

  • It is free but it is not open source, so if Emlid changes direction or ends the product there is no community fork and no way to keep it maintained
  • Support is a community forum with no service level, which is a problem for a commercial survey firm that needs an answer before a deliverable deadline rather than when someone volunteers one
  • It only post-processes; there is no network adjustment, no project management, no least squares reporting suitable as a survey record, so it does not replace an office suite
  • The software exists to sell Emlid receivers, so features that matter to owners of competing hardware are unlikely to be prioritised even though third party RINEX is accepted
  • Results depend on the quality of the base data and on the user understanding fix, float and single solutions, and the interface will happily produce a poor solution without stopping an inexperienced operator

Leica Infinity

  • Leica publishes no pricing at all and sells through dealers, so identical firms in different regions pay different rates for the same modules and cannot benchmark a quote.
  • It is modular, which means the advertised capability list is not what you get: sensor and processing modules are licensed separately and the useful configuration costs considerably more than the entry one.
  • Third-party instrument data is supported but always second-class; a mixed Leica and Trimble fleet will have one manufacturer’s raw data going through a lossier import path.
  • Windows only, with no macOS, Linux or browser option, which is a hard constraint for organisations moving field and office work to tablets or cloud desktops.
  • Perpetual licences require an ongoing customer care contract to receive updates and support, so the perpetual option saves less over five years than it first appears.

Pricing, plan by plan

Emlid Studio

Free
  • Emlid StudioFree
    • No licence fee and no seat limit
    • Windows and macOS
    • Works with RINEX from non-Emlid receivers

Leica Infinity

On request
  • Infinity perpetual licence$undefined/year
    • Bought once, owned outright
    • Modular by sensor and processing capability
    • Annual customer care contract needed for updates
  • Infinity subscription$undefined/year
    • Annual or multi-year term
    • Includes updates for the term
    • Modules added or removed at renewal

Which should you pick?

Choose Emlid Studio if

  • You need rinex conversion.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS.
  • You also want static post-processing.
Emlid Studio review

Choose Leica Infinity if

  • You need multi-sensor project.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want network adjustment.
Leica Infinity review

Questions people ask

Is Emlid Studio or Leica Infinity better?
Neither clearly leads. Emlid Studio starts at Free and Leica Infinity at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Emlid Studio or Leica Infinity?
Emlid Studio has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Emlid Studio and On request for Leica Infinity.
Does Emlid Studio or Leica Infinity run on more platforms?
Emlid Studio runs on Windows, macOS. Leica Infinity runs on Windows.
Can I use Emlid Studio for free?
Yes. Emlid Studio has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Leica Infinity starts at On request.
What is Emlid Studio best used for?
Emlid Studio is most often used for a drone operator whose rtk link dropped to float during a flight and needs to recover centimetre accuracy from the logs afterwards, a surveyor establishing a base station coordinate from a two hour static occupation against a national cors station, a research team with mixed brand receivers that cannot justify a manufacturer office suite licence, an archaeologist geotagging survey photography to a local grid without buying a commercial photogrammetry pipeline. Of those, a drone operator whose rtk link dropped to float during a flight and needs to recover centimetre accuracy from the logs afterwards and a surveyor establishing a base station coordinate from a two hour static occupation against a national cors station are not what Leica Infinity is typically brought in for.
What can Emlid Studio do that Leica Infinity cannot?
Emlid Studio covers RINEX conversion, Static post-processing, Kinematic post-processing, Drone PPK geotagging. Leica Infinity covers Multi-sensor project, Network adjustment, GNSS baseline processing, Point cloud handling.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Emlid Studio: Is Emlid Studio really free?

Yes, with no seat limit and no paid tier. Emlid makes its money on GNSS receivers.

Leica Infinity: Is Leica Infinity available as a perpetual licence?

Yes. Leica sells Infinity both as a subscription and as a perpetual licence, though updates on a perpetual licence require an active customer care contract.

Emlid Studio: Does it work with receivers from other manufacturers?

Yes. It accepts standard RINEX logs, so a base or rover from another brand can be processed.

Leica Infinity: How much does it cost?

Leica does not publish prices. Infinity is quoted per module through authorised dealers.

Emlid Studio: Is it open source?

No. It is free of charge but proprietary, so there is no community fork if the product is discontinued.

Leica Infinity: Does it work with non-Leica instruments?

It imports common third-party and standard formats, but Leica raw data is the first-class path. Expect reduced fidelity with competing raw formats.

Emlid Studio: Can I use it as my survey office software?

No. It handles post-processing only. Network adjustment, drafting and deliverable production need other tools.

Leica Infinity: Is there a free version?

No, only a 30-day trial.

Leica Infinity: Does it replace Cyclone for scanning?

No. Infinity handles scan data in a survey context; heavy registration and modelling work still belongs in Leica Cyclone.

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