SplatHost vs Polycam: Which is Better?
Polycam and SplatHost solve different parts of the 3D workflow. One is a mobile capture app, the other is a web hosting platform. Here's how they compare.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | SplatHost | Polycam |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Purpose | Web hosting & sharing | Mobile 3D capture |
| Capture Tool | ✗ Upload only | ✓ LiDAR + Photogrammetry |
| Web Hosting | ✓ Shareable links | ✓ Limited (Pro only) |
| Embeds | ✓ Copy-paste iframe | ✗ Requires Pro plan + export |
| Password Protection | ✓ Built-in | ✗ Not available |
| File Formats | PLY, SPLAT uploads | Export to OBJ, FBX, PLY, etc. |
| Platform | Web-based (any device) | iOS app (iPhone/iPad) |
| Pricing | Free, Pro ($9/mo), Team ($29/mo) | Free, Pro ($11.99/mo) |
When to Use SplatHost
✅ You Already Have PLY Files
You captured scans with Luma AI, Polycam, or another tool and just need to host them.
✅ Web Embeds & Portfolio
You want to embed 3D viewers in your website, Notion, or portfolio without complex setup.
✅ Privacy & Client Work
You need password protection and private sharing for client previews.
✅ Cross-Platform Access
You want to share splats that work on any device (desktop, mobile, tablet) without an app.
When to Use Polycam
✅ Capturing 3D Scans
You need a tool to scan real-world objects and spaces with your iPhone.
✅ LiDAR & Photogrammetry
You want both LiDAR scanning (iPhone Pro) and photogrammetry options.
✅ All-in-One Workflow
You want to capture, process, and share all within one app (requires Pro plan).
✅ Mobile-First Workflow
You do most of your work on iPhone and rarely use a desktop.
Feature Breakdown
Capture Capabilities
SplatHost: No capture tool—upload pre-existing PLY or SPLAT files from other apps.
Polycam: Full LiDAR and photogrammetry capture on iPhone. Best-in-class mobile 3D scanning.
Hosting & Sharing
SplatHost: Dedicated web hosting with shareable links, embeds, and analytics. Works on any device.
Polycam: Hosting exists but requires Pro plan and is limited compared to dedicated platforms.
Privacy
SplatHost: Private by default. Password protection available on all plans.
Polycam: Public or unlisted links. No password protection.
Embedding
SplatHost: Simple iframe embeds for Notion, WordPress, Webflow, etc.
Polycam: Must export to PLY, then use another service (like SplatHost) for embeds.
Pricing
SplatHost: Free tier (3 splats), Pro ($9/mo for 50), Team ($29/mo unlimited).
Polycam: Free tier (5 scans/month), Pro ($11.99/mo unlimited scans + exports).
Can You Use Both?
Yes! Many users follow this workflow:
- Capture with Polycam — Use your iPhone to scan objects and spaces
- Export to PLY — Download your scan as a PLY file (requires Polycam Pro)
- Host on SplatHost — Upload to SplatHost for better web sharing and embeds
This gives you the best of both worlds: mobile capture + professional web hosting.
Which Should You Choose?
| If you need... | Choose... |
| 3D capture tool | Polycam |
| Web hosting & embeds | SplatHost |
| Password protection | SplatHost |
| LiDAR scanning | Polycam |
| Cross-platform sharing | SplatHost |
Host Your Polycam Scans on the Web
Export from Polycam, upload to SplatHost. Get shareable links and embeds in seconds.
Start Free →Final Thoughts
Polycam and SplatHost aren't really competitors—they solve different problems. Polycam is the best mobile 3D capture tool. SplatHost is the best web hosting platform for the files Polycam creates.
If you're serious about 3D workflows, consider using both. Capture with Polycam, host with SplatHost.