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Maps · head to head

Potree vs TomTom

Potree logo

Potree

Maps

Open source WebGL viewer for publishing very large point clouds in a browser

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
TomTom logo

TomTom

Maps

Global leader in navigation and mapping products, offering maps, traffic information, navigation

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Potree there is no vendor, no support contract and no service level, so anything you build on Potree is your organisation’s responsibility to maintain when a browser update breaks rendering.; TomTom free app lacks specific feature details on landing page
  • They diverge on capability: Potree covers Octree streaming, TomTom covers Core Functionality.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Potree and TomTom actually diverge.

Attributes where Potree and TomTom differ
AttributePotreeTomTom
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feefree
PlatformsWeb, Windows, macOS, LinuxiOS, Android
FoundedUnknown1991

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Potree

  • Octree streaming
  • Large dataset rendering
  • Measurement tools
  • Clipping and profiles
  • Annotations
  • Attribute colouring
  • PotreeDesktop
  • Self-hosting

Only in TomTom

  • Core Functionality
  • User Interface

What people use each for

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

Potree

  • A drone survey firm delivering a point cloud to a client who has no desktop software, by publishing a browser viewer link instead of a 40 GB LAZ filenot TomTom
  • A heritage or archaeology project publishing a scanned site for public access without paying per-gigabyte hosting to a commercial platformnot TomTom
  • An engineering consultancy embedding a point cloud viewer inside its own client portal without licensing a commercial web viewernot TomTom
  • A university or research group that needs measurement and profiling in a shareable viewer for a dataset too large to emailnot TomTom

TomTom

  • Turn-by-turn car navigation with offline downloadable mapsnot Potree
  • Live traffic rerouting and incident/hazard alertsnot Potree
  • Speed camera and speed-limit warningsnot Potree
  • Truck-specific routing (vehicle dimensions, hazardous cargo restrictions, rest stops) via GO Expertnot Potree
  • EV charging station location and fuel price lookup (Android)not Potree

Where each one falls short

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

Potree

  • There is no vendor, no support contract and no service level, so anything you build on Potree is your organisation’s responsibility to maintain when a browser update breaks rendering.
  • Conversion is a separate manual step with PotreeConverter, and building an automated publishing pipeline around it is engineering work the project does not provide.
  • Rendering quality and performance depend on the client machine and WebGL support, so a client on a locked-down corporate laptop with poor graphics may see a viewer that stutters or fails outright.
  • A WebGPU rewrite, Potree-Next, is in progress and is not a drop-in upgrade, so current integrations face an eventual migration with no vendor to manage it.
  • There is no access control, user management or audit layer; anyone with the URL sees the data unless you build authentication around the static files yourself, which is a real problem for confidential sites.

TomTom

  • Free app lacks specific feature details on landing page
  • Monetization model not transparent
  • No published pricing for premium features
  • No information about subscription tiers or in-app purchases

Pricing, plan by plan

Potree

Free
  • PotreeFree
    • BSD-style open source licence
    • Unlimited datasets and viewers
    • Self-hosted on any static web server

TomTom

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the TomTom review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Potree if

  • You need octree streaming.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want large dataset rendering.
Potree review

Choose TomTom if

  • You need core functionality.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android.
  • You also want user interface.
TomTom review

Questions people ask

Is Potree or TomTom better?
Neither clearly leads. Potree starts at Free and TomTom at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Potree or TomTom?
Potree starts at Free and TomTom at Free.
Does Potree or TomTom run on more platforms?
Potree runs on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux. TomTom runs on iOS, Android.
Can I use Potree for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Potree best used for?
Potree is most often used for a drone survey firm delivering a point cloud to a client who has no desktop software, by publishing a browser viewer link instead of a 40 gb laz file, a heritage or archaeology project publishing a scanned site for public access without paying per-gigabyte hosting to a commercial platform, an engineering consultancy embedding a point cloud viewer inside its own client portal without licensing a commercial web viewer, a university or research group that needs measurement and profiling in a shareable viewer for a dataset too large to email. Of those, a drone survey firm delivering a point cloud to a client who has no desktop software, by publishing a browser viewer link instead of a 40 gb laz file and a heritage or archaeology project publishing a scanned site for public access without paying per-gigabyte hosting to a commercial platform are not what TomTom is typically brought in for.
What can Potree do that TomTom cannot?
Potree covers Octree streaming, Large dataset rendering, Measurement tools, Clipping and profiles. TomTom covers Core Functionality, User Interface.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Potree: Does Potree cost anything?

No. It is open source and free. You supply the hosting, which for a static viewer is inexpensive.

TomTom: Is the TomTom app free to download and use?

Yes, the TomTom app is available as a free download. The page states 'Download for free' with no mention of paid tiers on the landing page.

Source
Potree: Is there commercial support?

No. There is no vendor and no support contract. Support is GitHub issues and the community.

TomTom: Are there paid features or premium tiers for TomTom?

The landing page does not disclose any pricing information for premium features or subscription tiers. Users must download the app to discover any in-app monetization details.

Source
Potree: Who maintains it?

It originated at TU Wien and is maintained principally by Markus Schütz, with community contributions.

Potree: Can it handle very large clouds?

Yes, hundreds of millions of points, because PotreeConverter builds a multi-resolution octree that streams only what is visible.

Potree: Is my data private?

Only if you make it so. Potree serves static files with no built-in authentication, so access control is entirely your responsibility.

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