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RealityScan vs Tinkercad

RealityScan logo

RealityScan

CAD

The photogrammetry engine formerly called RealityCapture, free below a one million dollar revenue line

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Tinkercad logo

Tinkercad

CAD

Free browser-based 3D design, electronics, and coding tool by Autodesk

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: RealityScan the free tier is bounded by company revenue rather than by usage, so a business crossing one million US dollars of turnover acquires a per-seat cost overnight for software its workflow now depends on; Tinkercad limited to simple block-based modeling, unsuitable for complex or precise mechanical CAD work.
  • They diverge on capability: RealityScan covers Photogrammetric reconstruction, Tinkercad covers Block-Based 3D Modeling.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which RealityScan and Tinkercad actually diverge.

Attributes where RealityScan and Tinkercad differ
AttributeRealityScanTinkercad
Pricing modelFree below a revenue threshold, then per seat per yearfree
PlatformsWindowsweb

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (CAD).

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 RealityScan

  • Photogrammetric reconstruction
  • Laser scan fusion
  • Ground control points
  • Texturing and unwrapping
  • Command line interface
  • Unreal Engine path
  • Component alignment control

Only in Tinkercad

  • Block-Based 3D Modeling
  • Circuit Simulator
  • Codeblocks Programming
  • 3D Printing Export
  • Classroom Management

What people use each for

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

RealityScan

  • A two-person heritage survey practice under the revenue threshold that can now run professional photogrammetry at no licence costnot Tinkercad
  • A film or games asset team scanning props and environments at very high image counts where processing speed decides the schedulenot Tinkercad
  • A survey firm combining terrestrial laser scans with drone photography and needing both aligned in a single reconstructionnot Tinkercad
  • A construction reality-capture operator producing meshes for Unreal-based client visualisation from the same source imagerynot Tinkercad

Tinkercad

  • Teaching introductory 3D design in classroomsnot RealityScan
  • Simulating basic electronic circuitsnot RealityScan
  • Designing simple objects for 3D printingnot RealityScan
  • Introducing kids to block-based codingnot RealityScan

Where each one falls short

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

RealityScan

  • The free tier is bounded by company revenue rather than by usage, so a business crossing one million US dollars of turnover acquires a per-seat cost overnight for software its workflow now depends on
  • New perpetual licences are no longer sold, so an organisation that deliberately avoided subscription software has no route in; existing perpetual holders keep their version but stop receiving updates unless they accept the current terms
  • It is Windows only and needs an NVIDIA CUDA capable GPU, which excludes macOS studios and makes the real cost of adoption a workstation purchase rather than a licence
  • The rename from RealityCapture to RealityScan in 2025 means tutorials, forum answers and third party pipeline documentation are split across two names and several licensing regimes, and much of it is now wrong about price
  • The interface assumes photogrammetry knowledge; alignment failures, control point placement and reconstruction region setup are not guided, so a team without an experienced operator produces poor models quickly rather than good ones slowly

Tinkercad

  • Limited to simple block-based modeling, unsuitable for complex or precise mechanical CAD work.
  • Lacks advanced surfacing, parametric assembly, and simulation tools found in professional CAD software like Fusion 360.
  • Requires an internet connection since it runs entirely in the browser with no offline desktop app.
  • Export and rendering options are basic compared to dedicated 3D modeling or CAD applications.

Pricing, plan by plan

RealityScan

Free
  • Free tierFree
    • For individuals and companies with annual revenue under 1,000,000 USD
    • Full application, no metered input charges
    • Epic account required
  • RealityScan seat$1250/year
    • Required once annual revenue exceeds 1,000,000 USD
    • Per seat, per year
    • Commercial use without output restrictions
  • Unreal Engine subscription$1850/year
    • Per seat per year
    • Includes RealityScan and Twinmotion
    • For teams that also need Unreal Engine for non-game commercial use

Tinkercad

Free
  • Free$undefined/mo
    • 3D design
    • Circuits simulation
    • Codeblocks

Which should you pick?

Choose RealityScan if

  • You need photogrammetric reconstruction.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want laser scan fusion.
RealityScan review

Choose Tinkercad if

  • You need block-based 3d modeling.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on web.
  • You also want circuit simulator.
Tinkercad review

Questions people ask

Is RealityScan or Tinkercad better?
Neither clearly leads. RealityScan starts at Free and Tinkercad at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, RealityScan or Tinkercad?
RealityScan starts at Free and Tinkercad at Free.
Does RealityScan or Tinkercad run on more platforms?
RealityScan runs on Windows. Tinkercad runs on web.
Can I use RealityScan for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is RealityScan best used for?
RealityScan is most often used for a two-person heritage survey practice under the revenue threshold that can now run professional photogrammetry at no licence cost, a film or games asset team scanning props and environments at very high image counts where processing speed decides the schedule, a survey firm combining terrestrial laser scans with drone photography and needing both aligned in a single reconstruction, a construction reality-capture operator producing meshes for unreal-based client visualisation from the same source imagery. Of those, a two-person heritage survey practice under the revenue threshold that can now run professional photogrammetry at no licence cost and a film or games asset team scanning props and environments at very high image counts where processing speed decides the schedule are not what Tinkercad is typically brought in for.
What can RealityScan do that Tinkercad cannot?
RealityScan covers Photogrammetric reconstruction, Laser scan fusion, Ground control points, Texturing and unwrapping. Tinkercad covers Block-Based 3D Modeling, Circuit Simulator, Codeblocks Programming, 3D Printing Export.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

RealityScan: Is RealityCapture still called that?

No. Epic rebranded it to RealityScan with version 2.0 in 2025. It is the same engine and the same team.

RealityScan: Who gets it free?

Individuals and companies with annual revenue under one million US dollars. Above that, a seat is 1,250 US dollars per year.

RealityScan: Can I still buy a perpetual licence?

Not for new purchases. Existing perpetual licences remain valid for the version owned, with updates only under the current terms.

RealityScan: Does the free version restrict output?

No output metering or watermarking; the restriction is on who qualifies, based on company revenue, not on what you export.

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