Libraries · head to head
PDAL vs Rollup
PDAL
Libraries
Open source C++ library and command line tool for point cloud translation and processing
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: PDAL it is a library and command line tool with no graphical interface, so anyone expecting to inspect, edit or visualise a point cloud needs entirely separate software.; Rollup slower than the Go and Rust bundlers that followed it, since it is written in JavaScript
- They diverge on capability: PDAL covers Format translation, Rollup covers Tree shaking.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which PDAL and Rollup actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Open source, no licence fee), free tier (Yes), 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 PDAL
- Format translation
- JSON pipelines
- Ground classification filters
- Reprojection
- Rasterisation
- Python bindings
- Streaming mode
- Cloud-native output
Only in Rollup
- Tree shaking
- Clean output
- Multiple output formats
- Plugin API
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
PDAL
- A mapping agency building a repeatable pipeline that reprojects, classifies ground and tiles a national lidar datasetnot Rollup
- A developer converting client-delivered LAS files into cloud-optimised COPC for streaming to a web viewernot Rollup
- A researcher scripting outlier removal and DEM generation from drone lidar inside a Python notebooknot Rollup
- A survey firm automating quality checks on incoming point cloud deliveries rather than opening each file by handnot Rollup
Rollup
- Publishing a JavaScript library in several module formatsnot PDAL
- Builds where output size and cleanliness matter more than build speednot PDAL
- Producing ES module output for consumers who will bundle it themselvesnot PDAL
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
PDAL
- It is a library and command line tool with no graphical interface, so anyone expecting to inspect, edit or visualise a point cloud needs entirely separate software.
- Pipelines are written as JSON with filter-specific parameters, and getting classification results right requires understanding the underlying algorithms rather than tuning a slider.
- Development depends heavily on a small contributor base and on public sector contract funding, which is a concentration risk for an organisation making it load-bearing.
- There is no vendor support tier to purchase; paid help means a consulting engagement, which suits an agency with a procurement process and suits a small firm poorly.
- Error messages and documentation assume geospatial and command line fluency, so the practical adoption cost is staff capability rather than licence fees.
Rollup
- Slower than the Go and Rust bundlers that followed it, since it is written in JavaScript
- Application concerns like dev servers and hot reloading are not its job, so app builds need Vite on top
- Configuration for non-trivial applications gets verbose compared with tools that assume more
Pricing, plan by plan
PDAL
Free- PDALFree
- BSD licence
- Library, command line tool and Python bindings
- No usage or seat limits
Rollup
Free- RollupFree
- Full functionality
- Commercial use permitted
- Community support
Which should you pick?
Choose PDAL if
- You need format translation.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, Windows, macOS.
- You also want json pipelines.
Choose Rollup if
- You need tree shaking.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, macOS, Windows.
- You also want clean output.
Questions people ask
- Is PDAL or Rollup better?
- Neither clearly leads. PDAL starts at Free and Rollup at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, PDAL or Rollup?
- PDAL starts at Free and Rollup at Free.
- Does PDAL or Rollup run on more platforms?
- PDAL runs on Linux, Windows, macOS. Rollup runs on Linux, macOS, Windows.
- Can I use PDAL for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is PDAL best used for?
- PDAL is most often used for a mapping agency building a repeatable pipeline that reprojects, classifies ground and tiles a national lidar dataset, a developer converting client-delivered las files into cloud-optimised copc for streaming to a web viewer, a researcher scripting outlier removal and dem generation from drone lidar inside a python notebook, a survey firm automating quality checks on incoming point cloud deliveries rather than opening each file by hand. Of those, a mapping agency building a repeatable pipeline that reprojects, classifies ground and tiles a national lidar dataset and a developer converting client-delivered las files into cloud-optimised copc for streaming to a web viewer are not what Rollup is typically brought in for.
- What can PDAL do that Rollup cannot?
- PDAL covers Format translation, JSON pipelines, Ground classification filters, Reprojection. Rollup covers Tree shaking, Clean output, Multiple output formats, Plugin API.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
PDAL: Is PDAL a product I can buy?
No. It is a free BSD-licensed library and command line tool. There is nothing to purchase.
Rollup: Is Rollup free?
Yes, open source under the MIT licence.
PDAL: Who maintains it?
An open contributor community with development led substantially by Hobu Inc, funded largely through US public sector contracts.
Rollup: Rollup or webpack?
Rollup is the usual choice for libraries thanks to cleaner output and better tree shaking. webpack remains stronger for complex applications with heavy asset handling.
PDAL: Can I get commercial support?
Only by contracting Hobu or an independent consultancy. There is no support subscription.
Rollup: Do I need Rollup if I use Vite?
Not directly. Vite uses Rollup for production builds, so you already benefit from it.
PDAL: Does it have a viewer?
No. Use QGIS, CloudCompare or a web viewer for visualisation; PDAL handles the processing.
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