Structure

Structure combines 3D scanning hardware, mobile capture software and a developer SDK for specialist measurement work. It is strongest for clinical teams and developers building healthcare or industrial workflows, rather than people seeking a free, general-purpose scanner. Its depth and foot-measurement tools are compelling for those jobs, but hardware and Capture costs deserve close attention.

Overview

Structure’s focus is professional 3D scanning for medical, clinical and industrial applications. Its technology supports orthotic and prosthetic fitting, wound measurement, surgical planning and patient monitoring, giving it a clear purpose beyond casual object scanning. Buyers who need those workflows can draw on dedicated hardware, a mobile capture app or an SDK; those who only need occasional scans may find the paid model and specialized toolset hard to justify.

Key features

The Structure Sensor 3 attaches to compatible iPads and provides millimeter depth accuracy for body measurements. That makes it relevant to clinical work where accurate body geometry matters, but it is a dedicated hardware purchase rather than a requirement-free app workflow. The sensor costs 995.00 USD as a one-time purchase, with the first year of Structure Capture included.

Structure Capture exports STL, OBJ and PLY CAD files directly from iPhone or iPad. Its Scan Quality Indicator is designed to help users catch low-quality scans and reduce rework, a useful safeguard in workflows where a poor scan means repeating a measurement. Capture requires a TrueDepth-enabled iPhone X or later on iOS 16 or later, a TrueDepth-enabled iPad on iPadOS 16 or later, or a Structure Sensor ST01, ST02 or ST03. Check that equipment requirement before subscribing.

The SDK provides raw depth frames, mesh extraction, foot measurement and offline licensing. Its landmark detection covers the first and fifth metatarsals, heel point, arch height, coordinate frames and the foot ground plane. Those tools give developers a more specific starting point for fitting and measurement apps than a generic depth feed. The SDK is used in healthcare, industrial inspection, retail fit-tech and augmented reality, and supports iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux and Android. Commercial distribution requires a contract.

Across the product, supported inputs include Structure Sensor ST01, ST02 and ST03, Apple TrueDepth and Apple LiDAR. Point-cloud tools, mesh reconstruction, real-time capture and API access are supported; export formats include OBJ, STL, PLY, GLB, GLTF and 3MF. Capture’s direct mobile export formats are STL, OBJ and PLY.

Structure says uploaded scans are encrypted, stored on secure servers, not sold or disclosed for unrelated purposes, and retained for no longer than three years. It says individually identifying health information it receives is handled in accordance with HIPAA requirements. It also uses SSL for sensitive information in transit and account authentication, and does not store payment card or bank account information. These controls matter for clinical use, though teams remain responsible for assessing their own compliance needs.

Pricing

There is no free plan for Structure Capture. A 7-day trial is offered, and the free SDK option is limited to experimentation and prototyping.

• Structure SDK Developer License: free, billed as a 7 day free trial. It includes all SDK features for experimentation and prototyping, making it the entry point for developers evaluating an integration. Commercial distribution requires the separate commercial license.
• Structure Capture Monthly: $19.99 a month, billed monthly, for unlimited scans and exports. It suits users who want flexibility or have a short-term project; it can be cancelled anytime through Apple Subscriptions.
• Structure Capture Annual: $199 a year, billed annually, also for unlimited scans and exports. It is the lower-cost choice for ongoing Capture use, but commits the buyer to annual billing; it can be cancelled anytime through Apple Subscriptions.
• Structure Sensor 3 for iPad: $995 as a one-time purchase, including the first year of Structure Capture. It fits users who need the dedicated sensor; bulk orders require a sales quote.
• Structure SDK Commercial License: custom pricing, with commercial distribution requiring a contract. This is the route for shipping an SDK-powered product, not simply experimenting with the developer license.

Platforms

Structure supports iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux and web. Capture itself has narrower device requirements: supported iPhones and iPads need TrueDepth and the stated minimum operating-system versions, unless paired with a supported Structure Sensor. The distinction matters for buyers choosing between the broader SDK ecosystem and mobile Capture.

Who it's for

Structure makes the most sense for clinicians and clinical product teams using body measurements, especially in fitting, wound assessment, surgical planning or monitoring. Developers building scanning into healthcare, inspection, retail fit-tech or AR applications have a second clear route through the SDK. For general scanning without a specialized measurement need, the hardware price and paid Capture plan are harder to defend.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Millimeter depth accuracy from Sensor 3 and foot-landmark detection in the SDK target measurement jobs where generic scanning is less useful.
• Pro: Capture includes unlimited scans and exports, and the annual plan costs less than paying monthly for a full year.
• Pro: The SDK spans five operating-system families and offers offline licensing, raw depth frames and mesh extraction for custom applications.
• Con: Capture requires compatible TrueDepth Apple hardware or a supported Structure sensor, so ownership of a suitable device is part of the decision.
• Con: Sensor 3 costs 995.00 USD upfront, and ongoing Capture use after its included first year has a separate subscription price.
• Con: The developer license is for prototyping only; commercial distribution entails a contract and custom pricing.

Alternatives

3D Scanning Software is the broader category to explore if Structure’s specialized healthcare focus is not the right fit.

JMStudio is a free choice for owners of 3DMakerpro scanners, with STL, OBJ, PLY, ASC and RSCAN exports. MeshInspector offers a free Community plan for mesh and point-cloud viewing, basic editing and repair, and runs on Linux, macOS, web and Windows. RealityScan has a free plan for eligible individuals and small businesses under $1 million USD in revenue over the past 12 months, as well as educational institutions and students. Revo Scan 6 is a free option for Revopoint scanner owners, while MeshLab is a free, open-source mesh processing and editing system for Linux, macOS and Windows.

Polycam may suit users wanting a free mobile and web starting point: its free plan has limited space, object and AI captures, GLTF exports and public link sharing. Polyga FlexScan3D is a free legacy download for Windows. Qlone is another option to consider.

Verdict

Choose Structure if clinical body measurement or a custom scanning application is central to the work: the combination of dedicated depth hardware, foot-specific SDK tools and broad development support is its strongest case. Look elsewhere for free general-purpose scanning, or if compatible capture hardware and a paid Capture subscription do not suit the budget.