View 3D Scans Online — Photogrammetry, LiDAR & iPhone Scans

3D scanning has gone from an expensive industrial process to something you can do with your phone. iPhone Pro models have LiDAR scanners built in. Apps like Polycam, Luma AI, and RealityScan turn photos into 3D models using photogrammetry. Professional scanners from Artec, Faro, and Creaform produce incredibly detailed meshes.

The output is always the same: a 3D file, usually in OBJ, GLB, or PLY format. And the problem is always the same: how do you view it, share it, and show it to someone else without asking them to install specialized software?

The scanning landscape in 2026

Phone-based scanning

The biggest shift in 3D scanning has been phone-based capture. iPhone Pro models (12 Pro and later) include a LiDAR sensor that provides real-time depth data. Combined with photogrammetry, this produces surprisingly good 3D scans of rooms, objects, and people.

Popular phone scanning apps include:

• Polycam — one of the most popular scanning apps. Supports both LiDAR and photogrammetry modes. Exports OBJ, GLTF, PLY, STL, and USDZ.
• Luma AI — uses neural radiance fields (NeRF) for photogrammetry. Produces highly detailed scans from phone photos. Exports GLB and OBJ.
• RealityScan (Epic Games) — free photogrammetry app. Exports OBJ, GLB, and FBX. Models can be published to Sketchfab directly.
• Scaniverse — acquired by Niantic. Good for room-scale LiDAR scanning. Exports OBJ, GLB, PLY, and LAS.
• 3d Scanner App — straightforward LiDAR scanning on iPhone/iPad. Exports OBJ, STL, PLY, and USDZ.

Professional scanning

Professional 3D scanners produce much higher quality results but cost significantly more. Common formats from professional scanners include OBJ (with textures), PLY (with vertex colors), and proprietary formats that export to standard mesh files.

Photogrammetry from cameras

Software like Agisoft Metashape, RealityCapture, Meshroom (free), and COLMAP (free) can create 3D models from regular camera photos. These tools typically export OBJ files with texture maps, or PLY files with vertex colors.

Common scan file formats

Regardless of how the scan was captured, you'll end up with files in one of these formats:

• OBJ — the most common export format. OBJ files contain geometry, and can reference external MTL (material) and texture image files. If your scan has color/texture, the OBJ will likely come with a .mtl file and one or more .jpg/.png texture maps.
• GLB — a self-contained binary file that includes geometry, materials, and textures in one package. Increasingly popular for web delivery and sharing. Many scanning apps now export GLB directly.
• PLY — commonly used for point clouds and scans with vertex colors (color stored per vertex rather than as a texture map). Popular in research and professional scanning workflows.
• STL — geometry only, no color. Some scanning apps export STL for 3D printing purposes, but you lose all color and texture information.

Viewing scans in the browser

Once you have your scan file, you need to view it. The scanning app usually has a built-in viewer, but what if you want to view it on a different device, share it with someone else, or embed it on a website?

GeometryViewer handles all the common scan formats:

1. Go to geometryviewer.com
2. Drag your scan file onto the page — OBJ, GLB, PLY, or STL
3. Your scan loads instantly with textures and colors if present

For OBJ files with textures: if your scan exported as a folder containing a .obj, .mtl, and texture images, you can drag the entire folder (or a ZIP of it) onto GeometryViewer. The viewer will resolve the material references and display the textured scan.

For GLB files: just drag the single .glb file. Everything is self-contained.

Sharing scans with a link

This is where browser-based viewing really shines. You've scanned something — a room, an artifact, a piece of art, a construction site — and you need someone else to see it. Maybe a client, a colleague, an insurance adjuster, or a project stakeholder.

In GeometryViewer, click "Share" to generate a URL. Send that URL to anyone. They open it in their browser and see the interactive 3D scan. They can orbit around it, zoom into details, and examine it from every angle. On phones, they can even place it in their environment using AR.

No software installation. No file transfer. No "what app do I need?" conversation.

Use cases for 3D scan sharing

Real estate

3D room scans are increasingly common in real estate. A LiDAR scan of a property lets potential buyers explore the space interactively — much more immersive than photos. Share a viewer link in the listing, email it to prospective buyers, or embed it on the property page.

Archaeology and cultural heritage

Museums and archaeological teams are scanning artifacts, fossils, and sites for preservation and research. Sharing these scans with researchers worldwide becomes trivial with a viewer link. No need for the recipient to have specialized software — just a browser.

Insurance documentation

After damage events (fires, floods, storms), 3D scans of the affected area provide comprehensive documentation. Share the scan with adjusters, contractors, and insurers via a link. The interactive 3D view is far more informative than photos for assessing extent of damage.

Construction progress

Regular 3D scans of construction sites track progress over time. Share scans with project managers, architects, and clients to show current state versus plans. Each scan becomes a timestamped record that anyone can review in their browser.

Art and sculpture

Artists can scan physical sculptures and share them digitally. Galleries can scan artworks for virtual exhibitions. Collectors can document acquisitions in 3D.

Reverse engineering

Scanning existing parts for reverse engineering or replacement. Share the scan with an engineer or manufacturer who can model a replacement based on the scan geometry.

AR for scans

Placing a 3D scan in AR creates a genuinely unique experience. Imagine scanning a small artifact at a museum and then placing it on your desk at home. Or scanning a building model and showing a client what it looks like sitting on their conference table.

GeometryViewer's AR feature works with scan files the same way it works with any other 3D model. Open the scan, tap "View in AR," and place it in your physical space. Works on iPhone via Quick Look and on Android via WebXR.

Handling large scan files

3D scans can produce large files. A detailed room scan might be 50-200MB. A high-resolution artifact scan could be even larger. Browser-based viewers handle these files differently than desktop software:

• Files under 50MB load quickly on most devices and connections
• Files 50-100MB load in a few seconds on desktop, longer on mobile
• Files over 100MB may take significant time to load, especially on mobile devices

If your scan file is very large, consider decimating the mesh before sharing. Most photogrammetry software can reduce polygon count with minimal visual impact. A 10-million polygon scan often looks nearly identical at 1 million polygons, but the file size drops dramatically.