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Software Comparison

Cyclone vs ReCap vs SCENE vs RealWorks: Point Cloud Software

An expert comparison to help you choose the right equipment for your project.

Feature Leica Cyclone Autodesk ReCap FARO SCENE Trimble RealWorks
Registration Best-in-class - Automatic -
Formats All major RCS/RCP - -
Ecosystem Leica - - -
Enterprise Yes - - -
Option A Leica

Leica Cyclone

Registration Leader

Industry-leading registration and processing for professional workflows.

Pros

  • Best registration
  • Industry standard
  • Enterprise features

Cons

  • Complex licensing
  • Expensive
  • Learning curve

Best For

Professional AECLarge projectsLeica users
Option B Autodesk

Autodesk ReCap

Autodesk Native

Native Autodesk point cloud processing for Revit and AutoCAD workflows.

Pros

  • Autodesk integration
  • Simple workflow
  • Included subscription

Cons

  • Basic features
  • Limited registration
  • Autodesk only

Best For

Revit usersSimple projectsAutodesk shops
Option C FARO

FARO SCENE

FARO Ecosystem

Optimized for FARO scanners with specialized processing tools.

Pros

  • FARO optimized
  • Good automation
  • QC tools

Cons

  • Best with FARO
  • Moderate features
  • Ecosystem locked

Best For

FARO usersManufacturingForensics
Option D Trimble

Trimble RealWorks

Trimble Native

Trimble ecosystem processing with survey-grade workflows.

Pros

  • Trimble integration
  • Survey focus
  • GNSS workflows

Cons

  • Trimble ecosystem
  • Less universal
  • Learning curve

Best For

Trimble usersSurvey firmsGNSS integration

Our Expert Verdict

Depends on Your Needs

Cyclone for best features, ReCap for Autodesk, SCENE for FARO, RealWorks for Trimble.

Choose Leica Cyclone if...

Choose Cyclone for industry-leading registration and professional features.

Choose Autodesk ReCap if...

Choose ReCap for simple Autodesk integration and included subscription value.

Choose FARO SCENE if...

Choose SCENE for optimized FARO scanner workflows.

Choose Trimble RealWorks if...

Choose RealWorks for Trimble ecosystem and survey workflows.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is best for registration?

Cyclone leads in registration quality. Others optimize for their hardware ecosystems.

Equipment Used

Professional Equipment In This Comparison

TheFuture3D operates all equipment featured in this comparison. We're certified professionals delivering expert results.

Leica
Current Gen
Leica

Leica Cyclone REGISTER 360

Point Cloud Registration

Platform Desktop
Features Automatic registration, VIS support
Publishing TruView cloud hosting
Leica scanner users Survey professionals
Autodesk
Current Gen
Autodesk

Autodesk ReCap

Point Cloud to BIM

Platform Desktop/Cloud
Integration Revit, Civil 3D, Navisworks
Features Registration, mesh generation
Autodesk/Revit users Scan-to-BIM workflows
FARO
Current Gen
FARO

FARO SCENE

FARO Point Cloud Software

Platform Desktop
Features Automatic registration, colorization, meshing
Export CAD/BIM formats
FARO scanner users Industrial documentation

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